PVA vs LCD
The main differences between LCD and PVA are that an LCD is a panel display which uses liquid crystals, and PVA is a type of LCD. LCDs have two types: active matrix and passive matrix displays. PVAs fall into the active matrix display category and are a type of TFT LCD variant of the LCD.
LCD
“LCD” refers to “liquid crystal display” which is a panel display, video display, or electronic visual display. They are used for television screens, computer monitors, displays in aircraft cockpits, calculators, gaming devices, clocks, etc. LCDs use the liquid crystal’s property of light modulating. The liquid crystals do not directly emit light. The cathode ray tube which was used earlier for displays has been replaced by the LCDs. The LCDs gained popularity as they are more efficient as far as energy is concerned. They are available in many screen sizes and in varied plasma displays, and they are not susceptible to image burn-in. Ecologically, they also have the advantage of being safely disposed of. They consume less electrical power so they can also be used in electronic equipment which use batteries.
An LCD is basically an optical device which is electronically modulated. It has a number of segments which are all filled with liquid crystals. These crystals are arrayed or arranged in front of a reflector or light source to produce images. The images could be in color or monochromatic. The smaller the pixel, the more flexible they are. The LCD panels do not emit their own light. Thus the external light source is required. Primarily, these displays have fluorescent lamps or cold cathodes situated behind the panel.
There are two different display types, the active matrix and passive matrix displays. Passive displays are not lit from the back, and active are mostly backlit. For battery-operated devices, an inverter is required to convert DC to AC.
PVA
“PVA” stands for “patterned vertical alignment.” It is a type of TFT LCD. “TFT” stands for “thin film transistor” liquid crystal display. It is a type of LCD. The TFT technology is used to improve the quality of the picture. It is an active matrix LCD. Vertical alignment refers to a form of LCD where the crystals are aligned naturally to the glass substrate vertically without applying any voltage.
PVAs are of different types. An S-PVA is a less costly PVA. The S-PVA does not use color simulation and uses at least eight bits for each color component. Other cheaper PVAs use FRC.
Summary:
- “LCD” stands for “liquid crystal display”; “PVA” stands for “patterned vertical alignment.”
- PVA is a type of LCD display. It falls into the active matrix display of the TFT variant of the LCD.