Liquid crystal display—present status and emerging technology

Nowadays, in your daily lives, the applications of LCs, such as LCD TVs, computer/laptop monitors, mobile phones, navigators, digital cameras, and so on, are widely used worldwide. Even, wherever you are whatever you do, you can take your electronics out of your pocket to check your e-mails, listen to music, watch movies, find your way, and so many others. LCDs provide high performance in regard to the weight, volume, contrast ratio, viewing angle, low power consumption, etc. That’s why the high-quality applications of LCDs are indispensable and paid much attention by scientists and electronics industries in the recent decade. Undoubtedly, LCDs have acted as a leader in the field of flat panel displays, in not only small-sized displays, but also large-sized ones. Refer to cathode ray tube (CRT) monitors; LCDs have almost completely replaced CRT monitors in the display market because of their bulky and high power consumption, despite their good response time, viewing angle, image quality. However, in addition to the present status of LCD applications, some emerging technologies, such as wide viewing angle displays, fast response displays, blue phase LCDs, flexible displays, 3D displays, high resolution displays, in-cell touch panel, electronic papers, tablets, etc., have also attracted much attention. In this chapter, the introductions of the present status of LCD industry, as well as the emerging technology for improving the performances of LCDs will be given.