|
Flat Panel Plasma TV Technology
Flat panel plasma display is the latest display technology and the best way to achieve displays with excellent image quality and large, flat screen sizes that are easily viewable in any environment - you can even hang most plasma TVs from a wall like a picture.
If you are looking for a flat screen picture that provides excellent picture quality with low picture distortion then a plasma/ flat screen TV monitor may be the solution you have been seeking. There is currently a large number of plasma TVs available on the market which can be used for a number of different applications including computer presentations.
First conceived in July1964 at the University of Illinois (USA), the first displays were nothing more than points of light created in laboratory experiments. From then on, the technology was developed and improved and by the late 60's, it had become advanced enough to allow the scientists to construct geometric shapes.
Further development was limited, scientists were restricted by the materials that were available, so screens were small, and image quality was low. Today the progression in high-speed digital processing, materials and advance manufacturing technology has made full colour, bright plasma displays possible.
Once what was only thought of as Science Fiction is now available and ready to use in a host of new and exciting ways.
How Plasma TVs Work
The secret to plasma technology lies between the two thin panels of mounted glass found within the screen. The panels are comprised of networks of pixels, tiny pockets of compressed gas. Each pixel contains three sub-pixels made up of red, green, and blue phosphors - the same colour trio that account for the variety of hues found on all cathode-ray tube (CRT) devices, such as conventional televisions and computer monitors.
But what makes plasma TVs different is that each sub-pixel is individually controlled by "advanced electronics" to produce over 16 million colours. When an electrical current is applied to a pixel, the gas reacts to form plasma, which in turn produces L light. The light reacts with the coloured phosphors and magically enhances the flat screen to produce higher-contrast ratios and a better, more realistic picture. Because all the pixels emit light at the same time, the viewer never sees a flickering screen.
Unlike with CRT screens, there's no back lighting or electron beam, so the resulting images are consistently richer, sharper, and brighter. All this from a TV that starts at just 79mm thick! Aside from offering a host of other benefits, like longer viewing life and universal display capability plasma screens are lightweight, versatile, and in our opinion, just plain sexy.
Be prepared to take the art of TV viewing to new levels of enjoyment and quality with The Flat TV Company, where we have a vast range of Plasma TVs and screens to choose from.
Perfectly Flat Screen
Plasma display monitors have screens that are perfectly flat with no curvature whatsoever. This eliminates the edge distortion that can occur in normal TVs.
Higher Resolution
Plasma display devices have higher resolution than convention TV sets and are capable of displaying full HDTV and DTV signals as well as XGA, SVGA and VGA signals from computer. For example, you can get plasma displays with a 1024 X 1024 pixel high-resolution.
No Scan Lines
Conventional CRTs use an electron beam to scan the picture tube from top to bottom at regular intervals lighting the phosphors to create the image. In the case of standard (PAL) TV visible scan lines can be seen. Most plasma displays include built-in line doubling to further improve image quality when viewing standard analogue video sources such as broadcasts and VCR tapes.
Exceptional Colour Accuracy
High-end plasma displays are capable of displaying 16.77 million colours - providing superb colour realism with subtle gradations between colours.
Widescreen Aspect Ratio
Plasma display devices have a widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio, the relationship between the screen's width and height. This is the proper aspect ratio for HDTV, and also allows many DVD movies to be viewed in widescreen format, as the director originally intended.
Uniform Screen Brightness
Unlike some rear and front projection televisions that suffer from uneven screen brightness - seen as "hot spots" in the middle of the screen or a darkening near the edges and especially corners - plasma displays illuminate all pixels evenly across the screen.
Wide viewing angle
Plasma displays offer a viewing angle of 160 degrees (top to bottom and left to right) much better than conventional TVs. This allows a larger number of viewers to enjoy proper image reproduction from a wider variety of locations throughout the room.
Slim, space-saving design
Plasma display monitors are only a few inches thin - providing installation options never before possible. In addition to stand mounting, they can be hung on a wall or from a ceiling, allowing you to enjoy big screen home theatre impact from a component that doesn't dominate floor space.
