How LCoS Works ?
First of all, we have to make it clear just what LCoS is. The world of electronics is full of “letters” that stand for intricate systems and complex ideas. LCoS is one of these. Many people have heard of LCD, which stands for liquid crystal display. One group of letters that has become quite familiar in recent years is HDTV, which stands for high definition television. The number of people who know about LCoS is probably a lot smaller than the number of people familiar with the acronyms mentioned earlier.
LCoS stands for liquid crystal over silicon. This is one method or technology used to produce large, flat television screens that enhance the viewing experience. Most of the information about LCoS explains that this is a “brand new” technology. But it is a method that wasn’t widely used in the past.
The goal in using LCoS is picture clarity. The technology has been used in both front-projection televisions and rear-project televisions. The basic construction is similar to DMD, with small sections illuminated by different colors. However, with LCoS silicon semiconductors are used to direct electrical current in one direction. Transistors act as switches or amplifiers for the diodes. In LCoS, there are no tiny mirrors to be turned off and on. This method uses liquid crystals. These form parallel lines in some applications and when energized they form the path of light. Other types of liquid crystals form at an angle and can switch polarity rapidly.
Each layer of liquid crystals in LCoS acts as a controller for the light in individual pixels. In this way, they perform a task similar to the tiny mirrors in DMD. The basic components of an LCoS system are the lamp that provides the white light, a splitter that breaks the single-color light into red, green and blue. Mirrors may be used to separate the various colors, which then arrive at the separate LCoS devices. The separate colors are recombined by a prism and the color image is magnified and displayed.
The image produced in LCoS systems is sharp but very small. It must be magnified to be useful for large-screen applications. But the pixels produced by this method are smooth and have a natural appearance. There have been some issues with production of the color black at a satisfactory level.
LCoS systems are not used as often as other display methods. The fundamental device is more difficult to make. Manufacturers have found that these cannot be produced in sufficient quantities to be widely used in television.
Category: Technology