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. 2010 Mar 13;368(1914):1027-82.
doi: 10.1098/rsta.2009.0247.

Flat-panel electronic displays: a triumph of physics, chemistry and engineering

Cyril Hilsum  1
Affiliations

Flat-panel electronic displays: a triumph of physics, chemistry and engineering

Cyril Hilsum. Philos Trans A Math Phys Eng Sci. .

Abstract

This paper describes the history and science behind the development of modern flat-panel displays, and assesses future trends. Electronic displays are an important feature of modern life. For many years the cathode ray tube, an engineering marvel, was universal, but its shape was cumbersome and its operating voltage too high. The need for a flat-panel display, working at a low voltage, became imperative, and much research has been applied to this need. Any versatile flat-panel display will exploit an electro-optical effect, a transparent conductor and an addressing system to deliver data locally. The first need is to convert an electrical signal into a visible change. Two methods are available, the first giving emission of light, the second modulating ambient illumination. The most useful light-emitting media are semiconductors, historically exploiting III-V or II-VI compounds, but more recently organic or polymer semiconductors. Another possible effect uses gas plasma discharges. The modulating, or subtractive, effects that have been studied include liquid crystals, electrophoresis, electrowetting and electrochromism. A transparent conductor makes it possible to apply a voltage to an extended area while observing the results. The design is a compromise, since the free electrons that carry current also absorb light. The first materials used were metals, but some semiconductors, when heavily doped, give a better balance, with high transmission for a low resistance. Delivering data unambiguously to a million or so picture elements across the display area is no easy task. The preferred solution is an amorphous silicon thin-film transistor deposited at each cross-point in an X-Y matrix. Success in these endeavours has led to many applications for flat-panel displays, including television, flexible displays, electronic paper, electronic books and advertising signs.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
A mini-radar set.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Matrix addressing.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Matrix addressing problems. (a) Multiplexing. (b) Electro-optical effects with (curve A) and without (curve B) a threshold.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
The active matrix.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
The director in a nematic liquid crystal.
Figure 6.
Figure 6.
The twisted nematic display.
Figure 7.
Figure 7.
John Stonehouse, UK Minister of State for Technology, 1967–1968.
Figure 8.
Figure 8.
Composition of eutectic LC material E7.
Figure 9.
Figure 9.
The market for liquid crystals, 1975–1979.
Figure 10.
Figure 10.
Operating principle of Fujitsu MVA-LCD (after Koike & Okamoto 1999). (a) Basic concept. (b) Basic cell structure.
Figure 11.
Figure 11.
Merck sales of liquid crystals.
Figure 12.
Figure 12.
A Merck superfluorinated terphenyl.
Figure 13.
Figure 13.
A Merck terphenyl with high negative dielectric anisotropy.
Figure 14.
Figure 14.
Principle of electrophoresis.
Figure 15.
Figure 15.
Electrowetting characteristic (after Hayes & Feenstra 2003).
Figure 16.
Figure 16.
Frustrated total reflection.
Figure 17.
Figure 17.
An early tour-de-force in LED assembly: multi-colour LED flat-panel display with 64×64 picture elements.
Figure 18.
Figure 18.
Thin-film AC electroluminescent panel construction.
Figure 19.
Figure 19.
Filamentary breakdown due to S-type negative resistance.
Figure 20.
Figure 20.
A formed DC electroluminescent panel.
Figure 21.
Figure 21.
Organic LED schematic.
Figure 22.
Figure 22.
Isomers of Alq3: (a) meridional; (b) facial (violet, Al; red, O; blue, N; after Cölle & Brütting 2004).
Figure 23.
Figure 23.
Schematic of a starburst dendrimer.
Figure 24.
Figure 24.
Schematic of phosphor arrangement in a plasma panel.
Figure 25.
Figure 25.
Schematic of the Spindt cathode.
Figure 26.
Figure 26.
Schematic of the GEC planar cathode.
Figure 27.
Figure 27.
The first amorphous silicon thin-film transistor.
Figure 28.
Figure 28.
Electrical characteristics of the first a-Si TFT, made at Dundee University.
Figure 29.
Figure 29.
The growth in manufacturing capability of active-matrix LCD panels.
Figure 30.
Figure 30.
A 150 inch Panasonic plasma panel TV.
Figure 31.
Figure 31.
World sales of flat panels, 1986–2008.
Figure 32.
Figure 32.
Generation 10 glass for displays.
Figure 33.
Figure 33.
Schematic of structure of E Ink paper.
Figure 34.
Figure 34.
Bistable LC states in ZBD display.
Figure 35.
Figure 35.
A ZBD shelf label display.
Figure 36.
Figure 36.
Large cholesteric liquid crystal billboard (courtesy Magink).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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