Flat panel television is growing in popularity due to its attention to image realism, space consciousness, color vibrancy, and image brightness. Plasma is one of the technologies employed in the flat panel display arena. The plasma television is comprised of two panels of glass with tiny cells of noble gases held between the panels.
The technology uses electrical currents to convert gases to plasma and blend colors. When the plasma emits ultraviolet light, it excites the phosphors and projects a visible light. In plasma television design, each individual pixel is responsible for the image that individuals view. Red, green and blue sub pixels combine to create the billions of vibrant colors that are characteristic of plasma televisions. The pulses of current can work to create billions of different combinations of the primary colors, red, green, and blue. Accuracy of color reproduction is vastly improved from traditional television. In traditional television, a cathode ray picture tube is employed to deliver the image to the audience. Plasma does not employ this technology.
Competitors of the plasma display television include LCD, LED, DLO, CRT, OLED, SED and FED flat panel displays. Plasma technology is superior because of its brightness, thin screen, large screens, and wide viewing angles.
Advantages
o Does not produce a blurry picture like its competitor the LCD display. Its high refresh rates are responsible for low blur. Therefore, the user can enjoy films and video with rapid movement and lots of action.
o Thin and Slim profile.
o Transports easily: Lighter and sleeker than predecessors.
o Color accuracy and better array of colors than their counterparts the LCD. The plasma has 68 billion/236 compared to the LCD display of 16.7 million/224.
o Space Conscious design: Can be mounted on a wall like a picture.
o Plasma television produce superior contrast ratios up to 1:2,000,000.
o Plasma televisions do not experience degradation at wide angles like LCD displays. Displays can achieve angles up to 178 degrees.
Disadvantages
o Plasma televisions cannot be delivered or installed when the temperature is lower than 5 degrees
o Image brightness in older models degrades over time as a result of the phosphors losing their luminous characteristics. Newer models have a life expectancy over 60,000 hours. This is longer than its counterpart developed with CRT technology.
o New models have green phosphors and other technological advances to eliminate image retention and screen burn-in present in older models. Pixel shifting is one such technology that assisted with this particular problem.
o May experience large area flicker .
o Not manufactured in sizes smaller than 37 inches.
o Uses more electricity than the LCD Television.
o In bright rooms, reflection glare may be an issue.
o Because of the glass screen designed to hold the noble gases, the plasma is heavier than the LCD display.
o At high altitudes, users may experience problems because of the difference in the pressure of the gases inside the screen and the air pressure at high altitudes. Problems may manifest as buzzing and through other undesirable problems. Altitude parameters are included in order to allow users to know appropriate operating parameters.
o Radio devices may interfere with the image of plasma screen televisions. Particularly, AM radio, Amateur Radio operators, or shortwave listeners (SWL) may experience Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) which can be disabling or annoying. [click to continue…]