Revolution next LCD

Revolution next LCD



Researchers from Microsoft and the University of Washington reportedly published the new pixel design, termed 'telescopic pixels design', in Nature Photonics. The telescopic pixel design is claimed to be more efficient, faster and brighter than those used in LCDs.
Telescopic pixel design has a pair of disc-shaped pixel carrying micromirrors, one of which is stationary, with an aperture, and the other, a de-formable micro-mirror, is placed in front of the aperture. When the pixel is turned "on" with an electromagnetic force, the de-formable pixel bends to stop light or reflect it on the stationary mirror and let it surpass the pixel. When turned "off", light is reflected back to the source.

LCD transmits barely 5-10 per cent of backlight after passing through the polarizing films, the liquid crystal layer and the color filters. Displays based on telescopic pixels can transmit up to 36 per cent of backlight.

Telescopic pixel technology also has a faster response time of less than 1.5 milliseconds, while the LCD technology pixels take average 25 to 40 seconds for switching between black and white. Thus the ultra fast response time translates to simpler, low-cost color displays, claims Michael Sinclair from the Microsoft Research team.

Sinclair said that in telescopic design the pixels are fabricated in few layers and comparatively simpler than fabricating LCDs. Thus low-cost displays can be manufactured with a simplified production process and resultant displays would obviously be cheaper. Of course, this is still in the research stage, and its commercially viability and application have not been specified yet.