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About Plasma Tv

A plasma display panel (PDP) is a type of [flat panel display] now commonly used for large [television] displays (typically above 37-inch or 940 mm). Many tiny cells located between two panels of [glass] hold an inert mixture of [noble gas]es ([neon] and [xenon]). The gas in the cells is electrically turned into a [plasma (physics)] which then [excites] [phosphor]s to [emission (electromagnetic radiation)] light.

History The plasma display was invented at the [University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign] by [Donald Bitzer], H. Gene Slottow, and graduate student Robert Willson in 1964 for the [PLATO]. The original monochrome (usually orange or green, sometimes yellow) panels enjoyed a surge of popularity in the early 1970s because the displays were rugged and needed neither memory nor circuitry to refresh the images. A long period of sales decline followed in the late 1980s as semiconductor memory made CRT displays cheaper than plasma displays. Nonetheless, plasma's relatively large screen size and thin profile made the displays attractive for high-profile placement such as lobbies and stock exchanges.

In 1983, [IBM] introduced a 19-inch (483 mm) orange-on-black monochrome display (model 3290 'information panel') which was able to show four simultaneous [IBM 3270] virtual machine (VM) terminal sessions. That factory was transferred in 1987 to startup company Plasmaco, which Dr. [Larry F. Weber], one of Dr. Bitzer's students, founded with [Stephen Globus], and James Kehoe, who was the IBM plant manager. In 1992, [Fujitsu] introduced the world's first 21-inch (533 mm) full-color display. It was a hybrid, based upon the plasma display created at the [University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign] and [NHK] [STRL], achieving superior brightness. In 1996, [Matsushita] Electrical Industries ([Panasonic]) purchased Plasmaco, its color AC technology, and its American factory. In 1997, [Pioneer Corporation] started selling the first plasma television to the public. Current plasma televisions are often seen around the home and are thinner and in greater sizes than their predecessors. Their thin size allows them to compete with other display technology such as [projection screen].

Screen sizes have increased since the 21-inch (533 mm) display in 1992. The largest plasma video display in the world was shown at the 2006 [Consumer Electronics Show] in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.A, a 103-inch (261.6 cm) unit manufactured by Matsushita Electrical Industries (Panasonic).

Until quite recently, the superior brightness, faster response time, greater color spectrum, and wider [viewing angle] of color plasma video displays, when compared with [Liquid crystal display television], made them one of the most popular forms of display for [HDTV] [flat panel display]s. For a long time it was widely believed that LCD technology was suited only to smaller sized televisions, and could not compete with plasma technology at larger sizes, particularly 40 inches and above.

However, since then, improvements in LCD technology have narrowed the technological gap. The lower weight, falling prices, higher available resolution, which is important for HDTV, and often lower electrical power consumption of LCDs make them competitive against plasma displays in the television set market. As of late 2006, analysts note that LCDs are overtaking plasmas, particularly in the important 40-inch (1.0 m) and above segment where plasma had previously enjoyed strong dominance a couple of years before. Another industry trend is the consolidation of manufacturers of plasma displays, with around fifty brands available but only five manufacturers.

General characteristics Plasma displays are bright (1000 [lux] or higher for the module), have a wide color [gamut], and can be produced in fairly large sizes, up to 262 cm (103 inches) diagonally. They have a very low-luminance "dark-room" black level, creating a black some find more desirable for watching movies. The display panel is only about 6 cm (2½ inches) thick, while the total thickness, including electronics, is less than 10 cm (4 inches). Plasma displays use as much [Electric power] per square meter as a [Cathode ray tube] or an [AMLCD] television. Power consumption will vary greatly depending on what is watched on it. Bright scenes (say a football game) will draw significantly more power than darker scenes (say a movie scene at night). Nominal measurements indicate 400 watts for a 50-inch screen. Recent models, post 2006, consume between 220 and 310 watts for a 50-inch display when set to cinema mode. Most screens are set to 'shop' mode by default and this draws at least twice the power compared to a more comfortable 'home' setting.

