COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
5.11 LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY (LCD)
Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) is basically used to display pictures, used to show
application status, display values, Program Debugging and more. For the first time Liquid
Crystals were discovered in year 1888.LCD applications has reached wide range and
number of varieties in the current scenario.
Fig:5.11.1 LCD Monitor
Very Common LCD applications:
1. Calculators
2. Watches
3. Clocks
4. Telephones
General Applications of LCD’s:
1. Computer Monitors (Computer Screens)
2. Instrument Panels
3. Televisions
4. Aircraft cockpit displays
5. Signage
Parts of Liquid Crystal Display:
LCD Panel is generally sandwiched between “Rear” and “Top” polarizer’s.
Polarizer main function is to improve the color and obviously making it possible to see
the screens of LCD’s. So if we remove polarizer’s from
LCD’s then undoubtedly it would be impossible to identify the letters or graphics and
everything.
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Following Figure shows LCD Panel, its parts
Fig:5.11.2 LCD Panel
Liquid Crystal Display module shown in above figure is made up of “2 layers”. It contains
a layer of “LC(Liquid Crystal) Material”. LC material is one through which Light passes,
supplied by the Back light.
And White light from the back light place 2nd from the bottom in figure passes through
the LCD panel which generally operates passage of light to form the Images projected on
to the Mail Front of the LCD panel screen.
Types of LCD s:
LCD’s are classified in to Two Categories. They are namely
I. Field Effect Display (FED):
1. This kind of Field Effect Display contains “Front” and “Back” polarizer’s at right
angles to each other.
2. So these are placed 90° to each other
3. Without electrical excitation, the light come through the “Front” polarizer is
generally revolved 90° in the fluid
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Fig:5.11.3 Field Effect of LCD
II Dynamic Scattering Display (DSD)
1. This Dynamic Scattering Display consists of TWO pieces of glasses sandwiching
a very thin layer of LC Material
2. Inside faces of the Glass had a transparent conductive coating which is show
GREEN in color in below figure
3. So soon after voltage is applied, liquid crystal molecules shown in Yellow color
gets realigned and move randomly
4. It obviously creates “Turbulence”, disperses the light and ultimately led into
“White Appearance”
Fig:5.11.4 Dynamic Scattering Display
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WORKING of Liquid Crystal Display:
Kindly see and check the below Figure, while reading below instructions to understand
its working very easily
1. Before understanding the Working Principle, one need to go through the parts
which are available in the following figure
2. As a first process, generally the filter will naturally be polarized as the light strikes
this Filter (B) at the beginning
3. So as shown in the figure, the light passes through each layer
4. Then it is guided on to the Next layer with the help of molecules (we have got an
Idea regarding molecules as we discussed regarding them in Kinds of LCDs)
Fig:5.11.5 Working of LCD
5. Obviously molecules tend to change the “Plane of Vibration of the Light” so as to
match their its own angle
6. LC Molecules Principle:
When an electric current (voltage) is applied to molecules, they generally tend
to Untwist
So this basically causes a change in the light angle which passes through them
Ultimately, there will be a change takes place in the angle of the top polarizing
filter w.r.t it
Then little light is allowed to pass through the area of LCD, then resulting the
affected area becomes darker
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7. When this light reaches the longer side (far side) of the LC substance, obviously it
vibrates with the same angle similar to the final layer of molecules.
8. It may be noted that, the light is only allowed an entrance if the Second glass filter
(polarized) matches with the final layer
9. Then finally the same image come from LC Layer would be resulting on the
“Displayed Image” which will be appeared finally on the Screen
Advantages of Liquid Crystal Display:
1. LCD’s consume very low power typically of the order of “Micro watts” for the
display
2. So this low power consumption requirement has made it software designed for
other types with MOS united logic circuit
3. Cheap in price
Disadvantages of Liquid Crystal Display:
As every coin has both (two) sides, similarly every prospect has both Advantages and
Disadvantages
1. Very limited range of operational temperature (around 0 to 55°C)
2. So LCD’s cannot be used in temperatures beyond around 55 °C
3. Ability of performance may be low & also short utilizing life
4. One more additional component “Light Source” need to be placed
Applications
1. TV and MONITORS
2. MOBILES Screens
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