If you’re in the market for a new television, there are many options out there for you to choose from. You’ve probably run across the LCD and LED models. Understanding the difference between the two can assist you in making a better decision regarding which television model is right for your needs.
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What Is LCD?
LCD stands for liquid crystal display. These televisions are made with two very thin panes of glass. Indium tin oxide is applied to one of the panes of glass. This is a metal alloy that allows the television to get electrical signals to the center of the screen. This special metal is invisible to the naked eye. A layer of silicone is added to the screen so that millions of transistor parts can be positioned to create what is known as a screen pixel.
A Look at the Second Pane
Now, since you know the commercial TFT LCD displays manufacturing process for the first pane of glass, it’s time to discuss the second pane. Millions of colored dots are applied to the other glass sheet in a specific design known as a color filter array or CFA. These colors are blue, green, and red. When the light shines through specific colors, it creates the screen picture.
Finishing Up the Television
Before both panes are pressed together, a liquid crystal material is dropped onto the transistor cells on the first pane. Once the liquid crystal material is dropped, a special adhesive is utilized by the manufacturer to glue the two glass sheets together. During this process, alignment is very important. The colored dots on the second pane need to be perfectly aligned with the transistor cells on the first pane. There is only a two-micron error level that is acceptable. To put that into perspective, a human hair is 25 microns in diameter.
LCD vs. LED
LEDs are actually constructed quite similar to LCDs. Therefore, LED televisions are considered a subset of LCD televisions. The main difference between the models is in the type of lightning that they use. LCD televisions traditionally used cold cathode fluorescent lamps or CCFLs. LED televisions, on the other hand, use smaller light emitting diodes, known commonly as LEDs. These smaller lights are more energy-efficient.
When it comes to selecting the right television for your home, it’s imperative to do the research. This can reveal the pros and cons of each model. Hopefully, you now have a better idea of how LCD televisions vary from LED models.