DOCSLIB.ORG

I FLEXOELECTRIC LIQUID CRYSTALS and THEIR

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
I FLEXOELECTRIC LIQUID CRYSTALS and THEIR FLEXOELECTRIC LIQUID CRYSTALS AND THEIR APPLICATIONS A dissertation submitted to Kent State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy by Yingfei Jiang August 2020 © Copyright All rights reserved Except for previously published materials i Dissertation written by Yingfei Jiang B.S., University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China 2014 M.S. Kent State University, USA 2017 Ph.D., Kent State University, USA 2020 Approved by ___________________________________ , Chair, Doctoral Dissertation Committee Dengke Yang ___________________________________ , Members, Doctoral Dissertation Committee Philip J. Bos ___________________________________ Robin Selinger ___________________________________ Elizabeth K. Mann ___________________________________ Xiaoyu Zheng ___________________________________ James Gleeson Accepted by ___________________________________ , Chair, Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Antal I Jakli Program ___________________________________ , Interim Dean, College of Arts and Sciences Mandy Munro-Stasiuk, Ph.D. TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................... III LIST OF FIGURES ..................................................................................................... VIII LIST OF TABLES .........................................................................................................XV DEDICATION.............................................................................................................. XVI ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...................................................................................... XVII INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................... 1 1.1 Basics of liquid crystal .............................................................................................. 1 1.2 Elastic property of liquid crystal ............................................................................... 3 1.3 Dielectric property of liquid crystal .......................................................................... 4 1.4 Flexoelectric effect .................................................................................................... 5 1.5 Optical properties ...................................................................................................... 8 1.6 Dichroic dye liquid crystals ....................................................................................... 9 1.7 Liquid crystal display modes ................................................................................... 10 1.7.1 Twist nematic (TN) ....................................................................................... 10 1.7.2 Vertical alignment (VA)................................................................................ 12 1.7.3 In-plane-switch (IPS) and Fringe field switching (FFS). .............................. 14 1.8 Polymer stabilized liquid crystals............................................................................ 17 1.9 The overview of the dissertation ............................................................................. 18 EFFECTS OF FLEXOELECTRICITY AND ION ON THE FLICKER OF FRINGE FIELD SWITCHING LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY ............................................................................................................. 22 iii 2.1 Background ............................................................................................................. 22 2.2 Experiment and results ............................................................................................ 23 2.3 Simulation study ...................................................................................................... 26 2.3.1 Effect of flexoelectricity................................................................................ 26 2.3.2 Effects of ion ................................................................................................. 28 2.3.3 Splay and bend deformation values .............................................................. 30 2.3.4 Flexoelectric coefficients on flickering ......................................................... 31 2.4 Conclusion ............................................................................................................... 32 IMAGE FLICKERING-FREE POLYMER STABILIZED FRINGE FIELD SWITCHING LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY ................................... 33 3.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 33 3.2 Experiment and results ............................................................................................ 35 3.3 Simulation and results ............................................................................................. 43 3.4 Discussion and conclusion ...................................................................................... 49 IMAGE FLICKERING REDUCTION BY DIMER AND POLYMER STABILIZATION IN FFS LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY ........................... 52 4.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 52 4.2 Reduction of image flickering by decreasing flexoelectric coefficient: doping a liquid crystal dimer ........................................................................................................... 56 4.2.1 Simulation study ............................................................................................ 57 4.2.2 Experimental study ........................................................................................ 59 iv 4.3 Reduction of image flickering by decreasing spatial variation of liquid crystal director: polymer stabilization .......................................................................................... 67 4.3.1 Simulation study ............................................................................................ 67 4.3.2 Experimental study ........................................................................................ 70 4.4 Discussion and Conclusion ..................................................................................... 74 DUAL MODE SWITCHABLE SMART WINDOW BY DIELECTRIC AND FLEXOELECTRIC EFFECT OF THE LIQUID CRYSTAL ........................................................................................................... 76 5.