For most people LG is synonymous with smartphones and tablets as well as being Google’s preferred partner for their Nexus line of smartphone. Some people are also aware that LG manufactures home appliances like TVs (including smart TVs), refrigerators, microwaves etc. However, very few would know that the Korean manufacturer also invests in research and development of new technologies as well. LG has a specific division which aims to further display technologies – LG Display. In the latest news coming in from the Korean manufacturer, LG Display has revealed that they have managed to create a new type of display which is based on UV alignment and N-type liquid crystal technologies. This new display consumes low power – up to 12% lower – and provides an improved contrast ratio as well as brightness. In comparison to existing technologies, the contrast ratio is improved by 30% whereas brightness is improved by 20%.
For the uninitiated, an LCD screen works by transferring light from the light emitting diode (LED), which passes through the liquid crystal layer which is sandwiched between two layers of polarized material – usually glass. The liquid crystals block or allow varying intensities of light to pass through depending on the current passing through them. Most LCD monitors allow only 4-5% of light emitted by the LEDs to pass through. Both the UV alignment and N-type liquid crystal technologies work on the principle of allowing more light to pass through the various layers comprising the LCD display. “The industry calls ‘oxide thin film transistor (TFT), UV alignment and negative (N-type) liquid crystal’ the ‘three conundrums of mobile and low-power technology’,” said an LG Display insider. “We have secured all of the three technologies”.
What this means for smartphone enthusiasts is that the future looks – literally – brighter. With more power efficient displays on smartphones, we can expect to see phones that don’t drain batteries and last longer, after all the display is what drains the most battery in an ideal situation. On our part we are pretty excited and would love to see this in real world devices soon, however no timelines have been given by LG. If you’re as excited by this as we are, then do give a shout out to us in the comments below.
