What does the term LCD mean and is it the same as Interactive Flat Panel Display?'

The term LCD stands for Liquid Crystal Display. It is a type of flat-panel display technology commonly used in electronic devices such as televisions, computer monitors, laptops, tablets, smartphones, and digital signage.

LCDs work by manipulating the properties of liquid crystals, which are substances that can change their molecular arrangement when an electric current is applied. The display consists of multiple layers, including a backlight, polarizing filters, and liquid crystal cells.

Here's a brief overview of how LCD technology functions:

1. Backlight: An LCD display typically includes a backlight, which is a light source positioned behind the liquid crystal layer. The backlight provides illumination to the display, allowing the content to be visible.

2. Polarizing Filters: The light emitted by the backlight passes through a pair of polarizing filters. These filters help control the direction of light waves, allowing only certain orientations to pass through.

3. Liquid Crystal Cells: The liquid crystal cells are situated between the polarizing filters. These cells contain liquid crystals that can twist and change their alignment when subjected to an electric current.

4. Electric Current Control: Electrical signals are applied to the liquid crystal cells, controlling the alignment of the liquid crystals. The liquid crystals act as a shutter, either allowing light to pass through or blocking it based on the electric field applied.

5. Color Filters: Color filters are placed over the liquid crystal cells to produce color images. These filters separate the white light into red, green, and blue components, allowing each pixel to display a specific color.

By manipulating the alignment of the liquid crystals, the LCD display can control the amount of light passing through each pixel, creating the desired image or video content. The pixels collectively form the visual display, and variations in their intensity and color create the images seen on the screen.

LCD technology offers several advantages, including thin and lightweight displays, low power consumption, and wide viewing angles. LCDs have become prevalent in consumer electronics due to their versatility and ability to produce high-quality images and video content.

It's important to note that there are different variations of LCD technology, such as TFT-LCD (Thin-Film Transistor LCD), IPS-LCD (In-Plane Switching LCD), and OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) displays, each with its own characteristics and advantages.

CommBox Interactive Touchscreens have an LCD making them a type of flat panel display. Because CommBox Touchscreens have touch this makes them interactive which is why they are also known as interactive flat panel displays.

To find out more about CommBox's range of interactive flat panel displays click here.