LED screens can be driven by two different types of control systems: synchronous and asynchronous.
A synchronous system means that the display content is generated in real-time by a connected computer or controller. This system is typically used for large-scale outdoor advertising displays or sports stadiums, where real-time content updates are required. The content is transmitted to the display through a dedicated data cable, which can be either a serial or Ethernet connection.
On the other hand, an asynchronous system means that the content is preloaded onto the screen through a USB drive or similar storage device. This system is commonly used for indoor displays or smaller outdoor displays where content updates are less frequent. The display will loop through the preloaded content until it is manually updated with new content.
The main advantage of a synchronous system is that it can display real-time information, such as sports scores or live news feeds, which is not possible with an asynchronous system. However, synchronous systems are generally more expensive and complex to set up, requiring specialized software and hardware to drive the display.
In contrast, an asynchronous system is more straightforward to set up and maintain and is generally less expensive than a synchronous system. However, it is less flexible in terms of real-time content updates and is not suitable for applications that require dynamic content.