Types of Monitors

Monitors
• The monitor is the most commonly used
output device of most PCs.
• Image quality is determined by two
devices
– Monitor
– Video Controller.
 Categories of monitors
• Monochrome monitors
– Can display only one color (Red or Green or
Blue) against a contrasting background
– Used for text only display
• Grayscale monitors
– Display varying intensities of grey
• Color monitors
– Can display between 16 colors to 16 million
colors.
 CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) Monitor
• CRT technology, computer monitors continue to
be referred to as "The Tube".
• A CRT works by moving an electron beam back
and forth across the back of the screen.
• Electron beam is fired by an electron gun.
• Each time the beam makes a pass across the
screen, it lights up phosphor dots on the inside of
the glass tube, thereby enlightening the active
portions of the screen.
• By drawing many such lines from the top to the
bottom of the screen, it creates an entire screen
full of images.
• The smallest number of phosphor dots that the
gun can focus on is called pixel (also called
picture element.
• In colour monitors there are three colour beams
Red, Green, Blue
 Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)
• A Liquid crystal display (LCD) is a thin,
flat display device made up of any
number of color or monochrome pixels
arrayed in front of a light source or
reflector.
• It uses very small amounts of electric
power, and is therefore suitable for use
in battery-powered electronic devices.
• LCD technology makes use of a liquid
crystal solution that are present in two
panes of polarized and partitioned
glasses.
 LCD [Cont.]
• By adjusting the amount of light that passes through
these panels through an electric voltage, images are
created on the screen.
• This technology also reduces blurring and colour
smudging during motion pictures, which makes this type
of monitor appropriate for gamers or film enthusiasts.
• The Passive matrix LCD
– One transistor for each row and each column of pixels, thus
creating a grid that defines the location of each pixel
• The active matrix LCD
– One transistor for one pixel
– Each pixel is turned on and off individually.
– Allows pixel refreshment more rapidly.
– Uses TFT (Thin Film Transistor) technology (4 transistors per
pixel).
Electroluminescent Display ( ELDs)
• Are similar to LCDs.
• Use a phosphorescent film held b/w two
sheets of glass.
• A grid of wires sends current through the
film to create an image.
 Plasma Display
• Display is created by sandwiching a
special gas called Plasma (such as
neon, xenon) between two sheets of
glass.
• When the gas is electrified via a grid
of small electrodes, it glows.
• By controlling the amount of voltage
applied at various points on the grid.
• Each point acts as a pixel to display
an image.
 General Monitor Features
• Size
– the bigger the monitor the easier it will be on the eye.
– You will be able to open more windows and the text should be easier to read
– CRT have a smaller viewable area than their size.
– Monitor size (and TVs) are measured diagonally, from the top left corner to the
bottom right hand corner
• Resolution
– Resolution is the number of pixels displayed on screen at one time
– It's usually in the format Horizontal x Vertical, e.g.?- 800x600 or 1024x768.
– The higher the resolution the more you can get on screen and the sharper the
image.
• Refresh Rate
– This is the number of time the screen is redrawn per second
– Most new monitors should have reasonable refresh rates, 75Hz or higher.
– Some older CRTs had lower refresh rates that can cause screen flicker and
induce eye strain.
• Dot Pitch
– Dot pitch is the distance in millimeters between two dots of the same colour on
the screen, it's usually measured diagonally and you should be looking for
something around 0.26mm
 Video Cards
• The quality of the image is defined by the video card as
well.
• It is also called a video controller / adapter.
• It is an intermediary device b/w CPU and monitor.
• It contains the video dedicated memory and other
circuitry necessary to send info to monitor.
• Modern video cards require a separate processor and
video RAM.
• Each pixel require one byte of information, so the
number of bytes depend upon number of pixels
(resolution).
 Ergonomics and monitors
• Eyestrain
– Most frequent reported health problem.
– Caused by continuously focusing on the same point.
– How to avoid
• Choose a monitor that holds a steady image without
flickering (Dot pitch = .28 mm, Refresh rate = 72 Hz).
• Position your monitor so it is 2.5 feet away from your eye.
• Tilt the screen face 10 degree upward.
• Place monitor where no light reflection occurs.
• Keep your screen clean
• Avoid looking at monitor for more than 30 minutes without
break.
• Do not let your eye dry.
 Digital Light Processing (DLP)
• Digital Light Processing (DLP) is a technology
used in data projectors and video projectors.
• In DLP projectors, the image is created by
microscopically small mirrors laid out in a matrix
on a semiconductor chip, known as a Digital
Micromirror Device (DMD).
• Each mirror represents one pixel in the projected
image.
• The number of mirrors corresponds to the
resolution of the projected image: 800x600,
1024x768, 1280x720, and 1920x1080 (HDTV)
matrices are some common DMD sizes.
• These mirrors can be repositioned rapidly to
reflect light either through the lens or on to a heat
sink .
• Some old projectors use LCD technology to
display
 Sound card
• Sound card is a circuit board that converts sound from
Analog to digital and vice versa for recording and
playback.
• it facilitates the input and output sound under control of
computer programs.
• Typical uses of sound cards include providing the audio
component for multimedia applications such as music
composition, editing video or audio, presentation/
education, and entertainment (games).
• Many computers have sound capabilities built in, while
others require these expansion cards if audio capability
is desired.
 TFT-LCD Monitor
• A Thin Film Transistor (TFT) – LCD
monitor is now being more widely used
with LCD monitors, because of its high
level of resolution and sharpness.
• The only difference is a thin film
transistor that is applied to the screen,
which results in better control of pixels.
• This type of monitor is recommended
for those who play animated, colourful,
and high-resolution games, as well as
graphic artists who may need to check
out different fonts on the computer
screen.
 Organic Light-Emitting Diode
(OLED)
• An organic light-emitting diode (OLED) is a thin-
film light-emitting diode(LED) in which the
emissive layer is an organic compound OLED
technology is intended primarily as picture
elements in practical display devices.
• When the emissive electroluminescent layer is
polymeric, varying amounts of OLEDs can be
deposited in rows and columns on a screen
using simple "printing" methods to create a
graphical color display, for use as computer
displays, portable system screens, and in
advertising and information board applications.
• OLED may also be used in lighting devices.
• OLEDs are available as distributed sources
while the inorganic LEDs are point sources of
light.
 Surface-conduction electron-
emitter display (SED)
• Surface-conduction electron-emitter display (SED) is
a flat-panel, high-resolution display.
• Some SEDs have a diagonal measurement
exceeding one meter (approximately 40 inches).
• The SED consists of an array of electron emitters
and a layer of phosphor, separated by a small space
from which all the air has been evacuated.
• Each electron emitter represents one pixel.
• The SED requires no electron-beam focusing, and
operates at a much lower voltage than a CRT.
• The brightness and contrast compare favorably with
high-end CRTs.
• Prototype electron emitters have been developed
with diameters of a few nanometers.
• SED technology can offer extraordinary image
resolution
 Speakers
• Computer speakers, or multimedia speakers,
are external speakers, commonly equipped with
a low-power internal amplifier.
• Headphones
– It includes a pair of speakers attached to an
adjustable strap.
– These are lightweight and comfortable to use.
• Headset
– It includes one or two speakers and a microphone all
mounted to an adjustable strap.