Display Basics

Functions
• Functions to be performed for displays
– Output the appropriate display code
– Output the code via right entry or left entry into
the displays if there is more than one display
A row of 4 displays
Non-multiplexed Hexadecimal Displays
Multiplexed Displays
 Introduction
• Display devices are used for the visual presentation of information.
• A display device is a device for visual or tactile presentation of images (including text)/video
acquired, stored, or transmitted in various forms. Ex : Computer monitor, TV screen.
• It may be classified as analog vs. Digital displays; tube vs. flat panel display etc.

• 1.Analog display devices (cathode-ray tubes)

– Oscilloscope tubes
– TV CRTs

• 2.Digital display devices (Flat panels)

– LED (including OLED) displays
– LCD (liquid crystal) displays
– Thin Film Transistor-LCD (TFT-LCD)
– PDPs (Plasma display panels)

• 3.Others
– Electronic paper (e-paper)
– Using principles of nanoelectronics (carbon nanotubes, nanocrystals)
Attributes of a good display device
• Response time
– The minimum time necessary to change a pixel's color or
brightness.
• Persistence
– How long a phosphor continue to emit light.
– Lower persistence phosphors require higher refresh rate to
maintain a picture on the screen without flicker.
• Aspect ratio
– This number gives the ratio of vertical points to horizontal
points to produce equal-length lines in both directions on
the screen.
• Brightness
– The amount of light emitted from the display (more
specifically known as luminance).
 Display Devices
• Electronic display devices based on various
principles were developed.
• Active display devices are based on
luminescence.
• Passive display devices reflect or modulate
light…
Attributes of a good display device
• Pixel Resolution
– No. of pixels per unit video display.
– Ex: Video Graphics Array (VGA)
– 720 pixels across by 400 pixels down in text mode
– 640 pixels across by 480 pixels down in graphics mode.
• Display size
– Measured as distance from one corner to the diagonally
opposite corner.
– Usually measured in INCHES.
• Viewing angle
– It is angle from which the screen can be seen from side.
– It is larger for CRT as compared to LCD
Types of Video Display Devices
Available
Terminology related to display devices
Pixel : A pixel or the picture element is the smallest item of information in an
image. Graphic monitors display pictures by dividing the display screen into
thousands of pixels arranged in rows and columns. Each image is made up of
thousands of small pixels.
 Terminology related to display devices
Resolution : Resolution is the number of distinct pixels in each dimension that can be
displayed. More the resolution more clear is the image .
 Terminology related to display devices
Aspect ratio of the image is the ratio of
the number of X pixels to the number of
Y pixels.
The standard aspect ratio for a PC is 4:3.
Displaying an image in a different aspect
ratio displays the image somewhat
distorted that is stretched lengthwise or
widthwise.
 Terminology related to display devices
Refreshing : When dot of phosphor is
struck by an electron beam it glows for
some time and then fades away
(persistence). In order to maintain a
stable image the electron beam has to
redraw the image number of times per
second. This is refreshing. Normally in a
CRT, the screen is refreshed 60 to 80
frames per second.
 CRT Display
• A CRT is a glass tube that is narrow at one end
and opens to a flat screen at the other end.

• CRT Structure:
Narrow end of CRT contains
– a single electron gun for single-color monitor
– Three electron guns for a color monitor—one each for
three primary colors: red, green, and blue.
The display screen is covered with tiny phosphor
dots.
 CRT Working Principle
• CRT display works using :
– Electron emission
• Electrons are emitted from the Cathode tube.
– Phosphorescence
• It is the emission of visible light, when electron beam
strikes Phosphor material.
 Components of CRT
• Produces constant stream of electrons
• Sets intensity of spot on screen (the more negative
the control grid voltage the fewer electrons pass
through)
• Forces e-beam into narrow stream (otherwise repel)
• Indicates target phosphor spot
• 15,000 - 20,000 V accelerates e-beam to screen
Working of a Cathode Ray Tube
Working of a Cathode Ray Tube
 Color CRT
CRT Monitor Displays color pictures by using a combination of phosphors that emit
different colored light.

Two Techniques for producing color Display with a CRT are:-

1. Beam- Penetration
2. Shadow Mask
 Beam Penetration Method
• Used with random-scan monitors, these systems have two layers of phosphor,
green (the inner layer) and red (the outer one), are coated on to the inside of the
CRT screen.
• The displayed color depends on how far the electron beam penetrates into the
phosphor layers.
• It produces a limited number of colors red, orange, yellow and green.
• Inexpensive way of producing colors in Random Scan
• Picture Quality is not very good.
 Shadow Mask Method
• Commonly used in raster scan systems
• It can display a much wider range than Beam Penetration Method
• It has three phosphor color dots (red, green and blue) at each pixel position.
• These systems have three electron guns. One for each color dot.
• As per the picture definition the electron guns passes the electron beam which is
properly deflected through the Shadow Mask hence forming a single beam.
 Shadow Mask Method
When the beam passes through the Shadow mask. It activates the dot
triangle. The phosphor dot triangle are so arranged that it activates
it’s corresponding color dot when passes through the shadow mask
CRT Monitor Technology
 Random Scan Displays
(also known as Stroke-writing, Vector Or Calligraphic Displays)