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 76 5.2 Operation principle .................................................................................................. 80 5.3 Experimental result ................................................................................................. 85 5.3.1 Cell fabrication .............................................................................................. 85 5.3.2 Electro-optic studies ...................................................................................... 86 5.3.3 Transmission spectrum .................................................................................. 93 5.3.4 Demo ............................................................................................................. 95 5.4 Conclusion ............................................................................................................... 96 PRETILT ANGLE INDUCED BY DIMER IN VERTICAL ALIGNMENT LIQUID CRYSTALS ............................................................... 98 6.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 98 6.2 Experimental results and discussions .................................................................... 101 6.2.1 Cell fabrication ............................................................................................ 101 6.2.2 Polarizing optical microscopy ..................................................................... 102 v 6.2.3 Pretilt angle measurement ........................................................................... 105 6.2.4 Electro-optical properties ............................................................................ 107 6.3 Theoretical analysis ............................................................................................... 110 6.4 Conclusion ............................................................................................................. 113 THERMALLY SWITCHABLE LIQUID CRYSTAL LIGHT WINDOW .......................................................................................................... 115 7.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 116 7.2 Experimental results and discussion ..................................................................... 119 7.2.1 Cell fabrication ............................................................................................ 119 7.2.2 Transmittance at varied temperatures ......................................................... 119 7.2.3 Polarizing optical microscopy ..................................................................... 123 7.2.4 Effect of dimer concentration ...................................................................... 125 7.2.5 Electro-optical properties ............................................................................ 127 7.2.6 Demo ..........................................................................................................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Cathode-Ray Tube Displays for Medical Imaging
    DIGITAL IMAGING BASICS Cathode-Ray Tube Displays for Medical Imaging Peter A. Keller This paper will discuss the principles of cathode-ray crease the velocity of the electron beam for tube displays in medical imaging and the parameters increased light output from the screen; essential to the selection of displays for specific 4. a focusing section to bring the electron requirements. A discussion of cathode-ray tube fun- beam to a sharp focus at the screen; damentals and medical requirements is included. 9 1990bu W.B. Saunders Company. 5. a deflection system to position the electron beam to a desired location on the screen or KEY WORDS: displays, cathode ray tube, medical scan the beam in a repetitive pattern; and irnaging, high resolution. 6. a phosphor screen to convert the invisible electron beam to visible light. he cathode-ray tube (CRT) is the heart of The assembly of electrodes or elements mounted T almost every medical display and its single within the neck of the CRT is commonly known most costly component. Brightness, resolution, as the "electron gun" (Fig 2). This is a good color, contrast, life, cost, and viewer comfort are analogy, because it is the function of the electron gun to "shoot" a beam of electrons toward the all strongly influenced by the selection of a screen or target. The velocity of the electron particular CRT by the display designer. These beam is a function of the overall accelerating factors are especially important for displays used voltage applied to the tube. For a CRT operating for medical diagnosis in which patient safety and at an accelerating voltage of 20,000 V, the comfort hinge on the ability of the display to electron velocity at the screen is about present easily readable, high-resolution images 250,000,000 mph, or about 37% of the velocity of accurately and rapidly.
    [Show full text]
  • BA(Prog)III Yr 14/04/2020 Displays Interlacing and Progressive Scan
    BA(prog)III yr 14/04/2020 Displays • Colored phosphors on a cathode ray tube (CRT) screen glow red, green, or blue when they are energized by an electron beam. • The intensity of the beam varies as it moves across the screen, some colors glow brighter than others. • Finely tuned magnets around the picture tube aim the electrons onto the phosphor screen, while the intensity of the beamis varied according to the video signal. This is why you needed to keep speakers (which have strong magnets in them) away from a CRT screen. • A strong external magnetic field can skew the electron beam to one area of the screen and sometimes caused a permanent blotch that cannot be fixed by degaussing—an electronic process that readjusts the magnets that guide the electrons. • If a computer displays a still image or words onto a CRT for a long time without changing, the phosphors will permanently change, and the image or words can become visible, even when the CRT is powered down. Screen savers were invented to prevent this from happening. • Flat screen displays are all-digital, using either liquid crystal display (LCD) or plasma technologies, and have replaced CRTs for computer use. • Some professional video producers and studios prefer CRTs to flat screen displays, claiming colors are brighter and more accurately reproduced. • Full integration of digital video in cameras and on computers eliminates the analog television form of video, from both the multimedia production and the delivery platform. • If your video camera generates a digital output signal, you can record your video direct-to-disk, where it is ready for editing.
