We tried – IPS display revolution by LG

IPS technology is not a child, it was developed by Hitachi in 1996. Primary direction of development was solving the two main limitations of TN panels, those are small viewing angles and low-quality color reproduction.

The name of technology came from In-Plane Switching which is the full opposite for TN panel. While in the event of TN panel, the crystals let the light across because of the deficiency of the electric field, but this is not true for IPS. This method helped back became black or more realistic at least than TN panel’s solution, just as viewing angle got better significantly which can be horizontal 170-178 degrees. This value is not just only a nice number, this is a real data, so we get enjoyable picture from that angle too. As extra, little advantage, in case of pixel error we see black pixelpoint not white which is less embarassing. We mentioned as advantage IPS panel can shows 16 million colours.

Crystal alignment at different technologies

Of course this technology is having failures too. Manufacture IPS panels are more expensive and need more power for working and its translucent ability is worse so it is need sharper backlit. These defects traceable to one thing: as against TN panel it needs two controller transistor for the function of one pixel. Of course these transistors as wiring are transparent (otherwise we can see them in the display) but they uncover more light than if we use one transinstor.

 The context between the crystal alignment and the viewing angle

We can meet more than one type of IPS panels. There are several development where they tried to fix problems of previous generations. At the first generation black was black, but in a dark room they looked purple from extreme angle and there were plenty corrections with brightness because 200:1 ratio was not too muscular. And the response time also caused problem, black-to-white-to-back transitions was 60 milliseconds and it was worse with grey-to-grey ones.

What is happening if we push the screen?

These were serious drawbacks which needed elimination. LG undertakes leading role in the IPS panel developement until today. Panels in use nowaday are based on S-IPS technology or rather its forward developed version: e-IPS. S-IPS development brought drastic decrease of response time which was 16 ms in paper and contrast ratio got better a bit.

Pixels beside minimal magnification

Year 2009 brought truly breakthrough for LG, they announced e-IPS technology which yielded easier subpixel structure what increased the transparency of the matrix and reduced production costs significantly. The new technology’s drawback against S-IPS is worse picure quality, from extreme angle black turns into grey. But this quality is still much better than TN+film panel’s.

Pixel structure enlarged

We can wrote pages about IPS panels so we skipped some steps from evolution. Matter in few words: TN+film panels signify the required low. It can manufactured cheap and big sized. Response time was great and suitable for games and movies. These could take the technology on its shoulder. IPS tecnology –thank to LG– catch up or approached TN+film those areas where that have been prominently good. Response time decreased, contrast ratio grew, futhermore production costs reduced. Matching of IPS technology with W-LED cut back on thickness and power usages of displays.

Here is the time for IPS revolution!