The lifetime of the latest generation of plasma displays is estimated at 60,000 hours (or 27 years at 6 hours of use per day) of actual display time. More precisely, this is the estimated half life of the display, the point where the picture has degraded to half of its original brightness. It is watchable after this point, but is generally considered the end of the functional life of the display.

Competing displays include the [Cathode ray tube], [OLED], [AMLCD], [DLP], [SED-tv] and [field emission display] flat panel displays. The main advantage of plasma display technology is that a very wide screen can be produced using extremely thin materials. Since each pixel is lit individually, the image is very bright and has a wide viewing angle.

Functional details The xenon and neon gas in a plasma television is contained in hundreds of thousands of tiny cells positioned between two plates of glass. Long [electrodes] are also sandwiched between the glass plates, in front of and behind the cells. The address electrodes sit behind the cells, along the rear glass plate. The transparent display electrodes, which are surrounded by an insulating dielectric material and covered by a magnesium oxide protective layer, are mounted in front of the cell, along the front glass plate. Control circuitry charges the electrodes that cross paths at a cell, creating a [voltage] difference between front and back and causing the gas to [ion]ize and form a [plasma (physics)]; as the gas ions rush to the electrodes and collide, [photon]s are emitted.

In a monochrome plasma panel, the ionizing state can be maintained by applying a low-level voltage between all the horizontal and vertical electrodes – even after the ionizing voltage is removed. To erase a cell all voltage is removed from a pair of electrodes. This type of panel has inherent memory and does not use phosphors. A small amount of nitrogen is added to the neon to increase [hysteresis].

In color panels, the back of each cell is coated with a [phosphor]. The [ultraviolet] photons emitted by the plasma excite these phosphors to give off colored light. The operation of each cell is thus comparable to that of a [fluorescent lamp].

Every [pixel] is made up of three separate subpixel cells, each with different colored phosphors. One subpixel has a red light phosphor, one subpixel has a green light phosphor and one subpixel has a blue light phosphor. These colors blend together to create the overall color of the pixel, analogous to the [Triad (computers)] of a [shadow-mask] CRT. By varying the pulses of current flowing through the different cells thousands of times per second, the control system can increase or decrease the intensity of each subpixel color to create billions of different combinations of red, green and blue. In this way, the control system can produce most of the visible colors. Plasma displays use the same phosphors as CRTs, which accounts for the extremely accurate color reproduction.

Contrast ratio claims [Contrast ratio] is the difference between the brightest and darkest parts of an image, measured in discrete steps, at any given moment. Generally, the higher the contrast ratio, the more realistic the image is. Contrast ratios for plasma displays are often advertised as high as 20,000:1. On the surface, this is a significant advantage of plasma over other display technologies. Although there are no industry-wide guidelines for reporting contrast ratio, most manufacturers follow either the ANSI standard or perform a full-on-full-off test. The ANSI standard uses a checkered test pattern whereby the darkest blacks and the lightest whites are simultaneously measured, yielding the most accurate "real-world" ratings. In contrast, a full-on-full-off test measures the ratio using a pure black screen and a pure white screen, which gives higher values but does not represent a typical viewing scenario. Manufacturers can further artificially improve the reported contrast ratio by increasing the contrast and brightness settings to achieve the highest test values. However, a contrast ratio generated by this method is misleading, as content would be essentially unwatchable at such settings.

Plasma is often cited as having better black levels (and contrast ratios), although both plasma and LCD have their own technological challenges. Each cell on a plasma display has to be precharged before it is due to be illuminated (otherwise the cell would not respond quickly enough) and this precharging means the cells cannot achieve a true black. Some manufacturers have worked hard to reduce the precharge and the associated background glow, to the point where black levels on modern plasmas are starting to rival CRT. With LCD technology, black pixels are generated by a light polarization method and are unable to completely block the underlying backlight.

One shortcoming with plasma technology is that running a display at maximum brightness will significantly reduce the panel's lifespan. For this reason, many owners leave the brightness settings well below maximum, which typically still results in a brighter screen than CRT displays.

