Display Devices

Dr. Aijaz Mehdi Zaidi, Assistant Professor, ECE, NIT Jalandhar

Display Devices

• The last stage of a measurement system is the data presentation stage

which consists of data presentation elements.
• This stage consists of display devices and recorders. The first device is
called a "display device" displayed the instant observation and the
second, a "recorder“ store the observation.
• The data presentation devices may be called as output devices.
Segmental Displays
• The segmental displays may be either 7 or 14 segmental ones depending upon
whether numeric or alphanumeric displays are required.
(i) Seven Segmental Display:
• This is used for numeric display, and consists of 7-segments a, b, c, d, e, f, &
g.
• It displays the digits (0 to 9) by illuminating proper segments from the group.
• It consists of seven segments of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) which are
assembled like numerical 8.
• A common supply voltage drives the anodes of the LEDs and when a switch
closes, the corresponding LED is forward biased and emits light.
• The number 8 is displayed when the power is given to all the segments and if
you disconnect the power for ‘g’, then it displays the number 0.
• By properly choosing the segments any number from 0 to 9 can be displayed.
• LCDs are also used for segmental displays.
Fourteen Segmental Display:
• For display of alphanumeric characters (both numerals as well as
alphabets) a 14-segmental display unit is used by illuminating the
proper combination of segments.
Dot Matrices
Dot matrices may be used for display of numeric & alpha-numeric
characters.
(i)A 3x5 Dot Matrix:
A 3x5 dot matrix may be used for display of numeric characters.
Dot Matrices
• Dot matrices may be used for display of numeric & alpha-numeric
characters.
(ii) 5x7 Dot Matrix:
• For display of alphanumeric characters a 5x7 matrix is used.
• In Fig. the circled LED lights up because a voltage is applied to 3rd
row and 5th column.
• By applying voltage to more than one column and grounding more
than one row, a decimal digit or alphabet can be displayed.
Dot Matrices

(iii) Dot Matrix Utilizing 27 dots:

Another system using 27 dots displays the numeric characters.
The dots may be square or round with 0.4 mm side or diameter.
LEDs or LCDs are used for display of dots.
LIGHT EMITTING DIODE (LED)
• As the name implies, the light-emitting diode (LED) is a diode that will give
off visible light when it is energized.
• In any forward-biased p-n junction there is, within the structure and primarily
close to the junction, a recombination of holes and electrons. This
recombination requires that the energy possessed by the unbound free electron
be transferred to another state.
• In all semiconductor p-n junctions some of this energy will be given off as heat
and some in the form of photons. In silicon and germanium the greater
percentage is given up in the form of heat and the emitted light is insignificant.
• In other materials, such as gallium arsenide phosphide (GaAsP) or gallium
phosphide (GaP), the number of photons of light energy emitted is sufficient
to create a very visible light source.
• The process of giving off light by applying an electrical source of energy is
called electroluminescence.
LIGHT EMITTING DIODE (LED)
• As shown in Fig with its graphic symbol, the conducting surface connected to
the p-material is much smaller, to permit the emergence of the maximum
number of photons of light energy.
• Note in the figure that the recombination of the injected carriers due to the
forward-biased junction results in emitted light at the site of recombination.
• There may, of course, be some absorption of the packages of photon energy in
the structure itself, but a very large percentage are able to leave, as shown in
the figure.
LIGHT EMITTING DIODE (LED)

• Semiconductor materials used for manufacture of LED are gallium arsenide

phosphide (GaAsP) which emits red or yellow, light of gallium arsenide (GaAs)
which gives green or red light emission.
• LEDs are used extensively in segmental and dot matrix displays of numeric and
alphanumeric characters. Several LEDs are used in series to form one segment
while a single LED may be used to form a decimal point. LEDs are available in
many colours like green, yellow, amber and red.
• A simple transistor can be used for OFF/ON of an LED as shown in Fig. When the
transistor is driven into saturation by base current IB, it conducts heavily (switch is
closed and the LED emits light). The LED current is limited by a resistance Rc.
LIGHT EMITTING DIODE (LED)
• Advantages of LEDs:
• 1. LEDs are miniature in size and they can be stacked together to form
numeric and alpha-numeric displays in high density matrix.
• 2. The light output from an LED is a function of the current flowing
through it. Therefore intensity of light emitted from LEDs can be
smoothly controlled.
• 3. LEDs are available which emit light in different colours like red, green,
yellow etc.
• 4. The switching time (both on and off) is less than 1 ns.
LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY (LCD)
• The liquid-crystal display (LCD) has the distinct advantage of having a
lower power requirement than the LED. It is typically in the order of
microwatts for the display, as compared to the same order of milliwatts for
LEDs.
• It does, however, require an external or internal light source.
• A liquid crystal is a material (normally organic for LCDs) that will flow like
a liquid but whose molecular structure has some properties normally
associated with solids.
• For the light-scattering units, the greatest interest is in the nematic liquid
crystal, having the crystal structure shown in Fig.
• The individual molecules have a rodlike appearance as shown in the figure.
LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY (LCD)
• The indium oxide conducting surface is transparent, and under the condition
shown in the last figure, the incident light will simply pass through and the liquid-
crystal structure will appear clear.
• If a voltage (for commercial units the threshold level is usually between 6 and 20
V) is applied across the conducting surfaces, as shown in Fig.
• The molecular arrangement is disturbed, with the result that regions will be
established with different indices of refraction.
• The incident light is therefore reflected in different directions at the interface
between regions of different indices of refraction with the result that the scattered
light has a frosted glass appearance. The frosted look occur only where the
conducting surfaces are opposite each other and the remaining areas remain
translucent.
LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY (LCD)

• Advantages of LCDs:
• 1. Low power consumption.
• 2. Low cost
• Disadvantages of LCDs:
• 1. LCDs are very slow devices. The turn on and the turn off times are
quite large.
• 2. The turn on time is typically of the order a few milliseconds while
the turn-off is ten milliseconds.
• 3. They occupy a large area.
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Thank You