    [Show full text]
  • Motion Compensated Deinterlacer Analysis and Implementation
    2008:126 CIV MASTER'S THESIS Motion Compensated Deinterlacer Analysis and Implementation Johan Helander Luleå University of Technology MSc Programmes in Engineering Arena, Media, Music and Technology Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering Division of Signal Processing 2008:126 CIV - ISSN: 1402-1617 - ISRN: LTU-EX--08/126--SE Master’s Thesis Supervisor: Magnus Hoem Examiner: Magnus Lundberg Nordenvaad Telestream AB & Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, Signal Processing Group, Luleå University of Technology Preface This Master’s Thesis was carried out by me during the autumn term 2007 and beginning of 2008 at Telestream AB’s office at Rådmansgatan 49, Stockholm. It is part of the Master of Science program Arena Media, Music and Technology at Luleå University of Technology (LTU). Because of my education and interest in signal processing in media applications, the proposed topic was very well suited. The reader is assumed having basic knowledge about signal processing, such as sampling, quantization, aliasing and so on. I would like to thank Telestream AB for their warm welcome and comfortable treatment during this period. I would especially like to thank Magnus Hoem, CEO Telestream AB, for the opportunity to carry this thesis through, Nils Andgren, Telestream AB, for help and support through important thoughts and discussions, Kennet Eriksson, Telestream AB, for supplying test video sequences. Finally, I would like to thank Maria Andersson, for great support by illustration of the majority of the figures contained in this Master’s Thesis. i ii Abstract In the early days of television as Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) screens became brighter, the level of flicker caused by progressive scanning became more noticeable.
    [Show full text]
  • Stereographics Developers' Handbook : 1
    STEREO G RAPHICS DEVELOPERS' HANDBOOK Background on Creating Images for CrystalEyes ® and SimulEyes® 1997 StereoGraphics Corporation StereoGraphics Developers’ Handbook Table of Contents CHAPTER 1 1 Depth Cues 1 Introduction 1 Monocular Cues 3 Summing Up 4 References 5 CHAPTER 2 7 Perceiving Stereoscopic Images 7 Retinal Disparity 7 Parallax 8 Parallax Classifications 9 Interaxial Seperation 10 Congruent Nature of the Fields 10 Accommodation/Convergence Relationship 11 Control of Parallax 12 Crosstalk 12 Curing the Problems 13 Summary 13 References 13 CHAPTER 3 15 Composition 15 Accommodation/Convergence 16 Screen Surround 17 Orthostereoscopy 18 ZPS and HIT 20 Viewer-Space Effects 21 Viewer Distance 22 Software Tips 22 Proposed Standard 23 Summary 24 References 26 CHAPTER 4 27 Stereo-Vision Formats 27 What’s a Format? 27 Interlace Stereo 28 Above-and-Below Format 28 Stereo-Ready Computers 30 Side-by-Side 31 White-Line-Code 31 Summing Up 33 CHAPTER 5 35 Parallalel Lens Axes 35 The Camera Model 36 The Parallax Factor 37 Windows and Cursors 39 References 40 CHAPTER 6 41 Creating Stereoscopic Software 41 CREATING STEREOSCOPIC PAIRS 42 Perspective Projections 42 Stereo Perspective Projections 43 Parallax: Too Much of a Good Thing? 44 Putting the Eyes Where They Belong 45 Interacting with the User 49 THE ABOVE-BELOW FORMAT 49 Initialization and Interface Issues for Above-Below Stereo 51 THE SIMULEYES VR STEREOSCOPIC FORMAT 52 SimulEyes VR White Line Code 52 Initialization and Interface Issues for SimulEyes VR Stereo 52 Pseudoscopic Images 53 The Page-Swap Alternative 54 GLOSSARY 55 INDEX 59 The StereoGraphics Developers' Handbook : 1.