Screen burn-in

With phosphor-based electronic displays (including [cathode-ray] and plasma displays), the prolonged display of a menu bar or other graphical elements over time can create a permanent ghost-like image of these objects. This is due to the fact that the phosphor compounds which emit the light lose their [luminosity] with use. As a result, when certain areas of the display are used more frequently than others, over time the lower luminosity areas become visible to the naked eye and the result is called burn-in. While a ghost image is the most noticeable effect, a more common result is that the image quality will continuously and gradually decline as luminosity variations develop over time, resulting in a "muddy" looking picture image.

Plasma displays also exhibit another image retention issue which is sometimes confused with burn-in damage. In this mode, when a group of pixels are run at high brightness (when displaying white, for example) for an extended period of time, a charge build-up in the [pixel] structure occurs and a ghost image can be seen. However, unlike burn-in, this charge build-up is transient and self corrects after the display has been powered off for a long enough period of time, or after running random broadcast TV type content.

Plasma manufacturers have over time managed to devise ways of reducing the past problems of image retention with solutions with grey pillarboxes, pixel orbiters and image washing routines.

See also

[Large-screen television technology]
[Comparison of display technology]
[DLP]
[LCD]
[HDTV Blur]

References

External links

Laser TVs Set to Take Down Plasma (from DailyTech)
Plasma.com classroom main page Articles on Plasma TV technology and installation
Schematic drawing and explanation of a typical color plasma display
HowStuffWorks "How plasma displays work
LCD or plasma? (PCWorld.ca, written February 14, 2007)
Plasma Television: The Plasma Technology Explained
Plasma display panels: The colorful history of an Illinois technology by Jamie Hutchinson, Electrical and Computer Engineering Alumni News, Winter 2002-2003

Information Reference: Wikipedia.org

Plasma tv

Questions and Answers

Plasma TV's - do's and don'ts?

Q) Have just bought a 42" Samsung Plasma TV. We brought it home in the back of the car but have since been told by a friend that you should never lie a Plasma down because the gases can escape. Is this true? If it is, this TV is so going back to Comet!!

A) No worries, the gas is sealed in the cells called pixels. The gas will escape ONLY if the glass is cracked. I repair these sets, they MUST be laid on their face to effect access to all the panels after removing all the bracing for the stand. Tell whoever said that to you they are full of horse pucky! BTW this last set was a 4 year old Toshiba, with a Samsung display and driver boards.

which is better.... a plasma tv or a 3lcd tv?

Q) i want a 50 inch tv and have the choice of plasma or a 3lcd rear projection tv. does anyone here know about these new rear projection tvs? how good is the quality compared to plasma? this is my choice of tvs http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SONY-KDF-50E2010-3LCD-50-REAR-PROJECTION-HDMI-TV-HD_W0QQitemZ120044290132QQihZ002QQcategoryZ129628QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem and http://www.currys.co.uk/martprd/store/cur_page.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@0043356008.1161719629@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccdhaddjejmmdijcflgceggdhhmdgml.0&page=Product&fm=20&sm=0&tm=undefined&sku=836047&category_oid=-25961 (also the plasma costs twice as much, is it worth this extra money?) thanks

A) I don't know which plasma you are considering, but the Sony should be a good deal. However, I prefer the direct view LCD HDTV sets, then plasma. Take a look on Sony's website at their Bravia models. Also, compare them with the plasma Pioneer Elite models. Once you have compared these to the sets you are considering, you will be able to make an informed decision on what works best for you. H a p p y V i e w i n g !

plasma tv problem?

Q) i have just got a 42" lg plasma tv and it has got a very very thin vertical line from top to bottom of the screen, it is not visible on darker picture colours, but on the lighter colours it is luminous green, is this a fault in the screen, tv is only 2 days old

A) it will cost you nothing to get the store to get an engineer out to check it out. It will also give you piece of mind too. wg

plasma tv cracked HELP?

