An LCD mode describes the way in which the LCD's screen is illuminated. Here we review the display type and conditions for monochrome liquid crystal displays.
Display Type
Positive Display Mode
Applications: General, watches, clocks, and calculators.
Characteristics:
Basic low-power LCD. Display is illuminated by ambient light, making it difficult to read in dark environments.
Negative Display Mode
Applications: General, kitchen appliances, home appliances, and timers. Use in backlight displays and multi-color displays from color filters.
Characteristics:
A backlight makes characters stand out clearer.
Polarizing Plates and Reflecting Plates
The thickness of the polarizing plate, transflecting plate, and reflecting plate may be restricted in order to allow optimum LCD characteristics. The standard specifications are:
- Polarizing plate thickness: 0.15mm
- Transflective plate thickness: 0.25mm
- Reflecting plate thickness: 0.25mm
Reflective Type
Applications: General, outdoor equipment, athletic/sport camera, and GPS devices.
Characteristics:
Generally used in bright environments.
Transflective Type (Semi-Transparent)
Applications: External light and backlight display, industrial equipment, gym equipment, and professional cameras.
Characteristics:
Can be used as a reflective type when ambient light is bright, and as transmissive type when ambient light is dim.
Transmissive Type (Transparent)
Applications: Backlight display, projectors, monitors, and TVs.
Characteristics:
Used with backlight for dark environments.
Wide Viewing Angle Display Modes
Twisted Nematic (TN)
Display Mode: (backlight color) / (light color): Gray / Black
Applications/Characteristics: Viewing angle and direction is somewhat limited.
High Twisted Nematic (HTN)
Display Mode: (backlight color) / (light color): Gray / Black
Applications/Characteristics: Up to 1/48 duty drive possible with a wide visual field.
Super Twisted Nematic (STN)
Display Mode: (backlight color) / (light color): Green / Blue, Gray / Purple, Blue / White
Applications/Characteristics: Up to 1/200 duty drive possible. High quality image.
Film Compensated Super Twisted Nematic (FSTN)
Display Mode: (backlight color) / (light color): White / Black
Applications/Characteristics: Up to 1/200 duty drive possible. High quality image.
Color Display Mode
Color Filter
Applications: Color display stands out for alarms, medical devices, and office devices.
Characteristics: Used in combination with negative display for partial coloring.
Viewing Direction
Applications: For displays that require high-contrast at various angles and directions.