    [Show full text]
  • Computer Monitors and Digital Televisions Visual Sensitivity from Vestibular Disorders Affects Choice of Display
    PO BOX 13305 · PORTLAND, OR 97213 · FAX: (503) 229-8064 · (800) 837-8428 · [email protected] · WWW.VESTIBULAR.ORG Computer Monitors and Digital Televisions Visual Sensitivity from Vestibular Disorders Affects Choice of Display Visual sensitivity from vestibular television’s screen size. A very large disorders can be exaggerated when a television placed in a small room can be person uses a computer monitor or problematic for a person with a vestibular watches television. Certain types of disorder because the screen will dominate displays—and certain ways a person the visual field so much that any might use them—can be more movement on the screen may create the problematic than others. These are illusion that it is actually the viewer who discussed in the following introduction to is moving. terminology associated with three common display technologies: cathode- Display-aspect ratio (not to be confused ray tube (CRT), liquid crystal display with “screen-aspect ratio,” see pg. 3) (LCD), and plasma. To help readers characterizes a display’s width relative navigate the technical jargon, key points to height. Traditional computer and aimed at assisting people with vestibular television displays have a display-aspect disorders are flagged with the symbol ratio of 4:3 (sometimes expressed as the at left. fractional amount of 4/3 = 1.33). Wide- screen displays have a 16:9 aspect ratio Basic terminology (or 16/9 = 1.77), and thus provide added Televisions and computer monitors share viewing area (see Figure 1). similar technologies, but they apply them in different ways. These differences are A wide-screen computer monitor with a based on the brain’s ability to process screen size ranging between 19 and 22 information from a distance (televisions) inches is especially helpful for a person as opposed to up close (computer with a vestibular disorder who writes and monitors).
    [Show full text]
  • Benq Eye-Care Technology White Paper A
    BenQ Eye-care Technology White Paper A. Human Eye B. What Can Cause Computer Eye Strain C. Flicker i.What is Flicker? ii.Causes of Monitor Flicker - Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) iii.Health Concerns of Flicker iv. How to Test for PWM v. Alternative Backlight Dimming Techniques vi. BenQ Flicker-Free Monitor Range D. Blue light i.What is Blue Light? ii.Effects of Blue Light iii.BenQ New Backlight Module iv.BenQ Low Blue Light Plus Technology E. Inconsistent Lighting i.Why Inconsistent Lighting can Damages Eyes? ii.BenQ Brightness Intelligence Technology F .Brightness Intelligent Plus Technology i. Brightness Intelligence Plus Technology Explained ii. Color Temperature iii. Brightness Intelligence Plus Technology iv. Benefits of Brightness Intelligence Plus v. Color Sensor vi. Ambient Light Sensor (ALS) Color Temperature vs. Monitor Color Temperature A. Human Eye The human eye is a precise and sensitive optical system, which can adapt to a visual object and change according to different visual environments. The basic structure of the eye is very similar to a camera, including the lens, aperture, and film. A complete optical system projects the image onto the film, which is the retina in our eyes. In order to have a clear image, the light must be able to focus on the retina. 1.Cornea – Lens The first element that encounters light entering the eyes is the cornea. Its function is to allow light to enter the eye freely. 2.The pupil (iris) - Aperture After light passes through cornea, it reaches the iris. The iris serves like a camera aperture; it controls the amount of light entering the eye and the center of the hole is called the pupil.