Q) My 3 year old son has just thrown a plastic cup at my plasma tv and it has cracked like a smashed window where he threw it. I dont think i can claim on my house insurance as i only claimed for the same thing about 6 months ago. Advice on what to do the screen is only 1 1/2 years old and cost over £1400. Does anyone know anywhere in the uk that fixes them the screen is still working, but my other screen worked for a bit when it had a crack and then the screen under the crack stopped working HELP other half is going to go mad think my insurance only lets me claim on the same thing once a year and i only claimed 6 months ago due to the same thing ( and the same child did that one aswell ) DO NOT CALL MY SON A BRAT U WEIRDO, at least he isnt obscene like u and plus hes 3 ( tracey b)

A) Probably not the answer you wanted. Wait until he's older to have a plasma screen in your home. It's likely going to happen again. But anyone with kids has had to "KID PROOF" the house before. By age 6 the TV should be safe! LOL

does a plasma TV give you a better picture on xbox 360 ?

Q) i was wondering if a plasma tv gives a better picture than a ordenary tv bacuse i want a tv to give me a better picture on my xbox 360 and i know the hdtv is what you need but there to exspensive!

A) for Xbox better buy any lcd TV with HD capability. People normally think that plasma is better than LCD.. well.. it's not true in all sense. Plasmas can be only bigger than 32'' so people use to like them more , earlier lcd use to be small but now you also get bigger lcds. Pixel resolution of LCD is better than plasma. That's why all computer panels are LCD only. Plasma can give you perfect black colour and so gives more depth to pictures but only if you watch it from a distance of bigger than 2 meters (coz pixel quality is poor in plasma) For playing x Box i don't feel you can have that long cable for console , so you'll be watching it from a close distance in that case LCD will give you better resolution and picture quality

plasma tv installation?

Q) i`m looking for advice or websites on how to install a 42inch plasma tv with sky, dvd and surround sound, where the scart leads go that kind of thing. Bit of a novice at all things audio visual

A) This is a USA site, so sorry no SCART, but it should be very useful. http://www.ceaconnectionsguide.com/ However, SCART is nothing more than an ugly connector with audio and video signals. Think of scart as a connector that connects composite video (yellow) and stereo audio (red/white) with one cable. I am not sure if your TV's SCART support HD signals, so if possible use HDMI or component - check your TV manual for the best HD connection.

LCD & Plasma TV Question?

Q) I wanted to ask whether a LCD or Plasma TV can be used as a computer monitor for a desktop PC or a laptop and switichg between computer and tv modes at a flick of a switch and button. What do I need to look out for when purchasing the above and any accessories would I need? Please help me with suitable sources and comments. Many thanks Can it be mounted so it looks really nice?

A) LCD has a much longer screen life, something like 100,000 hours compared to 3-5,000 hours for a plasma screen. Lower electrcity consumption too. Go for LCD.

plasma tv screens burn out?

Q) Is it true that plasma tv screen degrade faster than lcd? http://www.hdtvprices.co.uk

A) yes they do although the latest plasma tv's last a lot longer. also you get a better clarity of picture. i have a Lcd telly and i prefer it.

What is the best Plasma TV to get for £1000 ? UK People !?

Q) What is the best Plasma TV to get for £1000 ? UK People ! I have £1000 to spend on new TV , Whats Best Plasma TV since i will be in dark Room watching Movies and Sports ! Thanks Also needs to be around 40inc

A) panasonic lmd 70 model is £999 ( shop price ) for the money you have this is THE best plasma. Check out the reviews on which and what video mags. wg

LG Plasma TV connected to Gamecube?

Q) My Gamecube is connected to a 42" LG plasma TV. There seems to be a very small time delay between the picture and the sound. It is un-noticable in normal use, but it makes it impossible to play games like Donkey Konga and Mario Golf which require precision timings. I have tried hooking the audio through my surround sound but it would appear that the problem is with the actual image appearing later than the sound. Has anyone else had this problem or have any ideas on how to fix it? I currently have it connected via the RGB but have tried S-Video and Scart and but nothing seems to make a difference.

A) hav you got it connected via the s video ? if so connect in the RGB

Plasma TV????

