Understanding Today’s Hi-Tech Screens
By now we’ve established that keeping screens clean is important for various reasons. However, it is critical to note that many electronic devices feature screens with delicate coatings that require special cleaning care. Today’s screens are delicate and vulnerable to harsh chemicals. Screen technologies are made of a film that must be cared for properly or damage will be done to these films.
The external layer of an LCD (liquid crystal display) consists of a soft polarizing filter film that is highly prone to damage caused by the use of common household cleaners. The ammonia and alcohol from those cleaners can actually remove the anti-glare layer causing visible screen damage including scratches, smudging and clouding. Plasma monitors are made of a glass substrate that is also very delicate due to layers of film coatings. These screen types are susceptible to chemical-caused damage using household products. Manufacturers of LCD and plasma displays specifically recommend against using household cleaners.
So that you can understand the modern screen technology, the following diagram as reference for the science technology behind many of your screens.
Layers of an LCD Screen:
The Technology Behind Your Screens
An LCD is sometimes referred to as a “transmissive” display. Light isn’t created by the liquid crystals themselves; instead, a light source behind the LCD panel shines through the display. A diffusion panel behind the LCD redirects and scatters the light evenly to ensure a uniform image. The display consists of two polarizing transparent panels and a liquid crystal solution sandwiched in between. The screen’s front layer of glass is etched on the inside surface in a grid pattern to form a template for the layer of liquid crystals. Liquid crystals are rod-shaped molecules that twist when an electric current is applied to them. Each crystal acts like a shutter, either allowing light to pass through or blocking the light. The pattern of transparent and dark crystals forms the image. Most LCD screens come standard with an anti-glare layer that covers the outer-most layer of the screen (polarizing film filter). The outer layers are very fragile and can be easily damaged if not taken care of properly.
An LED-backlit LCD display is a flat panel display that uses LED backlighting instead of the cold cathode (CCFL) backlighting used in most other LCDs. The use of LED backlighting allows for a thinner panel, lower power consumption, better heat dissipation, a brighter display, and better contrast levels. LED backlit LCD TVs use the same TFT LCD technologies as CCFL backlit LCD TVs.
A plasma TV is sometimes called an “emissive” display — the panel is actually self-lighting. The display consists of two transparent glass panels with a thin layer of pixels sandwiched in between. Each pixel is composed of three gas-filled cells or sub-pixels (one each for red, green and blue). A grid of tiny electrodes applies an electric current to the individual cells, causing the gas (a mix of neon and xenon) in the cells to ionize. This ionized gas (plasma) emits high-frequency UV rays, which stimulate the cells’ phosphors, causing them to glow the desired color.
