The manufacture of Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) modules has grown by leaps and bounds over the past few decades, going from simple dot matrix displays to sophisticated modules featuring wide viewing angle technology.
Among the latest innovations is the use of In-Plane-Switching, which was developed in 1996. The
LCD modules using this technology provide exceptional picture quality irrespective of the angle at which they are viewed. They provide wide horizontal and vertical viewing angles of up to 176 degrees. Such displays are used in control system, instrument console and front panel applications.
They provide higher brightness, deeper black levels, good contrast as well as excellent color stability and saturation. The combination of great black levels and improved transmittance allows for high contrast ratios up to 1200:1. This makes it possible to achieve higher brightness while maintaining the backlight’s power consumption; thus making the modules quite energy-friendly.
IPS LCD modules are used in high performance monitors, televisions and cell phones. They are ideal for both broadcast and medical applications that require the highest optical performance.
Some LCD modules are manufactured specifically for rugged applications so as to withstand harsh environmental conditions. The displays are used in industrial, automotive, aerospace and marine applications. Others are also meant for bright environments, making them suitable for ticketing machines, point of sale terminals, kiosks and ATMs. Such displays use a combination of anti-glare/anti-reflection polarizer and optical bonding technology, which helps them to absorb and scatter ambient light.
A relatively new innovation added to the LCD modules is the use of capacitive touch panel technology, which allows for user input directly on the graphical interface with high levels of accuracy.