liquid crystal display: Quick Facts

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Facts

Also Known As	LCD

Photos

Diagram comparing three liquid crystal phases: nematic with parallel rods aligned vertically, smectic A with rods arranged in horizontal layers, and smectic C with rods in tilted layers.

Diagram showing a twisted-nematic cell in two states: the top panel (off) depicts light passing through aligned liquid crystals and polarizers, making the assembly transparent; the bottom panel (on) shows an electric field disrupting the crystal alignment, blocking light and making the assembly opaque.

Diagram showing the layered structure of an active-matrix thin-film transistor liquid-crystal display (TFT-LCD), with labeled components including polarizers, liquid crystals, color filters, TFT matrix, and the display's front surface. An inset illustrates a basic thin-film transistor circuit.

A hand holds a digital camera, framing and photographing a scenic landscape with water, trees, and buildings; the camera's screen displays the same view.

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Topics

twisted-nematic cell flat-panel display

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