Flat Panel Displays Materials and Technology
Code
7454
Academic unit
Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia
Department
Departamento de Ciências dos Materiais
Credits
6.0
Teacher in charge
Pedro Miguel Cândido Barquinha
Weekly hours
5
Teaching language
Português
Objectives
At the end of this course the students should have solid knowledge on the materials, structure, fabrication and operation of different flat panel displays, with special relevance on LCDs and OLEDs for the high-end market and electrophoretics and electrochromics for the low-end, which are the dominant technologies of the actual and upcoming market, as well as the different adressing schemes and technologies for these displays.
Prerequisites
Although not mandatory, it is advisable that the student completed Materiais Semicondutores, Microelectrónica II and Electrónica I.
Subject matter
T:
- Introduction to displays: basic concepts, historical background, importance, applications and market, classification and main characterization parameters
- Fundaments of light, optics and visual perception
- Substrates for displays: properties, advantages and limitations of rigid and flexible substrates. The problematic of indium in displays
- Liquid crystal displays: introduction to liquid crystals (definitions, types, phases, properties), polarization and birefringence, the TN cell, addressing schemes (direct, passive and active matrices)
- Active Matrix LCDs: requirements, comparison of the different TFT technologies, other devices for on/off switching in AMLCDs. Optimization of AMLCDs: brightness, contrast, viewing angle, response time; flicker, image artifacts, power consumption
- Electroluminescent displays: OLEDs, TFELs and (micro)LEDs. QDs
- Main technologies of touch-screens
- 3D displays
- Active matrices for X-ray imaging panels
- Alternative technologies in FPDs (e-paper, electrochromic, plasma...)
P:
Lab analysis of commercial OLED and LCD displays
Fabrication and characterization of LCD with segmented addressing and passive matrix
Questions regarding addressing schemes in displays
Electrical characterization of an OLED pixel circuit
Bibliography
J.-H. Lee, D. N. Liu, and S.-T. Wu, Introduction to Flat Panel Displays, West Sussex, UK: John Wiley & Sons Ltd., 2008
G.P. Crawford, Flexible Flat Panel Displays, West Sussex, UK: John Wiley & Sons Ltd., 2005
A.K. Bhowmik, Z. Li, and P.J. Bos, Mobile Displays: Technology and Applications, West Sussex, UK: John Wiley & Sons Ltd., 2008
R.R. Hainich and O. Bimber, Displays: Fundamentals & Applications, Boca Raton, USA: CRC Press, 2011
Teaching method
The program is divided in theoretical and lab classes, 2 and 3 hours per week, respectively.
Lectures are supported by ppts with updated and detailed information, which are then given to the students. Several practical examples are presented, having always in mind to discuss the viability of implementation of the materials and processes at an industrial scale.
The lab classes aim to fabricate different types of displays with different degrees of complexity, trying to show the students the different issues found during the fabrication process and how they affect the operation of the final display. Students also analyze commercial displays, evaluating how the different layers are assembled and what is their role, in order to understand the operation of the displays.
The students are evaluated with two tests or alternatively a final exam (60 % of final mark) and by a reports about the lab classes (fabrication and characterization of LCD, 40 %).
The frequency requires that the students attend the lab classes and that their report is approved.
Evaluation method
- 2 tests or one exam (60 % of final classification)
- 1 report about lab classes (fabrication and characterization of LCDs, 40 %)
Frequency implies attendance to lab classes and approval on the report (i.e., >=9.5).