• When operated as random scan display unit, CRT has electron beam
directed only to the parts of the screen where the picture is to be
drawn.
• These system are used for line drawing (produces smooth line
drawings) applications and cannot display realistic shaded scenes.
 Raster Scan Display
• Based on television technology , in these the electron beam sweeps
across the screen one row at a time from top to bottom (scan lines
swept by horizontal retrace and vertical retrace).
• As the electron beam sweeps the intensity is turned on or off as
per the picture definition stored in the frame buffer to create a
pattern of illuminated spots.
 Raster Scan Display
Refreshing on raster scan is carried out at the rate of 60 to 80
frames per second.
 Interlaced Systems
In some raster system, interlacing technique is used for painting the
screen . Instead of refreshing every line in an interlaced mode the
electron gun sweeps alternate line in each pass (each frame is
displayed in two frames odd numbered being refreshed first and then
the even numbered lines.).

* This is an effective
technique for avoiding flicker
Direct View Storage Tube
 Direct View Storage Tube
• In all the earlier technologies we need refreshing of the screen
• An alternative method is Direct View Storage Tube. It stores the
picture information as a charge distribution just behind the phosphor
coated screen.
• Two electron guns primary gun and flood gun are used
• Primary gun stores the picture pattern and flood gun maintains the
picture display
 DVST vs Refresh CRT
In DVST since no refreshing required so complex pictures can be
displayed at higher resolution without flicker.
However DVST ordinarily does not display colors and parts of image
cannot be erased here so not good for animation
 CRT Display: Advantages and
Disadvantages
• Advantages:
– Offers greater resolution .
– Widest viewing angle when compared to any other
technology.
– It is cheap as compared to LCD,PLASMA displays.
• Disadvantages:
– Thickness is much larger as compared to LCD, PLASMA
display.
– Cannot be used for smaller displays like watches,
calculators, portable devices.
– View area is less than the offered monitor size.
– It is more fragile and bulky.
 Flat Panel Displays
• Flat-Panel Display refers to a class of display devices that
have reduced volume, weight and power requirements
compared to CRT.
• There are two categories of flat panel displays:
– Emissive Displays
– Non-Emissive Displays
• Emissive Displays (or emitters) are devices that convert
electrical energy into light. Plasma Panel (PDP) and light
emitting diodes (LED) are examples of emissive displays.
• Non-emissive displays ( or non-emitters) use optical effects
to convert sunlight or light from some other source into
graphics pattern e.g Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)
 Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)
• A liquid crystal display is a thin, flat display device made up of any
number of pixels arrayed in front of a light source or reflector.
• It uses very small amounts of electric power, and is suitable for use
in battery-powered electronic devices.
• Colour displays are possible by incorporating colour filters.
• The heart of all liquid crystal displays (LCDs) is a liquid crystal itself.
A liquid crystal is a substance that flows like a liquid, but its
molecules orient themselves in the manner of a crystal.
• That is, it is an organic compounds, whose macroscopic behavior
resemble that of liquid but shows physical properties of crystals.
• A plane has nematic-like structure, but with each plane molecules
change their direction. As a result the molecules display a helical
twist through the material.
• They have characteristics like: rod-like molecular structure, or easily
polarizable constituents.
 LCD Construction
• Each pixel of an LCD consists of a layer of molecules aligned
between two transparent electrodes, and two polarizing
filters, whose axes are perpendicular.
• Orientation of the liquid crystal molecules is determined by
the alignment at the surfaces.
• Six Layers:
 Basic Principle
• Most of the LCDs use twisted nematic cells.
• When a nematic liquid crystal material comes into contact with a solid
surface molecules become aligned either perpendicular to the surface
(homeotropic ordering) or parallel to the surface (homogeneous ordering).
• These two forms can be produced by suitable treatment of the surface.
• The most important electrical characteristic of liquid crystal materials is
that the direction of the molecules can be controlled by the electric field.
Usually the molecules tend to be orientated along the electric field.
 Basic Principle (2)
• When a beam of polarised light is incident on the cell the
liquid causes rotation of polarisation plane.
• A strong enough electric field changes orientation of
molecules and in this state the molecules have no effect on an
incident light beam.
Characteristics
 Working Principle of LCD
• Before applying Electric field, the molecules arrange themselves in
a helical structure, or twist.
• When a voltage is applied across the electrodes, a torque acts to
align the liquid crystal molecules parallel to the electric field,
distorting the helical structure .
• This reduces the rotation of the polarization of the incident light.
• Classification of LCD:
– Transmissive displays:
• Transmission LCD displays do not have the reflector and must be provided with
rear illumination. They operate in a very similar fashion to the reflective
displays.
• It is illuminated from the back by a backlight and viewed from the opposite
side (front). Ex: Computer display.
– Reflective displays:
• It is illuminated by external light reflected by diffusing reflector behind the
display. Ex: Calculator.
Applications, Advantages & Limitations
of LCD
• Applications:
– LCDs with a small number of segments, are used in digital watches and pocket
calculators, Small monochrome displays in personal organizers, or older laptop screens
– High-resolution color displays such as modern LCD computer monitors and televisions;

