 LCD Basics How does it work? LCD (liquid crystal display) monitors use liquid crystal filled grids, activated by electric fields, to create smooth, finely detailed images. The liquid crystal acts like a shutter that either blocks the backlight or lets it pass through to light up a particular color filter. The screen has hundreds of thousands of pixels that are charged or not charged, making them reflect or not reflect light to form images. LCD technology produces the same image as a CRT, but in a much smaller package. |
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Different types of LCD technology use different alignment modes to filter, or twist, incoming light, with differing results. Screen size ViewSonic LCD screen sizes range from 15 to 23 inches. Unlike a CRT, an LCD's screen size is typically the same as its viewable image size: A 17" LCD has a 17" viewable image. Resolution A monitor screen is made up of individual dots of color, or pixels. Resolution refers to the number of pixels contained on a display. Resolution is typically expressed by identifying the number of pixels on the horizontal axis (rows) and the number of lines on the vertical axis (columns), such as 1024x768. A higher resolution generally results in smoother graphics and can fit more information on a screen at once. Because an LCD uses a matrix of cells to display its image, it has a fixed resolution, called its native resolution, also called optimal resolution, at which the display looks best. Brightness LCD brightness is calculated by measuring the greatest amount of light that comes from the screen when displaying pure white. The measure is expressed in candelas per square meter, also called nits. Contrast ratio Contrast ratio refers to the difference in light intensity between the brightest white and the darkest black that an LCD can produce. Higher contrast ratios help prevent colors from washing out when you turn up the brightness and from disappearing when you turn it down. Color depth Color depth indicates how many colors can be displayed on a monitor's screen. Color depth is usually talked about in bits (an abbreviation for "binary digits"), describing how many bits are used for each of the three additive primary colors-red, green and blue-per pixel. So, for example, if 8 bits are dedicated to each of the three colors, the color depth is 24-bit (8 bits x 3 colors = 24). The combination of the display modes supported by your graphics adapter and the color capability of your monitor determine how many colors can be displayed. Pixel pitch Pixel pitch is the spacing between pixels on an LCD, measured in millimeters. Generally, the lower the number, the more detailed the image. Viewing angle Because of the way light passes through the liquid crystals in the display, LCDs may appear to lose some brightness and image quality as you move to the side of the screen, or above or below it. An LCD's viewing angle indicates how far, in degrees, you can move from the center of the display before the image quality deteriorates to unacceptable levels. A wider viewing angle indicates more freedom to view the monitor from the side or from above or below the screen position. Response time Advances in LCD technology have significantly improved LCD video response time. ViewSonic LCD displays with ClearMotiv™ technology now offer video response as fast as 14ms for digital broadcast-quality, clear- motion video. Learn more.
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