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thin-film transistor
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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.
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thin-film transistor

Also known as: TFT
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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.
LCD display Associated with each picture element, or pixel, of the display screen is a thin-film transistor, or TFT. The TFTs are subjected to varying voltages, which produce a varying orientation of molecules in the liquid crystal suspension. This varying orientation in turn varies the amount of light allowed to pass through the TFT matrix and colour filter, thereby changing the colour picture on the display screen.

A thin-film transistor (TFT) is a specialized type of field-effect transistor (FET) that uses a thin film of a semiconductor material to create a channel between two electrodes, the source and the drain. A third electrode, the gate, controls the conductivity of the channel. TFTs are crucial components in modern electronic displays, particularly in liquid crystal displays (LCDs).

In TFT displays, each pixel on the screen is associated with its own TFT, which acts as an electronic switch. This "active-matrix" design allows for precise control over individual pixels, enabling the display of complex, high-resolution images. TFTs are widely used in portable computers, personal computer monitors, and increasingly in televisions due to their ability to produce bright images with good color reproduction.12

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2 Britannica Sources
  1. TFT
  2. liquid crystal display

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