Q) on plasma tv's, how long do they last until you must fill them back up with the xenon and what ever so if i bought one, how long could i watch it until i had to have somebody out to my house to refill it tnx

A) Good news - 20,000 . 30,000 hours is generall reckoned as being a workable life Bad News - No refilling, you need a new screen Good News - By then, the price ought to have dropped considerably. Good News - The screen will not actually "stop working" usually, just get dimmer and dimmer. If you are happy to watch in a darkened room, then you might see well over 50,000 hours from a screen - especially if you have the brightness turned down a little. (The brighter the screen is run, the faster it dies) If you do 5 hours TV per 24 hours - then very roughly 12 - 14 years - and 20-25 years if you accept a dim picture in the end - but in 20 years time it really will be high time you updated you AV to the new holoset- (XD compatible)

Plasma TV......?

Q) How long do plasma TV's last? I just bought a 42" Hitachi and i would like to know.

A) They will last forever, as long as you don't turn it on. Seriously tho, the first guy got it pretty much right.

Plasma TV?

Q) How does cold temerpature effect plasma TV's

A) Cold could be bad if the moisture in the air condensates and get the electronics wet but very very very cold would not let the who plasma screen not work, i don't think it would hurt it but just make the screen flicker and have no picture (it could burn out the transformer but i dout it) . . . just like older fluorescent lamps would have a very very hard time to start and would flicker

Plasma TV's: unstable and difficult to calibrate?

Q) I found this great deal on a Vizio 42" plasma TV at Circuit City. When I went to buy it, I got a huge pitch from the sales guy that ultimately translated to me needing to spend an extra $500 (or more). Here are some of the things he said: 1) Plasma TV's are unstable for the first 5 years. If nothing goes wrong in that time, they should last a total of about 30 years. (He said this in hopes of selling me the 5 year service plan.) 2) Without proper calibration by an expert or someone who knows about "deeper menus", the TV will not transition well between normal viewing and DVD or video game viewing. (He wanted me to purchase the in-home professional set-up.) 3) Even packaged in their original boxes, plasma TV's cannot be laid flat for transit -- they have to remain standing up. (He wanted me to have the TV delivered in their truck instead of transported in my car.) Is any of this true? Or was I just fed a load of crap so he could make more money on commission?

A) First try and stay away from the plasma tv. It is not going to last. The gas inside will burn out over time, and they run really hot shorting the life of the tv. If you do buy it the only thing I would recomend is getting the extended warranty. Unless you plan on hanging it on the wall in home setup will not be needed. I transport them everyday and we always lay them down. I would not recomend doing it for a long time. If you take it straight home you will be fine. They make more money on the accessories than the tv. You do not need a tech to go deeper in the system to set it up.

Plasma Tv's bad for gaming??

Q) I just heard from sources* that Plasma Tv's are not acceptable for video gaming. Now this sounds like S* because I have been playing my PS2 on it for awhile now and there has been no problems whatso ever. I heard that they can destroy the Tv all together due to the intenseness of the gaming qualities but I would hope to think with how high Plasma Tv's fps is, it wouldn't matter much. I have a 42" HD Plasma by this maker i believe to be Akai and it has never failed me so far in which I have had it for quite a long time now (giver take 2+ years) Are gaming consoles/video games bad for plasmas??

A) The usual criticism of plasma TV for gaming has been the burn-in problem. The newest plasmas are greatly improved; they don't burn-in easily and the burn-in can be faded. However, it is generally felt that it remains a potential problem. Keep the brightness and contrast set as low as you can; try to keep staionary patterns from remaining on the screen a long time. LCD TVs used to be considered inappropriate for gaming because of the slower response time (moving objects could leave trails), and their color is not as brilliant. However, as in the case of the plasmas, the sets have been improved and the newer ones have excellent response time. So unfortunately the decision is not clear-cut.

Plasma TV HELP!!!!!?

