1577Chapter 44
The Fundamentals of Display
Technologies
by Alan Brawn
44.1 The Effect of Display Specification........................................................ 1579
44.1.1 Lumens........................................................................... 1579
44.1.2 Candelas per Meter Squared (cd/m2), or Nits.............................................. 1579
44.1.3 Contrast........................................................................... 1579
44.2 Display Color......................................................................... 1580
44.3 Display Resolution..................................................................... 1580
44.4 Display Scanning....................................................................... 1580
44.5 Aspect Ratios and Screen Formats......................................................... 1581
44.5.1 Common Aspect Ratios............................................................... 1581
44.6 Scaling............................................................................... 1581
44.6.1 Analog Image Display................................................................ 1581
44.6.2 Digital Fixed Matrix Display Scan Conversion............................................ 1582
44.7 Video Signals......................................................................... 1582
44.7.1 What Comprises a Video Signal?....................................................... 1582
44.7.2 Composite (aka NTSC)............................................................... 1582
44.7.3 Y/C (aka S-Video)................................................................... 1582
44.7.4 Component Video................................................................... 1582
44.7.5 VGA (Video Graphics Array).......................................................... 1582
44.7.6 DVI (Digital Video Interface).......................................................... 1582
44.7.6.1 HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface)........................................ 1583
44.8 Digital Display Technologies............................................................. 1583
44.8.1 Plasma Display Technology........................................................... 1583
44.8.1.1 PDP Characteristics.............................................................. 1583
44.8.1.2 PDP Operates in the Following Manner.............................................. 1583
44.8.2 Liquid Crystal Displays............................................................... 1584
44.8.2.1 LCD Characteristics............................................................. 1584
44.8.2.2 LCD Operates in the Following Manner.............................................. 1584
44.8.3 Digital Light Processing.............................................................. 1585
44.8.3.1 DLP Characteristics.............................................................. 1585
44.8.3.2 DLP Operates in the Following Manner.............................................. 1585
44.8.3.3 New DLP BrilliantColor™ Color Wheel Technology................................... 1586
44.8.4 Liquid Crystal on Silicon............................................................. 1587
44.8.4.1 LCoS Characteristics............................................................. 1587
44.8.4.2 LCoS Operates in the Following Manner............................................. 1587
44.8.5 Organic Light Emitting Diode.......................................................... 1587
44.8.5.1 OLED Characteristics............................................................ 1587