|
Introduction to FPDs
With FPDs being the window to the Internet and replacing CRTs (Cathode
Ray Tubes) on the desktop and in the TV market, the FPD market is
poised for rapid growth. In fact, the FPD market rose 77% in 1999
and is expected to grow at 22% CAGR (Combined Annual Growth rate)
from $20.2 billion in 1999 to $66 billion in 2005. Driving revenue
growth is the record capital spending and increased demand resulting
from lower prices, new applications, and improved display performance.
The vast majority of FPD's are addressed in a matrix fashion; such
that powering the corresponding row and column activates a given
pixel. This means that an individual LCD element is required for
each display pixel, unlike a CRT which may have several dot triads
for each pixel.
There are many different kinds of FPD technologies in use, though
the most common ones are based on LCD (Liquid
Crystal Display) or PDP (Plasma Display Panel)
technology.
Active Matrix (AM) LCDs
Instead of using one switch (transistor) for each row and column,
AM LCD's dedicate one for each pixel. This
results in a more complex display, which requires a larger number
of discrete components, and therefore costs more to manufacture.
An AM display is basically a large integrated circuit (IC). The
benefits are significant over the PM design. Pixels can be activated
more frequently, giving better contrast and control over modulation.
AM technology can produce higher resolution displays that can generate
more, and brighter colours.
The main types of AM LCD's are; TFT (Thin-Film Transistors), MIM
(Metal-Insulator-Metal,) and PALC (Plasma Addressed Liquid Crystal).
Plasma Display Panels
PDP's have been under development for many
years, and provide rugged display technology. A layer of gas is
sandwiched between two glass plates. Row electrodes run across one
plate, while column electrodes run up and down the other. By activating
a given row and column, the gas at the intersection is ionized,
giving off light. The type of gas determines the color of the display.
Because it has excellent brightness and contrast and can easily
be scaled to larger sizes, PDP's are an attractive technology. However,
their high cost and lack of grayscale or color means that they have
limited applications. However, advancements in coloring technology
have allowed some manufacturers to produce large full-color PDP's.
In the future, large color PDP's will be more common in workstation
and HDTV applications.
Xilinx Solutions
The Xilinx Spartan-II programmable logic solutions offer the flexibility
to build products that can be reprogrammed in the field at costs
far below any programmable solution. Please view the presentation
to see how Xilinx solutions can help you build products for this
fast evolving market place.
|
