As technology advances at incredible rates, LCD touch screens have increasingly become part of our everyday lives. The science behind LCD touch screens is fascinating and will have you looking at these ordinary items in a completely new light. LCD screens are a big part of our world these days, so getting to know them will be advantageous for you.
What Makes Up LCD Touch Screens?
The vital component of an LCD touch screen is in the name. LCD stands for liquid-crystal display. These displays are passive, so they alter the light traveling through them instead of emitting light. This light alteration eventually is what shows up on your screen. While the scientific principles might sound confusing, their actual technological operation is quite simple. The reason LCD screens have this ability is that they have properties of crystals but are also constantly in a liquid state. It takes advantage of the light-modulating capabilities of the liquid crystals and combines them with polarizers to display information.
Is It Easy to Get an iPad Screen Replacement?
Before going further into the science of LCD touch screens, let’s look at your options if you need a screen replacement for an iPad. Depending on the level of damage, it can be tricky to get an iPad screen replacement. However, the overwhelming consensus from technology experts is to get help from a professional. Apple offers direct service to repair iPads, but so do many local stores. It is crucial to shop around to find a reputable expert at a reasonable price.
How Do LCD Touch Screens Work?
Moving back to how LCD touch screens work, an LCD has nine primary layers. Starting from the back of the display and moving forward. There is a thin mirror, a polarizing film, a glass filter, a negative electrode, a liquid crystal layer, a positive electrode, another glass filter, another polarizing film, and the glass cover. The glass cover is the final layer and displays the resultant image. While the microscopic physics behind these screens get complicated, these screens all work together to take the pixels and manipulate light polarization and electric fields to generate a color image.
How It Works
The touchscreen component of an LCD screen then takes advantage of electrical properties to allow your finger to make commands. If the display screen was only glass, this would not be possible because glass is an insulator and so it can’t sustain an electric current. However, your display screen also has a tiny coat of indium tin oxide, which is not an insulator and can carry an electrical current. It is also transparent, so it doesn’t interfere with the glass. Because of this, when your finger touches the screen, the electrical charge is changed. Your device interprets this charge change as a command.
Of course, not all LCD touch screens are made equal. There are different ways manufacturers optimize their LCD touch screens to maximize responsiveness and overall quality. However, the science behind the operations will always be the same.
Hannah Whittenly is a freelance writer and mother of two from Sacramento, CA. She enjoys kayaking and reading books by the lake.rn