• Advantages:
– An LCD cell consumes only microwatts of power over a thousand times less than LED
displays.
– LCDs can operate on voltages as low as 2 to 3 V and are easily driven by MOS IC drivers.

• Limitations:
– They cannot be seen in the dark,
– They have a limited viewing angle;
– They can be operated in limited temperature range.
 Thin Film Transistor (TFT) Technology

• Normal LCDs like those found in calculators have direct driven image elements – a
voltage can be applied across one segment without interfering with other
segments of the display.
• This is impractical for a large display with a large number of picture elements
(pixels), since it would require millions of connections - top and bottom
connections for each one of the three colors (red, green and blue) of every pixel.
• To avoid this issue, the pixels are addressed in rows and columns which reduce the
connection count from millions to thousands.
• The solution to the problem is to supply each pixel with its own transistor switch
which allows each pixel to be individually controlled.
• A thin film transistor (TFT) is a special kind of field effect transistor made by
depositing thin films for the metallic contacts, semiconductor active layer, and
dielectric layer.
• TFT-LCD (Thin Film Transistor Liquid Crystal Display) is a variant of liquid crystal
display (LCD) which uses thin film transistor (TFT) technology to improve image
quality.
• TFT LCD is one type of active matrix LCD. It is usually synonymous with LCD.
• It is used in both flat panel displays and projectors.
TFT-LCD
 Construction of TFT Displays
• Material:
– TFTs are Metal-Insulator-Semiconductor Field Effect Transistors, which
are used more often as bottom-gate.
– Indium tin oxide (ITO) is usually employed for the electrodes.
– Most TFTs are not transparent themselves, since many of them are
based on hydrogenated amorphous silicon (A-Si:H) (A-Si, used as Gate-
dielectric) have Low mask count; Small number of mask alignments
and requires less processing steps).
– The bandgap od S-Si is assumed to be less than that of crystalline
silicon (1.12eV).
• Construction:
– A transistor switch which allows each pixel be individually controlled.
– Each pixel is a small capacitor with a transparent ITO [indium tin oxide
]layer at the front, a transparent layer at the back, and a layer of
insulating liquid crystal between (refer to figure in previous slide).
– All the pixels in one row are driven with a positive voltage and all the
pixels in one column are driven with a negative voltage.
 Advantages and Disadvantages of TFT
• Advantages:
– Fast response time has been a great feature of TN (twisted
nematics) displays.
– Lower cost of production
– Less noise or glitter seen on the panel surface

• Disadvantages:
– The TFT display suffers from limited viewing angles,
especially in the vertical direction.
– They are unable to display the full 16.7 million colors (24-
bit true color) available from modern graphics cards.
 Plasma Display
• A plasma display panel (PDP) is a type of flat
panel display, suitable and now commonly used
for large TV displays (typically above 37-inch or
940 mm.
• Construction:
– The xenon and neon gas in a plasma television is
contained in hundreds of thousands of tiny cells
positioned between two plates of glass.
– Long electrodes are also sandwiched between the
glass plates, in front of and behind the cells.
– Cell are covered with a magnesium oxide protective
layer.
 Working of PDP
• Control circuitry charges the electrodes that cross paths at cell,
• This creates a voltage difference between front and back and
causing the gas to ionize and form a plasma.
• As the gas ions rush to the electrodes and collide, photons are
emitted.
• In color panels, the back of each cell is coated with a phosphor. The
ultraviolet photons emitted by the plasma excite these phosphors
to give off colored light.
• The display panel is only about 6 cm (2½ inches) thick, and total
thickness less than 10 cm.
• They can be produce fairly large sizes, up to 262 cm (103 inches)
diagonally.
• Bright scenes (say a football game) will draw significantly more
power than darker scenes.
• Limited life time: Their lifetime is estimated at 60,000 hours
 Advantages and Disadvantages
• Advantages:
– Supports large displays ,up to 103 inches diagonally.
– Overall thickness of monitor is less than 10 cm. and can be
installed on a wall.
– Faster response time, Greater color spectrum, Wider
viewing angle
• Disadvantages:
– They are costly as compared to CRT, LCD displays.
– Burn-in problem:
– Static images can leave a permanent mark on screen. That
is why they are not used in computer monitors and video
game displays.