LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) Explained

Last modified: Apr 05, 2024

Common Types of LCD Panels:


TN Panels:


  •  Color Depth: 16.2M colors (not true 16.7M colors).
  •  Advantages: Fast response time due to fewer grayscale levels.
  •  Disadvantages: Soft screen, poor viewing angles, low contrast.
  •  Applications: Small size industrial screens (below 21.5 inches).


VA Panels:


  •  Color Depth: True 16.7M colors.
  •  Advantages: High color accuracy, wide viewing angles.
  •  Disadvantages: Slow response time (above 8ms), soft screen.
  •  Applications: High-end displays, 4K LCD screens, medium and large size wide screen products.


IPS Panels:


  •  Advantages: Wide viewing angles, fast response time, accurate color reproduction, low price.
  •  Disadvantages: Light leakage, poor black purity.
  •  Applications: Advertising machines, commercial displays.


Common LCD Panel Manufacturers:


  •  China: BOE - focuses on small and medium size commercial panels
  •  Taiwan: AUO, CMO, Tianma - focus on small and medium size industrial panels
  •  Japan: Sharp - focuses on small size industrial panels
  •  Korea: Samsung, LG - focus on medium and large size commercial panels


LCD Panel Parameters:


Backlight Type:


  •  CCFL: Traditional backlight technology, used in 8-15 inch LCD screens.
  •  Advantages: Stable color, high brightness, relatively low price.
  •  Disadvantages: Short lifespan (15000-25000 hours), complex structure, poor uniformity, large size, high power consumption.


WLED: LED backlight technology, used in medium and large size LCD screens.


 Advantages: Long lifespan (30000-50000 hours), energy-saving, environment-friendly, small size, high contrast, vivid colors.

 Disadvantages: Light leakage may occur when the quality of the light guide film is poor or the bonding between the structural layers is problematic.


LCD Panel Interfaces:


LCD panels use various types of interfaces. Our company mainly uses LVDS, EDP, HDMI, and DP interfaces. Each interface has its own definition, protocol, and characteristics.


LVDS Interface:


  •  Most Common: 90% of our products use this interface.
  •  Advantages: Low cost, simple structure, mature technology, compatible with a wide range of devices.
  •  Disadvantages: Limited transmission bandwidth, not suitable for high-resolution displays.


EDP Interface:


  •  Application: Mainly used in small size wide screen laptop LCD panels.
  •  Advantages: High bandwidth, supports high-resolution displays, low power consumption.
  •  Disadvantages: Complex structure, high cost.


DP Interface:


  •  Application: Mainly used in medium and large size 2K/4K resolution LCD panels.
  •  Advantages: High bandwidth, supports high-resolution displays, good compatibility.
  •  Disadvantages: The interface is relatively large.


HDMI Interface:


  •  Application: Mainly used in medium and large size 2K/4K resolution LCD panels, consumer electronics.
  •  Advantages: High bandwidth, supports high-resolution displays, good compatibility, easy to use.
  •  Disadvantages: The interface is relatively large.


Resolution:


The maximum resolution of an LCD panel is its true resolution, also known as the best resolution. Only at the best resolution can the display achieve the best visual effect and clarity.


Common Best Resolutions of Our LCD Panels:


  •  21.5-65 inch: 1920x1080 (also known as 2K or 4K)
  •  2K Resolution: 1920x1080
  •  4K Resolution: 3840x2160


Other Important Parameters:


  •  Aspect Ratio: The ratio of the width to the height of the screen, commonly used aspect ratios are 16:9, 16:10, and 4:3.
  •  Response Time: The time it takes for a pixel to change from one color to another, measured in milliseconds. A faster response time is better for gaming and other fast-paced activities.
  •  Viewing Angle: The angle at which the image on the screen can be seen clearly. A wider viewing angle is better for sharing the screen with others.
  •  Contrast Ratio: The ratio of the brightest white to the darkest black that the screen can display. A higher contrast ratio is better for displaying images with high detail.
  •  Brightness: The amount of light emitted by the screen, measured in nits. A brighter screen is better for use in bright environments.