LCD display because of the different backlight technology can be divided into transmission and reflection, but because the transmission LCD display can not be displayed when the backlight is not turned on, and precisely the reflection LCD display can solve this problem. Today we are going to talk about what is a reflective LCD display.
Let’s take a look at the first type of reflective LCD display – passive display. As the name suggests, the reflective lcd display is installed on the bottom of the liquid crystal plate, replacing the light-emitting material of the transmission display, when the ambient light is sufficient, it uses the light reflected by the mirror to illuminate the screen. But it doesn’t work in low light, because the weak ambient light isn’t reflected enough to illuminate the screen. This can only passively accept the reflection of the ambient light display is passive reflection LCD display, the current color screen PDA does not use passive reflection display.
The “active” reflective LCD display corresponding to the “passive anti-reflective” LCD display is equivalent to adding a light source as lighting at the top of the “passive” reflective LCD display, so that even when the ambient light is insufficient, you can turn on the lamp to see the clear screen.
How does a reflective LCD display work?
A reflective mode uses the light available in its vicinity. This light is passed through the LCD cell from the front side to a mirror, which is installed behind the liquid crystal layer. The mirror can be placed either inside the LCD cell or on the rear polarizer. Next, the ambient light is reflected by the mirror back to the viewer.
Those advantages make the reflective LCDs perfect for:
Outdoor daytime applications with lots of sunlight, where transmissive LCD displays need a strong backlight;
Indoor applications with bright artificial light;
Devices placed in remote areas, where low energy consumption and low maintenance are crucial;
Devices dependent on solar power, where energy efficiency is prime factor.
Reflective polarizers are the best option for direct sunlight displays but are not ideal for low light conditions. Since a reflective polarizer reflects back 100% of the light it takes in, the brighter the surrounding environment, the easier it will be to read the display. Because they are only reflecting light and not creating it, these polarizers are best suited for monochrome reflective displays. Reflective polarizers will increase display contrast and have the minimum amount of power consumption and heat creation.
ADVANTAGES OF REFLECTIVE LCD POLARIZERS
The brighter the ambient light (the light that is available from the sun, office lights, etc.) the sharper the contrast and the easier it is to read.
DISADVANTAGES OF REFLECTIVE LCD POLARIZERS
A backlight will not illuminate the display since any light placed behind the polarizer will be blocked from passing through to the front piece of glass. Note: It is possible to use a reflective polarizer with a side-lit LED Display, or edge-lit LED Display. A side-lit display positions the LEDs above the reflective polarizer. This is a popular option since it provides a sharp contrast with the added benefit of being thinner (in the Z axis) than a LCD with a backlight.
