LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAYS(LCD)
The
INTRODUCTION
liquid-crystal display has the distinct
advantage of having a low power consumption
than the LED.
It is typically of the order of microwatts for the
display in comparison to the some order of
milliwatts for LEDs.
Low power consumption requirement has made
it compatible with MOS integrated logic circuit.
Its other advantages are its low cost, and good
contrast.
The main drawbacks of LCDs are additional
requirement of light source, a limited
temperature range of operation (between 0 and
60° C), low reliability, short operating life, poor
visibility in low ambient lighting, slow speed and
the need for an ac drive.
BASIC STRUCTURE OF AN LCD
A liquid crystal cell consists of a thin layer
(about 10 µm) of a liquid crystal sandwiched
between two glass sheets with transparent
electrodes deposited on their inside faces.
With both glass sheets transparent, the cell
is known as transmittive type cell.
When one glass is transparent and the
other has a reflective coating, the cell is
called reflective type. The LCD does not
produce any illumination of its own.
It, in fact, depends entirely on illumination
falling on it from an external source for its
visual effect
TYPES OF LCD
Dynamic scattering display: When
dynamic scattering display is energized,
the molecules of energized area of the
display become turbulent and scatter light
in all directions.
Consequently, the activated areas take on
a frosted glass appearance resulting in a
silver display. Of course, the unenergized
areas remain translucent.
Field effect LCD: Field effect LCD contains
front and back polarizer at right angles to
each other. Without electrical excitation,
the light coming through the front
polarizer is rotated 90° in the fluid.
NEMATIC PHASE LCD
A nematic liquid crystal is a transparent or
translucent liquid that causes the polarization
(that is, the focusing in a plane) of light waves
to change as the waves pass through the liquid.
The extent of the change in polarization
depends on the intensity of an applied electric
field.
Nematic comes from a Greek prefix nemato
meaning threadlike and is used here because
the molecules in the liquid align themselves
into a threadlike shape.
Nematic liquid crystals are used in twisted
nematic displays, the most common form of
liquid crystal display .
TWISTED NEMATIC DISPLAY (TN DISPLAY)
A twisted nematic (TN) display is a common
type of liquid-crystal display ( LCD) that
consists of a substance called a nematic liquid
crystal that is confined between two plates of
polarized glass.
The TN display takes advantage of the ability
of the nematic substance to rotate the
polarization of light beams passing through it.
Two polarizing filters, parallel planes of glass
with their polarizing lines oriented at right
angles with respect to each other, are
positioned on either side of the liquid crystal..
TWISTED NEMATIC DISPLAY (TN DISPLAY)
•When light enters the display, it is polarized by the
input filter. In the absence of an electric field, all
the incoming light is transmitted.
•This is because the light polarization is rotated 90
degrees by the nematic liquid crystal, and the light
therefore passes easily through the output filter,
which is oriented to match the 90-degree shift.
•Most TN displays have a characteristic black-on-
gray or black-on-silver appearance, and are
suitable for use in alphanumeric readouts such as
those found in wristwatches, cell phone displays,
and some calculator displays.
•The high-resolution LCD panels typically found in
handheld and notebook computers use a different
technology.
CONSTRUCTION OF LCD
To make an LCD, we need to take two
polarized glass pieces. The glass which does
not have a polarized film on it must be
rubbed with a special polymer which creates
microscopic grooves in the surface.
It must also be noted that the grooves are
on the same direction as the polarizing film.
Then, we need to do is to add a coating of
nematic liquid crystals to one of the filters.
The grooves will cause the first layer of
molecules to align with the filter’s
orientation.
CONSTRUCTION OF LCD
At right angle to the first piece, we must
then add a second piece of glass along with
the polarizing film.
Till the uppermost layer is at a 90-degree
angle to the bottom, each successive layer of
TN molecules will keep on twisting.
The first filter will naturally be polarized as
the light strikes it at the beginning.
Thus the light passes through each layer
and is guided on to the next with the help of
molecules.
CONSTRUCTION OF LCD
When this happens, the molecules tend to
change the plane of vibration of the light to
match their own angle.
When the light reaches the far side of the
liquid crystal substance, it vibrates at the
same angle as the final layer of molecules.
The light is only allowed an entrance if the
second polarized glass filter is same as the
final layer.
WORKING OF LCD
The main principle behind liquid crystal
molecules is that when an electric current is
applied to them, they tend to twist.
This causes a change in the light angle
passing through them.
This causes a change in the angle of the
top polarizing filter with respect to it. So
little light is allowed to pass through that
particular area of LCD.
Thus that area becomes darker comparing
to others.
WORKING OF LCD
For making an LCD screen, a reflective
mirror has to be setup in the back.
An electrode plane made of indium-tin
oxide is kept on top and a glass with a
polarizing film is also added on the bottom
side.
The entire area of the LCD has to be
covered by a common electrode and above
it should be the liquid crystal substance.
Next comes another piece of glass with an
electrode in the shape of the rectangle on
the bottom and, on top, another polarizing
film. It must be noted that both of them are
kept at right angles..
WORKING OF LCD
When there is no current, the light passes
through the front of the LCD it will be
reflected by the mirror and bounced back.
As the electrode is connected to a
temporary battery the current from it will
cause the liquid crystals between the
common-plane electrode and the electrode
shaped like a rectangle to untwist.
Thus the light is blocked from passing
through. Thus that particular rectangular
area appears blank
