Display Technologies

Contributors: Paul Shumate

Originally published on the IEEE Emerging Technology portal, 2006 - 2012. Visit: http://www.ieee.org/go/emergingtech

Display technologies covers a broad spectrum of electrotechnology from vacuum based devices such as cathode ray tubes displays to various flat panel displays using electro-optically modulated liquid crystal devices and electroluminescent devices. Displays are becoming ever more ubiquitous to everyday life. They are essential components of all intelligent information systems including computing and communication devices, consumer electronics, instrumentation and controls, industrial electronics and avionic systems. In fact, advances in light weight, high resolution flat panel displays has been one of the prime drivers for the evolution of new intelligent information systems. With the rapid adaptation of mobile computing and communications, displays are undergoing a tremendous transformation from passive components into sophisticated information terminals. What differentiates displays from other technologies is that they are not simple devices. They are, in fact, complex electro-optical systems employing some of the most advanced materials, microelectronics, optics, and manufacturing technology. The growing importance of displays in recent years has resulted in tremendous amount of research and development to improve visual attributes of various flat panel and projection displays. Much work has been concentrated on high-resolution high-brightness projection displays as well as flat-panel displays, mostly for consumer use. For portable devices, a key factor is minimizing the electrical power consumption. Other R&D efforts have been directed toward high-brightness LEDs capable of emitting at red, green, and blue with spectra suitable for accurately rendering the full range of visible colors. Displays is a diverse technology as illustrated in the following figure.

Page 1