Universal Display Capability
Most plasma monitors can accept any video format. Typically, they will include composite video (NTSC, PAL SECAM) (standard RCA jacks), S-video and component video inputs, plus one or more RGB inputs to accept the video output from a computer. Whether you want to view a sporting event on HDTV or a DVD movie, a satellite broadcast or even surf the internet with incredible big screen impact, the chances are a plasma monitor will accommodate your needs.
Immunity from magnetic fields
Because plasma displays do not use electron beams, as conventional CRT displays do, they are immune to the effects of magnetic fields. Components such as loudspeakers that contain strong magnets can distort the picture if placed too close a standard TV (which has a CRT). On the other hand, plasma displays can be placed in close proximity to any type of loudspeaker and not experience image distortion.
What is LCD Technology?
LCD stands for Liquid Crystal Display. This technology has been around for a number of years but has recently been able to deliver high quality flat panel displays. The slim design and brightness are the most attractive characteristics of this type of TV. While the TV itself looks thin, the technology inside is quite extensive.
A picture on a LCD panel is made up of elements or pixels. Pixels are individual, distinct points of light. A panel's resolution is determined in part by how many pixels there are. A display can have hundreds of thousands of pixels to millions of pixels, depending on the resolution. LCD panels are constructed in various sizes and shapes to accommodate 16:9 display ratios for widescreen displays.
LCD panels are brighter than conventional TVs due to the use of pixels rather than a tube. LCD TVs are also flicker free because while a CRT must be refreshed (where the light travels across and down the screen), the LCD has a constant source of light over the whole screen (once a pixel is on, it stays on until turned off).
Low Power Consumption
LCD TVs are more energy efficient then conventional TVs - up to 65% - which not only saves you money, but helps protect the environment as well.
Ultra Slim Design
TVs as thin as 49mm (excluding stand) LCD TVs help maximise the space in your home and can be used in any room.
Wall Mountable
LCD TVs are so thin that most can be hung on the wall (additional wall bracket may be required).
Brightness
LCD TVs can produce a much brighter picture than conventional TVs due to the pixel's performance against the fluorescent backlight.
Candela
This is the standard unit of brightness and is measured as the equivalent number of candles needed in a square metre to produce the same intensity of light (e.g. 450 cd/m 2 = 450 candles in a square metre would produce the same amount of light).
Contrast Ratio
Is the measurement of the difference in light intensity between the brightest white and the darkest black. The higher the rating the clearer the picture.
Size up your screen
After you have your budget squared away, you need to decide how large of a screen you want. Usually, the largest screens cost the most, but regardless, the TV should deliver the right-size picture for where you'll sit relative to the screen. Sitting closer to a smaller TV means you won't have to spend as much on a big screen. But if you sit too close, the picture will look poor.
Most viewers feel comfortable sitting away from the set at a distance that's between three and six times the width of the screen. The following chart can give you a rough estimate of the minimum and maximum viewing distances.
| Screen Size |
14" to 21" |
23" to 32" |
36" - 42" |
43" - 60" |
| |
| Viewing Distance |
1.5 - 2.4m |
2.4 - 3m |
3 - 3.6m |
3.6m + |
Size and your room
Generally, 30-inch and smaller sets are great for bedrooms or guest rooms but too small for the main living room. Sets with bigger screens are large enough for the whole family to enjoy and will probably be too much for most small bedrooms. An ideal way of trying to get some idea of how a certain size panel will look in your room is to cut out a pieces of card and hold it in the relevant piostion. The following chart gives an indicatiion of the overall size of the panel in relation to the screen size.
| Screen Size |
23" |
26" |
32" |
37" |
40" |
42" |
| |
| Panel Size (Approx) |
615 x 435mm |
700 x 500 mm |
920 x 540mm |
980 x 600 mm |
1050 x 660 mm |
1120 x 720 mm |
If you're mounting the set inside an entertainment center, be sure it fits in every dimension; also, leave an inch or two on all sides so that the TV has enough ventilation. If you're getting a bigger set, you may want to consider a dedicated stand; many TV makers sell matching stands that increase the aesthetic appeal of their hefty boxes.
|
