You must have used a monitor while watching videos, gaming, or working since they are the primary interface for allowing you to access digital content. Monitors can be seen everywhere these days. It’s impossible to imagine a visual experience of digital content without them.
But how do these monitors work? What are the basics of this display technology?
Do you have the above questions in your mind? Are you searching for a guide that can unveil the mechanics and technology behind monitors? If yes, this article is for you.
From their fundamental principles to the latest advancements in monitors, the below guide covers everything.
The Basics: What is a Monitor?
A monitor is an output device that can convert digital signals from an electronic device (like a computer, etc) into visual information that can be seen and easily understood by humans. It is also referred to as a display screen.
In a monitor, several key components, that it consists of, function together to generate the images we see on the screen. We can summarize its core working in the following way:
- First, the monitor receives and interprets signals from the source device. We can name this function as signal processing.
- The interpreted data is then translated into a visible image. It is called image rendering.
- The next step is to display the output. The rendered image is physically displayed or shown on the monitor’s screen.
Below we have explored the technologies behind this process and how they work.
The Role of Pixels: Building Blocks of Images
Digital pictures or images are made up of pixels. That means pixels are the smallest building blocks or units of these images. There are 3 subpixels that every pixel is made up of. They are in the colors as follows: red, green, and blue (RGB).
A monitor manages to display a diverse range of hues by causing variation in these 3 colors, thus being able to generate detailed images.
When a monitor has to create a white color for a pixel, it makes all its three subpixels (RGB) get lit at their full intensity. Similarly, when all of the three subpixels are off, black is displayed and other specific colors are possible by adjusting the brightness of each subpixel.
These days monitors with millions of pixels are out there, which offer HD (high-definition) and UHD (ultra-high-definition) resolutions.
Types of Monitors and How They Work
There are mainly 4 types of monitors. Each one uses a distinct technology to generate its images. These types are:
a) CRT Monitors
CRT monitors were being used most until the early 2000s. They are the earliest kind of display technology.
They function in the following way:
There is an electron gun in these monitors, and the gun emits a stream of electrons. The emitted electrons hit the phosphor coating over the inside of the monitor’s screen. This action on the phosphor-coated screen causes the screen to glow and generate an image.
The electrons are guided to specific areas of the screen by magnetic fields, thus creating every image line by line.
These monitors were bulky in their volume and consumed more power. In addition, their resolutions were also low compared to today’s modern types of monitors.
b) LCD Monitors
When LCD technology was introduced, it brought about a revolution in the monitor industry with the introduction of more energy-efficient and thinner screens with excellent image quality.
LCD monitors operate as follows:
In LCDs, there are liquid crystals sandwiched between 2 glass layers. These crystals manipulate light to generate images. There is a light source that is called backlight as it illuminates the screen from behind. Typically LEDs are used as light sources in these monitors.
Polarizing filters and electrodes are also there in these monitors and they control the way the light passes through the liquid crystals. Thus they determine each pixel’s color and its brightness.
c) Light Emitting Diode (LED) Monitors
LED monitors differ from LCD monitors in just their backlighting system. These monitors are thinner, more energy-efficient, and can produce visuals with enhanced contrast & brightness.
Here is how they work:
An LED monitor uses energy-efficient LEDs of small size as their backlight or light source. Just like in LCDs, the light is manipulated by liquid crystals to generate pictures. The small LEDs in these monitors are placed either around the edges or dispersed across the screen.
The models with LEDs positioned around the edges are called edge-lit models. And, the ones with LEDs dispersed across the screen, on the other hand, are referred to as full-array models. In the full-array models, local dimming is also possible.
These monitors offer a wider range of colors and better contrast as compared to traditional LCDs. And, they make it happen by adjusting the intensity of LEDs.
d) OLED Monitors
A more recent advancement compared to LED monitors led to the introduction of OLED monitors. These display screens offer deep contrast and vibrant colors.
They are a perfect choice for high-end applications such as professional video editing, and gaming. However, their price is higher than LCD monitors.
Here is how they work:
OLED monitors feature self-emissive pixels. That means each pixel in these monitors produces its own light when an electric current passes through organic compounds. So there is no requirement for a backlight.
The elimination of the requirement for a backlight in these monitors allows them to have ultra-thin designs as well as perfect blacks.
The Role of Graphics Processing
You must have heard about GPU (graphics processing unit). The GPU is meant to convert binary data into a format that can be easily interpreted or understood by the monitor. The monitor understands them with the aid of digital signals like HDMI, DisplayPort, or DVI.
Thus monitors depend on GPUs for sending visual data. The signals received by the monitor are decoded by it to generate an image.
Advanced Features in Modern Monitors
With the advancement in the technology, there have been incorporated more features in the monitors such as:
- Features like HDR increase color range and brightness, leading to more lifelike pictures on the screen.
- Adaptive Sync Technology synchronizes the refresh rate of the monitor with the GPU’s output, which eliminates screen tearing.
- Curved Displays have been designed to mimic the human eye’s natural curvature. It helps get an immersive viewing experience.
- The Touchscreen feature is also there in some new monitors to allow you to have a direct interaction with the monitor’s screen.
Energy Efficiency and Sustainability of Monitors
Modern monitors are energy efficient. They have LED backlighting which consumes less power compared to the older fluorescent backlights. Some monitors also offer automatic adjustment of brightness.
In addition to the above, companies are prioritizing initiatives to reduce the environmental impacts of scrapped monitors. They are also exploring more new sustainable materials for manufacturing these devices.
Future Trends in Monitor Technology
For the monitor technology, we can look at the future with an expectation of even more innovation in the industry. The emerging trends include MicroLED Displays, 8K Resolution, Augmented Reality (AR) Displays, and Flexible Screens.
MicroLED displays combine the advantages of OLED with enhanced durability and brightness. 8K resolution provides exceptional details needed for cinematic and professional applications.
AR displays, on the other hand, offer the integration of digital content with the physical world. And, the flexible screen allows foldability and rollability in monitors to allow them to adapt to different cases of usage.
Conclusion
With their ability to convert electronic signals into captivating visual experiences, monitors are no less than wonders of modern engineering. Understanding how they work will deepen your appreciation for them.
In addition, the understanding will help you make an informed decision when buying the right monitor for yourself. Whether for entertainment, work, or creativity, these output devices are a window to endless possibilities.
