Active matrix: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 18:27, 28 August 2015

Revision as of 00:32, 15 February 2016

Line 5:

Given an ''m'' × ''n'' matrix, the number of connectors needed to address the display is ''m'' + ''n'' (just like in passive matrix technology). Each pixel is attached to a switch-device, which ''actively'' maintains the pixel state while other pixels are being addressed, also preventing [[crosstalk]] from inadvertently changing the state of an unaddressed pixel. The most common switching devices use TFTs, i.e. a [[field effect transistor|FET]] based on either the cheaper [[amorphous|non-crystalline]] [[thin-film]] [[silicon]] ([[amorphous silicon|a-Si]]), [[polycrystalline]] silicon ([[polycrystalline silicon|poly-Si]]), or [[Cadmium selenide|CdSe]] [[semiconductor]] material.

Another variant is to use diodes or resistors, but neither [[diode]]s (e.g. [[Metal insulator metal diode]]s), nor non-linear voltage dependent [[resistor]]s (i.e. [[varistor]]s) are currently used with Thethe latter not yet economical, compared to TFT.

The [[Macintosh Portable]] (1989) was perhaps the first consumer laptop to employ an active matrix panel. Today, virtually all TVs, computer monitors and smartphone screens that use [[LCD]] or [[OLED]] technology employ active matrix technology.<ref>{{cite web|title=What is OLED TV?|author=|date=1 March 2012|work=Cnet.com|url=http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-33199_7-57386898-221/what-is-oled-tv/}}</ref>