Full Form of LCD

LCD Full Form

Whenever we go to buy some electronic gadgets, we come across terms like LCD and LED. But what do they mean? For instance, we know that both are a form of television but do we know their full form. The answer is no. Not much of us know what LCD stands for or what parts does it holds or in which sizes do they come. So, without further ado let’s get to know about the term LCD.

LCD stands for Liquid Crystal Display. LCD is defined as the flat panel display that uses the properties of a liquid crystal to display a picture. In layman’s language, LCD is a flat display television that deals with crystals and polarizers to give a perfect picture/ video. Now, what are polarizers? Well, a polarizer is defined as an optical filter that enables the light to pass through it. The light passes in variations so that other lights do not pass through it. Linear Polarization is most commonly used in electronic gadgets.

Now, let us talk about the use of light crystals in an LCD. The light crystals do not emit light. Rather they need a backlight so that it can produce images. LCD uses the basic technology for showing the images in pixels. On the other hand, the other advanced gadgets depict clear images and relatively larger. There are two kinds of pixel grids in LCDs i.e. Active Matrix Grid and Passive Matrix Grid. The Active Matrix Grid is used in smart-phones whereas; the Passive Matrix Grid was used in older technologies.  

The history of LCD is also vivid. LCD was built in 1964 by George Heilmeier. In 1888, Friedrich Reinitzer discovered the liquid crystals. Friedrich was a botanist who used these crystals in his research and experiments. In 1964, the LCD was invented and 10-12 years later, the LCD was introduced in the market. The first LCD was introduced by ILIXCO (International Liquid Crystal Company).

Now, what are these LCDs used for? Well, it is interesting to know that LCDs do not come in televisions only. There are a wide variety of applications in which these LCDs are used. These varieties include computers, cockpit displays, musical instrument panels, etc. These varieties are for big-screen electronic gadgets. There are small screen LCDs too (Portable Devices) like the LCD projectors, watches, clocks, mobiles, DVD Players, video games, and telephones.

The LCDs have replaced the heavy CRTs (Cathode Ray Tubes) in earlier models of television. LCDs are now available in all sizes ranging from smart watches to large screens. The weight also differs relatively. In the present scenario, the LCDs are being replaced by OLEDs. Now, what are OLEDs? Well, OLED stands for Organic Light-Emitting Diode. The OLEDs use organic compounds to emit light. The light is emitted when it is combined with the electric current.

Now, let us see some of the characteristics of LCDs.

1. An LCD consists of two primary parts i.e. the electrodes and polarizing filters. Both are placed perpendicular to each other so that the light can pass accordingly, thereby, leading to display the perfect picture/ video.  
2. LCD consists of molecules that are placed between the electrodes. This is how an image is generated in pixels.
3. The liquid crystals in LCDs have a chemical formula that may vary.
4. In the case of generating color filters, photolithography is used. This technique generates subpixels in blue, green, and red.  
5. LCD screens are energy efficient. They reduce the power consumption as they do not use CRTs anymore.

Now, let us look at some of the benefits of LCD.

• The LCD has a much better display and is relatively thinner as compared to earlier electronic gadgets.
• The color and brightness given by the LCDs are phenomenal. The brightness and contrast help in representing the perfect image.
• LCD reduces power consumption and increases efficiency. This is one of the primary benefits of LCDs.

These are some of the benefits of LCDs. Well, it is important to note that nowadays, people are switching to LEDs, home theatres, and smart televisions. But still, LCD has its benefits and characteristics that enable people to buy it. LCD has many uses and advantages and come in various sizes. Thus, LCD is energy efficient and one of the best electronic gadgets ever made.