Chances are, you’re looking at an LCD display right now while reading this article. Believe it or not, LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) technology is one of the most widely used display types in the world today. From TVs and interactive displays to smart blackboards and smartphones, LCDs are everywhere. But have you ever wondered what technology lies behind these screens? And did you know that even within LCDs, there are many different types and configurations? Each one offers unique features like improved color, viewing angles, or energy efficiency.
In this article, we’ll dive into the world of LCD technology—breaking down how it works, what makes each type different, and how you can choose the right one for your needs. Let’s explore!
Understanding the Fundamentals Of LCD Display
LCD stands for Liquid Crystal Display, a technology that has become the backbone of modern digital screens. The name comes from the key component used in the display—liquid crystals, a unique state of matter that exhibits properties between liquids and solid crystals. These crystals don’t emit light on their own but can control the passage of light when an electric current is applied. That’s why LCDs are often paired with a backlight to make the screen visible.
An LCD screen is made up of several layers. The basic components include two polarized glass panels, a layer of liquid crystals, a backlight source, and color filters. These layers work together to control light and produce the visuals you see on-screen. Tiny electronic circuits, called thin-film transistors (TFTs), are also embedded to control individual pixels.
At the core of LCD technology are the liquid crystals themselves. These molecules can twist and align in specific ways when voltage is applied, allowing or blocking light to pass through each pixel. This property makes them ideal for creating images by adjusting brightness and contrast.
Because liquid crystals don’t emit light, an LED backlight is placed behind or beside the screen. This light passes through the crystal layer, and depending on the crystal orientation, more or less light reaches the front of the display, forming the basic brightness levels.
Finally, to create color, LCDs use color filters—typically red, green, and blue (RGB). Each pixel is divided into sub-pixels with these colors. By adjusting the amount of light passing through each sub-pixel, the screen can produce millions of colors, enabling full-color, high-resolution images.
Types of LCD Technology and Terminology
To understand LCD displays better, it’s essential to get familiar with the terminology used in the industry. LCDs, or Liquid Crystal Displays, come in various forms, depending on how the liquid crystals are aligned and controlled. These differences affect viewing angles, response times, brightness, and color quality—key factors for choosing the right display for a specific application.
There are two major categories of LCDs: Passive Matrix (PM) and Active Matrix (AM) displays. PM LCDs are simpler and more cost-effective, commonly used in calculators, digital watches, and low-power devices. AM LCDs, on the other hand, use a thin-film transistor (TFT) for each pixel, offering higher resolution and faster refresh rates, making them ideal for smartphones, TVs, and interactive displays.
PM (Passive Matrix) LCD Configurations
Passive Matrix displays are commonly found in simpler, low-power devices like calculators and digital watches. Though not as advanced as active matrix types, they offer cost-effective solutions for many applications. Below are the main PM LCD types:
| Types | Full Name | Description |
| TN | Twisted Nematic | Basic and affordable; limited viewing angles and color accuracy. |
| HTN | Hyper Twisted Nematic | Improved contrast over TN, with slightly better viewing angles. |
| STN | Super Twisted Nematic | Offers sharper contrast and better readability than TN/HTN. |
| FSTN | Film Compensated STN | A film layer improves clarity and enhances contrast. |
| WVTN | Wide View Twisted Nematic | Better viewing angles than standard TN; improved display performance. |
| VA / VAN | Vertically Aligned Nematic | Delivers deep black levels and wider viewing angles for better visual experience. |
AM (Active Matrix) LCD Configurations
Active Matrix displays use thin-film transistors (TFTs) to control each pixel individually, allowing for higher resolution, faster refresh rates, and more vibrant images. These are used in TVs, smartphones, and interactive displays. Here are the main AM LCD types:
| Type | Full Name | Description |
| IPS | In-Plane Switching | Excellent color accuracy and wide viewing angles. |
| FFS | Fringe Field Switching | Similar to IPS, with enhanced brightness and power efficiency. |
| MVA / PVA | (Patterned) Multidomain Vertically Aligned | Strong contrast and performance in dark scenes. |
| ASV | Axially Symmetric Vertically Aligned | Premium clarity, color depth, and brightness uniformity. |
| AIFF MVA | Amplified Intrinsic Fringe-Field MVA | High-end variation with optimized light control and image quality. |
LCD Periphery Components
When we talk about LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) technology, the display panel itself is just one part of a larger system. Several peripheral components work together to enable its full functionality, especially in smart devices and industrial applications. Here are six key LCD-related components you should know:
IC (Integrated Circuit):
ICs control the data and voltage delivered to the LCD. These chips are responsible for driving the display, managing timing, and interpreting signals from processors.
PCBA (Printed Circuit Board Assembly):
This is the board that houses all electronic components and connects the LCD module to the rest of the device. It includes ICs, connectors, and other passive components.
FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit):
FPCs are thin, bendable circuits used to connect the LCD to the motherboard or other parts. Their flexibility allows for compact and lightweight device designs, making them ideal for smartphones and tablets.
COG (Chip-On-Glass):
In this design, the IC is directly bonded onto the glass substrate of the LCD. This reduces space, cost, and improves signal transmission speed—common in compact displays.
LVDS (Low Voltage Differential Signaling):
LVDS is a communication standard used to transmit high-speed data between the LCD and other devices while minimizing noise and power consumption.
MIPI® (Mobile Industry Processor Interface):
MIPI is a high-speed interface standard widely used in mobile and embedded displays. It enables fast, efficient data transfer from processors to screens with minimal pin count.
Together, these components ensure reliable, high-performance LCD display operation.
LCD Technology In Smart Board
LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) technology is one of the most widely used display technologies in today’s smart interactive boards. Whether in classrooms, conference rooms, or training centers, LCD panels provide a reliable and cost-effective foundation for delivering vivid visuals and responsive touch interaction.
Unlike older projection systems, LCD-based smart boards offer sharp resolution, consistent brightness, and wide screen sizes, making them ideal for group collaboration and content sharing. In recent years, LCD has become the standard for many interactive displays due to its mature technology, stable supply chain, and ability to support both infrared and capacitive touch systems.
Compared to OLED, LCD displays have several practical advantages—especially for large-format use. While OLED is known for deep blacks and high contrast, it is more expensive, prone to burn-in, and less suitable for static content over long durations, which is common in business and educational settings. LCD, on the other hand, provides excellent durability, lower cost, and no risk of image retention, making it a smarter choice for institutional or high-traffic environments.
In summary, LCD technology continues to be a trusted and efficient option in the smart board market, delivering reliable performance, clear visuals, and long-term usability at a more accessible price point.
Frequently Asked Questions
Polarizing filters are essential in LCDs because they control the passage of light. An LCD has two polarizers placed perpendicular to each other—one in front and one behind the liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystals twist the light to align with the second polarizer, allowing light to pass through or be blocked, which enables the display to create visible images.
LCDs do not emit light themselves, so backlighting is necessary to make the screen visible. A backlight (usually LED) is placed behind or along the edge of the screen to illuminate the liquid crystals from the back. The crystals then modulate this light to create brightness and contrast.
An LCD screen uses RGB subpixels (Red, Green, Blue) under each pixel. The liquid crystals control how much light passes through each colored subpixel. By adjusting the intensity of light through these RGB filters, the display can mix millions of colors through additive color mixing.
English 
Spanish 
Arabic 
French