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Appendix: An Introduction to LCD Technology
Principles of LCD Technology
The functionality of LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) screens is based on the special physical proper-
ties of liquid crystals. Their rod shaped molecules arrange themselves similarly to the molecules of
crystals - always uniformly and in one particular direction. Yet liquid crystals are not set in this ori-
entation, but behave like a liquid: They can be manipulated by applying an electric voltage. The lay-
ers of the liquid crystal molecules can therefore be longitudinal or diagonal to the polarising
direction of the light and thereby have a varying effect on the course of light waves.
LIQUID CRYSTALS POLARISE INCIDENT LIGHT
An LC display consists of two polarising filters, a control layer, the respective colour filters and the
liquid crystal layer.
The light from a background lamp hits an initial polarisation membrane so that only a specific plane
of polarisation of the light reaches the liquid crystal layer. Without any external electrical influence
the liquid crystal molecules arrange themselves in a screw-like shape between the two vertically
aligned polarising filters and the directional structure imposed as a result. The light follows this ori-
entation and is rotated by 90 degrees. The second polarising filter only allows through light with this
rotated polarisation. The light valve is open - as a result the controlled pixel lights up.
If an electrical voltage is applied, the liquid crystal molecules orientate themselves along the field
lines. The 90' screw is lifted up, the LC molecules appear parallel to the incident light and allow it to
pass through without altering the polarising direction. The unrotated light hits the second, rotated
polarising filter and is blocked. As a result the corresponding pixel remains dark. The intensity of
the departing, visible light can be controlled by means of the voltage applied to the crystal layer and
the polarised light rotated to a greater or lesser extent as a result.
The TFT panel
A. The standard TFT panel
With TFT displays, also called active matrix, the light transmitting capacity of each pixel is in
each case controlled by a transistor. The pixels can therefore be operated individually and
addressed very quickly, which in turn guarantees perfect display even of moving images. With
high-resolution LCDs well over two million pixels (three colour dots for the primary colours
red, green and blue per pixel) have to be controlled. The voltage is continuously on so that the
image does not have to be rebuilt constantly. The great advantage of this is that LC displays do
not flicker, even when they are controlled at low refresh frequencies (e.g. at 60 Hz). Because
faulty transistors can occur during production, pixel errors resulting from this are unavoidable.
B. The super TFT panel
The super TFT panel works according to the same physical principle. A significantly increased
viewing angle can be created through more precise production and through slightly brighter
pixels. This, however, is partly at the expense of the gray level resolution.
C. Comparison of standard and super TFT display
Standard
good gray level resolution
F satisfactory viewing angle
Acer LCD Color Monitor User's Guide
Super
very good viewing angle
satisfactory gray level resolution
English 43
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