Active matrix

Active matrix
Active matrix is a type of addressing scheme used in flat panel displays. In this method of switching individual
elements (pixels) of a flat panel display, each pixel is attached to a transistor and capacitor which actively maintain
the pixel state while other pixels are being addressed. This is to be contrasted with the older passive matrix
technology in which each pixel must maintain its state passively, without being driven by circuitry.
The active matrix technology was invented by Bernard J. Lechner at RCA and first demonstrated as a feasible device
using thin-film transistors by Hungarian migr T. Peter Brody and his Thin-Film Devices department at
Westinghouse Electric Corporation in 1974,[1] and the term was introduced into the literature in 1975.
Given an mn matrix, the number of connectors needed to address the display is m+n (just like in passive matrix
technology). Each pixel is attached to a switch-device, which actively maintains the pixel state while other pixels are
being addressed, which also prevents crosstalk from inadvertently changing the state of an unaddressed pixel. The
most common switching devices use Thin Film Transistors (TFT), i.e. a FET based on either the cheaper
non-crystalline thin-film silicon (a-Si), polycrystalline silicon (poly-Si), or CdSe semiconductor material.
Another variant is to use diodes or resistors, but neither diodes (e.g. Metal insulator metal diodes), nor non-linear
voltage dependent resistors (i.e. varistors) are currently used. The latter of these is not yet economical when
compared to TFT.
The Macintosh Portable (1989) was perhaps the first consumer laptop to employ an active matrix panel. Today
virtually all TVs, computer monitors and smartphone screens that use LCD or OLED technology employ active
matrix technology.

References
[1] IEEE Jun-ichi Nishizawa Medal (http:/ / www. ieee. org/ about/ news/ 2011/ honors_ceremony/ releases_nishizawa. html)

Article Sources and Contributors

Article Sources and Contributors

Active matrix Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=590052207 Contributors: AxelBoldt, BBCLCD, Bryan Derksen, Cbrody, Christopherlin, Donarreiskoffer, ElTchanggo,
GoingBatty, Kcordina, Metasquares, Ufim, 7 anonymous edits

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