A thin-film-transistor liquid-crystal display (TFT LCD) is a variant of a liquid-crystal display (LCD) that uses thin-film transistor (TFT) technology to improve image qualities such as addressability and contrast. A TFT LCD is an active-matrix LCD, in contrast to passive-matrix LCDs or simple, direct-driven LCDs with a few segments.
TFT LCDs are used in appliances including television sets, computer monitors, mobile phones, handheld video game systems, personal digital assistants, navigation systems and projectors.[1]
TFT LCDs are also used in car instrument clusters because they allow the driver to customize the cluster, as well as being able to provide a skeuomorphic, analog-like display with digital elements.
History[]
In 1970, LCD displays incorporating thin-film transistors were demonstrated by J. Kishimoto at Canon[2] and Katsumi Yamamura at Suwa Seikosha (Seiko).[3] In 1972, an active matrix TFT LCD display was demonstrated by T Peter Brody's team at Westinghouse Electric Corporation.[4] The technology was further developed by Sharp Corporation in 1976[5] and 1977.[6]
In 1980, Hattori Seiko's R&D group began development on color pocket LCD televisions, which eventually led to the release of commercial TFT LCD displays by three of its subsidiaries.[7] One of its subsidiaries, Citizen Watch, introduced the Citizen Pocket TV, a color TFT LCD handheld television,[7][8] with a 2.7-inch display, in 1984.[8] By 1985, two other Seiko Hattori subsidiaries had also introduced TFT LCD handheld televisions, with Seiko's color micro-TV and the Epson ELF.[7]
Sharp Corporation invented the first large color TFT LCD displays in 1986.[9] In 1988, Sharp demonstrated a 14-inch, active-matrix, full-color, full-motion TFT LCD display. This led to Japan launching an LCD industry, which developed large-size LCD displays, including TFT computer monitors and LCD televisions. In the late 1990s, the LCD industry began shifting away from Japan, towards South Korea and Taiwan.[10]
See also[]
- Burst dimming
- Computer monitor
- Display examples
- LED display
- Liquid crystal
- Liquid crystal display television
- Transflective liquid crystal display, for adaptation to environment brightness
References[]
- ↑ "LCD Panel Technology Explained". Pchardwarehelp.com. Retrieved 2013-07-21.
- ↑ US3794990A patent: System for driving liquid crystal display device
- ↑ US3781862A patent: Display device for electronic calculator
- ↑ "Liquid crystal image display panel with integrated addressing circuitry". 1972-10-10.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ↑ JPS5327390A patent: Liquid crystal display device
- ↑ JPS5437697A patent: Liquid crystal display unit of matrix type
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Spin, Jul 1985, page 55
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Popular Science, May 1984, page 150
- ↑ Note on the Liquid Crystal Display Industry, Auburn University, 1995
- ↑ Hirohisa Kawamoto (2013), The history of liquid-crystal display and its industry, HISTory of ELectro-technology CONference (HISTELCON), 2012 Third IEEE, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, DOI 10.1109/HISTELCON.2012.6487587
External links[]
- TFT Central - Reviews, News and Articles. Includes panel search database
- FlatpanelsHD.com - LCD monitor panel search database
- Animated LCD Tutorial by 3M
- LCD Panels with Response Time Compensation, X-bit labs, December 20, 2005
- Contemporary LCD Monitor Parameters and Characteristics, X-bit labs, October 26, 2004
- Gaming issues with TFT LCD Displays, Digital Silence, August 10, 2004
- What is TFT LCD, Plasma.com – detailed description of the technology inside a TFT LCD
- Monitor buying guide - CNET reviews