CertiGuide to A+ (Core Hardware)  9  Chapter 1001:  Notebooks

Lithium-Ion (Li) 1 Active-Matrix

Oh say, can you see...

The Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) can be the blessing or bane of any notebook. Generally, when we say LCD we are referring to a flat panel display screen.

It should be noted that the basic LCD display is monochrome, (really grayscale) and utilizes backlighting to enhance the image.

A simple example of this type of display would be found in digital watches. The watch is displaying time and date in a dark gray over a light gray background with the lighting to make it appear black (grayscale) and thus more visible.

This type of display is also low on power consumption. The backlighting is helpful but can be difficult to see under some surrounding light conditions.

The LCD display is created when an electrically reactive material is placed between electrodes. When current is applied to and removed from the electrodes, the display will become darker or lighter as needed.

If the liquid crystals are close together then you have something approximating a pixel. Have you ever noticed a blue spot on a LCD screen? This is likely a failure of a crystal.

Similarly, when the display becomes distorted on a watch or even a cell phone (maybe you dropped it?) then the crystals are dead.

Lithium-Ion (Li) 1 Active-Matrix