Liquid-crystal display (LCD) has become the world’s leading display technology. From computer monitors and smartphones to TVs and human machine interfaces (HMIs), it’s used to power countless display devices. Unfortunately, though, you can’t believe everything you see about LCDs. Below are six common misconceptions about LCDs.
#1) They Suffer From Burn-In Images
Contrary to popular belief, LCDs don’t suffer from burn-in images. A common problem with cathode-ray tube (CRT) devices, burn-in images occur when a static image remains present and unchanged for an extended periods. This phenomenon only occurs in devices with phosphor compounds, however, which LCDs don’t contain.
#2) The Pixels Produce Their Own Lighting
The liquid pixels used in LCDs aren’t capable of producing their own lighting. Rather, they rely on illumination from a separate component, known as backlighting, to produce lighting. The backlighting produces lighting that illuminates the device’s liquid crystals, thereby creating visible images on screen.
#3) They Consume a Lot of Power
Because they produce high-resolution images, many people assume that LCDs consume a lot of power. While LCDs do, in fact, create high-resolution images, they are among the among energy-efficient display technologies on the market. For consumers and business owners, LCDs can offer cost-savings benefits in the form of lower energy expenses. How much power do LCDs consume exactly? While power consumption varies, most LCDs consume about one-quarter of the power of their CRT counterparts.
#4) All LCDs are The Same
Not all LCDs are the same. There are different types of LCDs, each of which uses a different method to produce images. Active matrix and passive matrix, for instance, are the two most common types of LCDs. There are are also several subtypes of active-matrix LCDs, some of which include twisted nematic and in-plane switching.
#5) They Suffer From Screen Flicker
Another common misconception about LCDs is that they suffer from screen flicker. As the name suggests, screen flicker is a phenomenon in which a display device produces a “flickering” image. Thankfully, LCDs are immune to both burn-in images as well as screen flicker. Whether it’s a computer monitor, smartphone or any other LCD display device, you can rest assured knowing that it’s protected against screen flicker.
#6) They Aren’t Popular
This misconception couldn’t be further from the truth. Around the mid-2000s, LCDs surpassed plasma, CRT and all other display technologies to become the global leader. Today, well over half of all display devices shipped globally are powered by LCD technology.