Q) Well.. im looking into getting a 42" Plasma TV.. (with HDTV).. but anyways.. im just trying to pretty much find the cheapest thing i can find.. which is this iLo from walmart.. but i heard this iLo brand is the worst thing EVER!!.. Does any1 know if these things are really that bad?.i mean id rather spend a couple houndred for a name brand if its worth it.... (i dont know much about tvs!!!) . and what TV would you reccomend?(thats Cheap).. and i know the cheap tvs rnt going to be as good as the 3000 dollar plasma, but i dont have 3000 and never will to put towards a tv...Also is plasma worth the extra money over a LCD TV? THANKS ALOT

A) I don’t know if you are in any hurry to get that Plasma TV. I have deferred my decision to purchase one after reading an article that said Laser TVs will come at half the price and the picture quality will be twice as good. I’m waiting for the worldwide launch scheduled for Christmas 2007 to find out. I hope its worth the wait as it sounds like a good deal.

Plasma TV Owners: How did you brace your wall to hang the unit?

Q) I recently got a 50" Panasonic Plasma TV (TH-50PX60U) with a Sanus Flat Panel TV Mount (VMSAs) that tilts, swivels, and pans. The instruction manual with the tv mount says the wall should be able to handle 5 times the weight of the plasma tv plus the weight of the actual mount. That is roughly 550 pounds. How in the world do I beef up my wall to safely handle that? We live in an old house with plaster walls and I would like to hang it above the fireplace. Can you give me any advice? Thank you! Thanks for the comments so far. Just to clarify, we do not use the fireplace - the tv would look very nice in this location!

A) First things first, I seriously doubt that the mfg. of the TV will warrant the TV if you hang it over a fireplace. I know you see all those pretty pics of TVs over fireplaces but they cannot handle the heat, most have an automatic shut off when they reach a certain temp. The const of the wall around your fireplace may not have wood studs, hopefully it does, you must locate those studs and the weight you are talking about you will need to hit three studs with a wall bracket and that bracket will need to be bolted to the studs with at least two 3" lag bolts on each stud. The lath on the wall is probably wood lath over which the plaster was spread, I've seen situations where the homeowner opened the wall to expose the studs and then attached 3/4" plywood to the studs to this they could bolt the mounting bracket distributing the load over the studs. This plywood could then be finished out to match the wall. Again- carefully consider the mfg. recommendations regarding fireplaces.

New plasma tv..... help me out!!!?

Q) I jus got a new Plasma tv it like 1 meter wide very skinny and looks high tech.....for the last 2 days i only had my rogers cable plugged in on the tv not my other stuff like dvd player game system and evrything. For my other tv i always switched what i had plugged in....this tv looks very modern and is sopouse to be good ...shouldn't i be able to have everything pluged in at the same and time and switch them from the remote? I also have anytoher question ....I heard its not good to have ur game system hooked up to a plasma tv is that true??

A) Yes, your TV should have enough input ports to connect all your components Then use the remote's "input" or "source" button to change inputs. Be very careful with gaming on your plasma, especially the first 200 hours. More careful then until the first 1,000 hours and after that it should be like a CRT

Plasma TV question?

Q) Can a burned-in image on a plasma TV be cleaned-up or removed? A friend has a plasma TV that has a fairly severe burn-in (it was used in a restaurant to show menu items; the names and prices were burned-in over time). Is it possible to "zap" or degauss this screen to remove the burned-in images? It's a large, flat-panel plasma screen. Techman, I checked out the site you recommended. Thanks!

A) Yeah, it should be using an LCD TV, if he is displaying the same image for long periods of time. As for removing it, it's possible, but doesn't always work. Try this. http://www.wikihow.com/Remove-burn-in-on-plasma-screens

Plasma tv question?

Q) I just bought a Sanyo 42" plasma tv. After its been on a while, it starts behaving strangely. When we walk around our living room where the tv is located, the picture distorts (horizontal lines appear kinda like when you watch movies and the tracking isnt right). Is this true for all plasma tvs? Or did I just get a bad one? I am certainly going to return this one, but I'd like to know if I should invest in another plasma or not. Thanks in advance for your answer!

A) There is no reason for a plasma or any other TV to do that. But it may not be the TV that's the problem; you may be in a weak signal area, and your moving around the room affects the signal. By all means try another (plasma) TV; if the same thing happens, try improving your antenna. (Of course, if this happens when watching DVDs, you most likely have a defective TV.)