    [Show full text]
  • Digital Light Processing (DLP™) Projectors Vision 15 Vision 15ET Vision 15ET/Cinewide™
    INSTALLATION/OPERATION MANUAL 15 Digital Light Processing (DLP™) Projectors Vision 15 Vision 15ET Vision 15ET/CineWide™ VERSION 1.1 TWO YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY For Projectors, Video Processors and Controllers Congratulations on your purchase of a Vidikron video product and welcome to the Vidikron family! With proper installation, setup and care, you should enjoy many years of unparalleled video performance. This is a LIMITED WARRANTY as defined in the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. Please read it carefully and retain it with your other important documents. WHAT IS COVERED UNDER THE TERMS OF THIS LIMITED WARRANTY: SERVICE LABOR: Planar Systems, Inc. (“Planar”) will pay for service labor at an Authorized Service Center when needed as a result of manufacturing defect for a period of two (2) years from the effective date of delivery to the end user (excluding the lamp). PARTS (not including the lamp): Planar will provide new or rebuilt replacement parts for the parts that fail due to defects in materials or workmanship for a period of two (2) years from the effective date of delivery to the end user. Such replacement parts are then subsequently warranted for the remaining portion (if any) of the original warranty period. PROJECTOR LAMP: Planar will pay for service labor at an Authorized Service Center when needed as a result of a manufacturing defect for a period of six (6) months or 1000 hours, whichever comes first, from the effective date of delivery to the end user. In addition, Planar will provide a new or rebuilt replacement lamp for the lamp that fails due to defects in materials or workmanship for a period of six (6) months or 1000 hours, whichever comes first, from the effective date of delivery to the end user.
    [Show full text]
  • Real-Time Graphics Architecture
    Real-Time Graphics Architecture Kurt Akeley Pat Hanrahan http://www.graphics.stanford.edu/courses/cs448a-01-fall Display and Framebuffer Displays Key properties Bandwidth Framebuffers Definitions and key properties Bandwidth Architecture Required reading Frame-Buffer Display Architectures, Sproull, Annual Review of Computer Science, ‘86 CS448 Lecture 5 Kurt Akeley, Pat Hanrahan, Fall 2001 1 Terminology CRT Cathode Ray Tube LCD Liquid Crystal Display (flat panel) DLP Digital Light Processing Texas Instruments technology Clever adaptation of IC / photo lithography CS448 Lecture 5 Kurt Akeley, Pat Hanrahan, Fall 2001 Raster vs. Calligraphic Raster (image order) dominant choice Calligraphic (object order) Earliest choice (Sketchpad) E&S terminals in the 70s and 80s Works with light pens Scene complexity affects frame rate Monitors are expensive Still required for FAA simulation Increases absolute brightness of light points CS448 Lecture 5 Kurt Akeley, Pat Hanrahan, Fall 2001 2 Display Sequence Issues Raster video signal takes a full frame to deliver Adds almost one frame of latency (worst-case) Persistence Flying dot: CRT, scanning Laser Skewed full-frame: LCD panel, DLP ? Field sequential: consumer DLP, head-mount CRT Visual artifacts Tearing in tiled displays Color separation in field sequential displays Motion blur of moving objects? CS448 Lecture 5 Kurt Akeley, Pat Hanrahan, Fall 2001 Display Sequence Issues (Cont.) Interlace (vs. progressive) Two interlaced fields per frame Makes no sense for MPEG compression
    [Show full text]
  • Digital Fact Book Converged Media
    The Digital Fact Book Converged media 20th anniversary edition The Digital Fact Book 20th Anniversary Edition Converged Media A reference manual for the television broadcast & post production industries includes stereoscopic 3D Editor: Bob Pank Acknowledgements Mark Horton, Lenny Lipton, Steve Owen, Phil Streather, Dave Throup, Roger Thornton Quantel R&D for their co-operation and many contributions and to the many contributors and commentators from the industry around the world Copyright Quantel Limited 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2008 Extract from a letter from Michael Faraday to J. Clerk Maxwell Royal Institution, 13 November 1857 There is one thing I would be glad to ask you. When a mathematician engaged in investigating physical actions and results has arrived at his own conclusions, may they not be expressed in common language as fully, clearly, and definitely as in mathematical formulae? If so, would it not be a great boon to such as we to express them so – translating them out of their hieroglyphics that we also might work upon them by experiment? I think it must be so, because I have found that you could convey to me a perfectly clear idea of your conclusions, which, though they may give me no full understanding of the steps of your process, gave me the results neither above nor below the truth, and so clear in character that I can think and work from them. If this is possible, would it not be a good thing if mathematicians, writing on these subjects, were to give us their results in this
    [Show full text]
  • An Improved Algorithm for Deinterlacing Video Streams
    UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations 1-1-2006 An improved algorithm for deinterlacing video streams Christopher Weiss University of Nevada, Las Vegas Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/rtds Repository Citation Weiss, Christopher, "An improved algorithm for deinterlacing video streams" (2006). UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations. 2082. http://dx.doi.org/10.25669/f2rv-104d This Thesis is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by Digital Scholarship@UNLV with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Thesis in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/ or on the work itself. This Thesis has been accepted for inclusion in UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Scholarship@UNLV. For more information, please contact [email protected]. AN IMPROVED ALGORITHM FOR DEINTERLACING VIDEO STREAMS by Christopher Weiss Bachelor of Science University of Nevada, Las Vegas 1997 A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Science Degree in Computer Science School of Computer Science Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering Graduate College University of Nevada, Las Vegas December 2006 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMI Number: 1441739 INFORMATION TO USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleed-through, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction.
