Aug 27, 2025
In essence, a Serial Port Display is a "component," while a Rockchip Industrial Computer Display is a "system." Their positioning, functionality, and application scenarios are fundamentally different.
The following comparison table provides a clear overview:
Feature
Serial Port Display
Rockchip Industrial Computer Display
Core Concept
A "Slave Device" for display and input.
An All-in-one "Host" + "Display" system.
System Architecture
Simple internal GUI core; controlled via serial commands.
Full embedded OS (Linux, Android) running on the device itself.
Main CPU
Low-end MCU or MPU.
High-performance Rockchip Application Processor (e.g., RK3568, RK3588).
Communication & I/O
Primarily UART (TTL/RS232/RS485). Simple protocol.
Rich peripherals: Ethernet, USB, CAN, PCIe, SATA, GPIO, etc.
Development Model
Host-PC Development: UI designed on PC with proprietary tools. Logic is handled by a separate master MCU.
Embedded Application Development: Apps (C++, Qt, Python, Java) run directly on the display. It is self-contained.
Performance & Capabilities
Basic UI, touch, simple graphics/animations.
Complex applications, multi-tasking, networking, AI inference, HD video playback.
Cost
Low
High
Typical Applications
Home appliance panels, simple industrial instrument dashboards, basic kiosks.
Industrial gateways, MES terminals, advanced medical UI, smart retail, AI vision inspection.
Detailed Explanation:
1. Serial Port Display (Also known as UART TFT LCD, HMI Display)
How it Works: It contains a dedicated internal "computer" (a GUI kernel) that manages the display and touch. The user designs the interface (images, buttons) on a PC using the manufacturer's proprietary software and downloads it to the display's memory. The main host MCU (e.g., an STM32) only needs to send simple commands via a UART serial port (e.g., "show image A at X,Y," "button B was pressed"), and the display executes the corresponding action.
Advantages:
Simple Development: No deep embedded knowledge required; UI designers can create the interface.
Clear Separation: Display and business logic are separated, reducing the load on the host MCU.
Low Cost: More economical for simple applications.
Disadvantages:
Performance Bottleneck: Struggles with complex animations, HD video, or high-speed data refresh.
Limited Functionality: Relies on low-bandwidth UART; cannot directly connect to networks or complex peripherals.
Less Flexible: Changes in business logic may require updates to both the host MCU and the display's UI project.
2. Rockchip Industrial Computer Display (All-in-One Embedded PC with Display)
How it Works: This is essentially an embedded computer with an integrated screen. Its core is a high-performance ARM-based application processor from Rockchip. It runs a full operating system (like Linux or Android). Your application (developed with Qt, LVGL, Java, etc.) runs directly on this system and has full control over all hardware resources.
Advantages:
High Performance & Rich Features: Capable of networking, database operations, file management, multi-threading, and AI acceleration.
High Integration: Integrates display, computing, and connectivity into a single unit, eliminating the need for an external host board.
Rich I/O: Native support for Ethernet, USB, CAN bus, etc., making it ideal for industrial environments.
Powerful Graphics/Video: Can handle 1080p/4K video playback and complex, modern GUIs.
Disadvantages:
Complex Development: Requires professional embedded Linux/Android development expertise.
Higher Cost: Both the hardware unit and development effort are more expensive.
Power & Thermal Management: High-performance processors require robust power design and thermal management.
Summary:
Choose a Serial Port Display if your project needs only to show information and receive simple touch input, with the core logic handled by a separate, main controller board.
Choose a Rockchip Industrial Computer Display if your project needs to be a fully functional, intelligent terminal that requires networking, heavy data processing, complex applications, or on-device AI.
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