Liquid-crystal display (LCD) has become the world’s leading display technology. Characterized by the use of liquid pixels, it offers brilliantly colored and detailed images while consuming less power than other display technologies. For these reasons and others, more display devices use LCD than any other display technology. With that said, LCDs still require backlighting for illumination.
What Is LCD Backlighting?
All LCDs feature some form of backlighting, which is responsible for illuminating their liquid pixels and, thus, producing visual images. Without backlighting, LCDs wouldn’t be able to produce images. Backlighting helps to illuminate the liquid pixels, essentially making them visible so that the LCD can produce images. Over the years, however, manufacturers have begun using a variety of backlighting solutions for LCDs.
CCFL Backlighting
Cold-cathode fluourscent lamp (CCFL) is a common backlighting solution used in LCDs. With CCFL backlighting, LCDs are illuminated with two CCFL bulbs placed on the edges of the display. CCFL backlighting is typically used in conjunction with a diffuser that distributes the light evenly across the display.
EL-WLED Backlighting
Another common backlighting solution used in LCDs is EL-WLED. Rather than CCFL bulbs, this backlighting solution revolves around LED bulbs. EL-WLED backlighting uses a row of white-colored LEDs that are placed around the edges of the screen. Like CCFL backlighting, it also uses a diffuser to evenly distribute light across the display. EL-WLED is commonly used in computer monitors, though it can be found in other types of display devices as well.
WLED-Array Backlighting
We can’t talk about LCD backlighting without mentioned WLED array. What is WLED-array backlighting exactly? It’s characterized by the use of white-colored LEDs that are embedded behind a diffuser layer. WLED-array backlighting offers the added benefit of targeted dimming. In other words, the display device can dim the LED bulbs in specific areas to achieve an appropriate viewing experience
RGB-LED Array Backlighting
Finally, RGB-LED array is a type of backlighting used in LCDSs that consists of red, green and blue LED bulbs. It’s similar to WLED-array backlighting except it features all three colors of LEDs rather than simply using white LEDs.
All LCDs require some form of backlighting to function as intended. Backlighting produces the light that’s responsible for illuminating the display device’s liquid pixels. As previously mentioned, though, LCDs don’t rely on a single type of backlighting solution. They support a variety of backlighting solutions, some of which include CCFL, EL-WLED, WLED array and RGB-LED array.
