Computer Monitors

INTRODUCTION TO CRT AND LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAYS

Presented By: Muhammad Salah Elgabo Guided By: Ust. Zainab Mahmoud

INTRODUCTION
Early computers outputted information through hard-copy printers and Indicator LEDs. Nowadays the primary output

device is the electronic display. Today Ill shed some light on

the major technologies responsible for enabling the display

technology for computer monitors and so many portable and

handheld devices.

OBJECTIVES

To discuss the Liquid Crystals, their types and properties. To analyze the LCD/CRT internal structure. To explain the LCD/CRT colour display. To discuss the CRT interface.

What Are Liquid Crystals?

Liquid Crystals (LCs) are an intermediate phase of matter that shares the characteristics of both liquid and crystal. Types of Liquid Crystals Thermotropic LCs I. Smectic LCs II. Nematic LCs Lyotropic LCs Cholesteric LCs
Fig 1. Nematic LCs molecules are loosely oriented with their long axis parallel.

Important LCs Features

The ability of the LCs to rotate the polarization direction of light. The molecular orientation of the LCs can be controlled with applied voltage.

Cracking The LCD

The LCD basically consists of the following elements:1. 2. 3.

4.

5.

Liquid Crystal Cell Alignment Layers: Parallel plates used to force the LCs into specific molecular arrangement. Conductive Electrodes: An ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) transparent conductive film used to apply voltage to the LC cell. Polarizers: Same as filters, polarizers contain the electric and magnetic field of a light wave to one plane. Color Filters: Enable color display on the LCD.

Cracking The LCD

Fig 2. The LCD Structure

LCD Color Filters

Fig 3. The structure of the Color Filter

Basic CRT Structure

Fig 4. The CRT Structure

Electron Gun Construction

Fig 5. Inside the Electron Gun.

Color Display
To achieve color, different chemicals are used in phosphor manufacturing. Three electron guns are used for Red, Green and Blue. Each gun is directed and masked to strike a single color phosphor. Color is produced through combining the RGB components.

Either of the following gun configurations is used:

DELTA CONF. IN-LINE CONF.

Masks & Patterns

Fig 7. Electron gun configurations, masks and phosphor patterns.

The CRT Controller

Interfaces the P busses to the CRT monitor. Provides the basic signals required by the monitor 1. Horizontal Sync 2. Vertical Sync 3. Video Information

Fig 8. The CRT Controller

Methods of controlling the movement of the electron beam across the screen:
Vector Graphics: The position of the beam spot is controlled via electric field to trace out the image. More suitable for graphics applications. Raster Scan: The beam traces a standard pattern of horizontal lines all the way from the top left-hand corner to the bottom right. Raster Scan can either be Interlaced or Non-Interlaced.

Raster Scan

Vector Graphics

Fig 9. Raster Scan & Vector Graphics

CRT Screen Memory

Fig 10. CRT Controller Block Diagram

Memory Contention Logics

1. Direct Memory Access A portion of the P memory is used as virtual screen memory. DMA controller transfers data to the CRT controller. CRT controller has two raw buffers for data storage. As one raw is being displayed, the other is filled from the P virtual memory.

Memory Contention Logics

2. Interlaced Memory Access Uses a 2-phase clock. Easier to implement with microprocessors such as Motorola 86000 and 6502. The P accesses the memory during one phase of the clock, the CRT controller accesses during the other.

Memory Contention Logics

3. Non-Display Time Access The P accesses the screen memory when the display is blanked. The blanking signal is connected to an I/P pin or an interrupt I/P. The P can spend a significant amount of time awaiting access to the screen memory (Disadvantage)

References
The History of Liquid-Crystal Displays HIROSHIA KAWAMOTO, IEEE FELLOW http://www.lcd-displaysmanufacturers.com/suserfiles/upload/lcd_history_blaze_display.pdf Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Computer Peripherals Course, Chapter 2: Display Systems http://www.lintech.org/comp-per/ http://www.toppan.co.jp/english/products_service/pdf/CF.pdf