    [Show full text]
  • The Use of Flicker-Free Television Products for Stereoscopic Display Applications
    The use of flicker-free television products for stereoscopic display applications Andrew Woods 1 Tom Docherty 1 Rolf Koch 2 1 School of Electrical & Computer Engineering / Centre for Marine Science & Technology, Curtin University of Technology, G.P.O. Box U1987, Perth W.A. 6845, AUSTRALIA. 2 School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Murdoch University, South Street, Murdoch W.A. 6150, AUSTRALIA. ABSTRACT A low cost flicker-free field-sequential stereoscopic display has been developed. The system uses commercially available television products developed for the removal of flicker problems associated with the world interlaced television standards. These products reduce overall circuit complexity and implementation costs. 1. INTRODUCTION Stereoscopic video systems are increasingly being used in areas such as computer graphics and control of remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). The specific aim of this project is the development of a stereoscopic closed circuit television system for the control of an underwater ROV used in the inspection of an offshore oil platform. The easiest way to display stereoscopic images with a standard interlaced television system is to use alternate fields for the left and right eye images. A selection device is then used to direct the correct image to the correct eye1. Currently used selection devices include shutter glasses and switchable polarising screens. This technique is called field-sequential display. Standard television systems (PAL, NTSC & SECAM) operate at a field frequency of 50 or 60 Hz. In a stereoscopic display system images are therefore presented to each eye at a frequency of 25 or 30 Hz, resulting in unacceptable flicker. This problem can be overcome by doubling the display frequency2.
    [Show full text]
  • Howstuffworks "How Plasma Displays Work"
    Howstuffworks "How Plasma Displays Work" Free Newsletter! • Suggestions! • Win! • About HSW • Contact Us • Home Daily Stuff • Top 40 • What's New • HSW Store • Forums • Advertise! • Affiliate Click here to go back to the normal view! How Plasma Displays Work by Tom Harris For the past 75 years, the vast majority of televisions have been built around the same technology: the cathode ray tube (CRT). In a CRT television, a gun fires a beam of electrons (negatively-charged particles) inside a large glass tube. The electrons excite phosphor atoms along the wide end of the tube (the screen), which causes the phosphor atoms to light up. The television image is produced by lighting up different areas of the phosphor coating with different colors at different intensities (see How Televisions Work for a detailed explanation). Cathode ray tubes produce crisp, vibrant images, but they do have a serious drawback: They are bulky. In order to increase the screen width in a CRT set, you also have to increase the length of the tube (to give the scanning electron gun room to reach all parts of the screen). Consequently, any big-screen CRT television is going to weigh a ton and take up a sizable chunk of a room. Recently, a new alternative has popped up on store shelves: the plasma flat panel display. These televisions have wide screens, comparable to the largest CRT sets, but they are only about 6 inches thick. In this edition of HowStuffWorks, we'll see how these sets do so much in such a small space. What is Plasma? If you've read How Televisions Work, then you understand the basic idea of a standard television or monitor.
    [Show full text]