LCD stands for “liquid crystal display.” It is a type of flat-panel display technology that is commonly used in electronic devices such as televisions, computer monitors, and mobile phones.
An LCD screen is made up of several layers of material, including a layer of liquid crystals sandwiched between two layers of glass or plastic. The liquid crystals are able to align themselves in different ways when an electric current is applied, which allows the LCD to control the amount of light that passes through the screen. This is how an image is displayed on an LCD screen.
One of the main advantages of LCD technology is its energy efficiency. LCD screens use significantly less power than traditional cathode ray tube (CRT) displays, which makes them ideal for use in portable devices such as laptops and smartphones. Additionally, LCD screens are lightweight and thin, which makes them easy to transport and mount in tight spaces.
Another advantage of LCD technology is its ability to display a wide range of colors and brightness levels. This makes them ideal for use in high-definition televisions and computer monitors. Additionally, LCD screens are not affected by image burn-in, which is a common problem with CRT displays.
There are a few downsides to LCD technology as well. One of the main disadvantages is that LCD screens can suffer from “ghosting,” which is when a faint image of previous content remains visible on the screen. Additionally, LCD screens can be prone to “sticking” or “dead” pixels, which are pixels that do not display any color or remain stuck in a particular color.
Another downside to LCD technology is that they do not have the same level of contrast ratio as OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) displays. OLED displays have deeper blacks, brighter colors and sharper images. But LCDs are still widely used due to their lower cost and better durability compared to OLEDs.
Overall, LCD technology has come a long way since its invention in the 1960s. Today, LCD screens are widely used in a variety of electronic devices and have become an essential part of modern technology. With the continued development of LCD technology, we can expect to see even more advanced and energy-efficient LCD displays in the future.
Technology and principles on which LCD work?
The technology and principles behind LCDs (liquid crystal displays) are based on the unique properties of liquid crystals. Liquid crystals are a type of matter that have properties of both liquids and crystals. They are made up of long, rod-shaped molecules that are arranged in a specific pattern.
When an electric current is applied to a layer of liquid crystals, the molecules align themselves in a particular way. This alignment determines how much light is able to pass through the crystals, which in turn controls the amount of light that is visible on the screen.
The basic components of an LCD screen include a layer of liquid crystals, two layers of transparent electrodes (usually made of indium tin oxide), and two layers of polarizing material. The polarizing material is used to filter the light passing through the liquid crystals, so that only light that is properly aligned with the crystals is visible on the screen.
The liquid crystal layer is sandwiched between two layers of glass or plastic, which are called the front and rear polarizers. The front polarizer allows only light that is vertically polarized to pass through, while the rear polarizer allows only light that is horizontally polarized to pass through. When an electric current is applied to the liquid crystal layer, the crystals align themselves in such a way that they can rotate the polarization of the light passing through them. This rotation allows the light to pass through both polarizers, making the pixels of the LCD appear as the desired colour.
LCD technology can be divided into two main types: Twisted Nematic (TN) and In-Plane Switching (IPS). TN LCDs are the most common type of LCDs and are widely used in computer monitors and televisions. They are known for their fast response time and low production cost. IPS LCDs, on the other hand, have wider viewing angles, better colour reproduction, and more consistent brightness levels. But they have slightly slower response time than TN LCDs.
There are several different types of LCDs (liquid crystal displays), each with their own unique characteristics and applications. Some of the most common types of LCDs include:
- Twisted Nematic (TN) LCDs: These are the most basic and commonly used type of LCDs. They have a fast response time and are relatively inexpensive to produce, making them popular in computer monitors, televisions, and other consumer electronics.
- In-Plane Switching (IPS) LCDs: These LCDs have a wider viewing angle and better color reproduction than TN LCDs. They are commonly used in high-end televisions and computer monitors, as well as in smartphones and tablets.
- Vertical Alignment (VA) LCDs: These LCDs have better contrast ratios than TN and IPS LCDs, making them ideal for use in applications that require deep blacks and bright colours. They are commonly used in high-end televisions, gaming monitors, and professional displays.
- Advanced Fringe Field Switching (AFFS) LCDs: These LCDs have a wider viewing angle than TN and IPS LCDs and improved color reproduction. They are mainly used in high-end smartphones and tablets.
- Super-twisted nematic (STN) LCDs: These LCDs are used in lower-end consumer electronics, handheld devices, and some industrial applications. They are characterized by their low cost and low power consumption.
- Double-layer STN (DSTN) LCDs: These LCDs have better color reproduction and a wider viewing angle than STN LCDs. They are commonly used in older portable devices and some industrial applications.
- OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) LCDs: These LCDs have a wider contrast ratio than traditional LCDs and better color reproduction. They are also thinner, lighter and more flexible than LCDs. They are commonly used in high-end smartphones, tablets, and televisions.
Advantages of LCDs:
- Energy Efficiency: LCDs use significantly less power than traditional cathode ray tube (CRT) displays, making them ideal for use in portable devices such as laptops and smartphones.
- Thin and Lightweight: LCDs are lightweight and thin, making them easy to transport and mount in tight spaces.
- Wide Range of Colors and Brightness Levels: LCDs are able to display a wide range of colors and brightness levels, making them ideal for use in high-definition televisions and computer monitors.
- No Image Burn-in: LCDs are not affected by image burn-in, which is a common problem with CRT displays.
- Durable: LCDs are generally more durable than other types of displays, making them suitable for use in a variety of environments and applications.
Disadvantages of LCDs:
- Ghosting: LCDs can suffer from “ghosting,” which is when a faint image of previous content remains visible on the screen.
- Sticking or Dead Pixels: LCDs can be prone to “sticking” or “dead” pixels, which are pixels that do not display any color or remain stuck in a particular color.
- Limited Viewing Angles: LCDs have a limited viewing angle, which means that the image on the screen can appear distorted when viewed from certain angles.
- Limited Contrast Ratio: LCDs do not have the same level of contrast ratio as OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) displays, which means that the blacks may not appear as deep and the colors may not appear as vibrant.
- Cost: OLEDs are generally more expensive to produce than LCDs.
Companies making LCD TVs?
There are many companies that manufacture LCD TVs, including both large multinational corporations and smaller, specialized manufacturers. Some of the largest and most well-known companies that produce LCD TVs include:
- Samsung: Samsung is one of the largest and most well-known manufacturers of LCD TVs. They produce a wide range of LCD TVs, including standard and high-definition models, as well as smart TVs with built-in internet connectivity.
- LG: LG is another major manufacturer of LCD TVs. They produce a wide range of models, including standard and high-definition models, as well as smart TVs with built-in internet connectivity.
- Sony: Sony is a well-known electronics company that produces a wide range of LCD TVs, including standard and high-definition models, as well as smart TVs with built-in internet connectivity.
- Vizio: Vizio is a US-based company known for producing high-performance LCD TVs at more affordable prices than many of its competitors.
- TCL: TCL is a Chinese multinational electronics company that produces a wide range of LCD TVs and it is known for producing high-quality TVs at affordable prices.
- Hisense: Hisense is a Chinese multinational electronics company that produces a wide range of LCD TVs and it is known for producing high-quality TVs at affordable prices.
- Panasonic: Panasonic is a multinational electronics company that produces a wide range of LCD TVs, including standard and high-definition models, as well as smart TVs with built-in internet connectivity.