| How a Plasma Display Works | | | | with most displays these daysmeasuring no more |
| Plasma Televisions are made up of plasma gas | | | | than 4 cm in depth. The most common display |
| which is Xenon and Neon Gas. Thesegases are | | | | size these daysis the 42" with 50" - 60" at the |
| placed in tiny cells or pixels across the screen. The | | | | high end, this is not up to Projection TV's yet but |
| interior of the pixelsand sub-pixels are coated with | | | | thequality in image that is gained and the fact that |
| phosphor. Each pixel has three | | | | the screens are very thin makesthem my choice |
| sub-pixelrepresenting a primary color (red, green | | | | for best display at this time. The largest Plasma |
| and blue). These cells (pixels) are | | | | screen in the worldwas just shown at the CES |
| containedbetween two pieces of glass. Connected | | | | (Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas. It |
| to each plate is an electrode, theseelectrodes | | | | measured |
| extend the whole length of the plates of glass | | | | 103" and was made by Matsushita Electrical |
| forming a grid on bothplates of glass. These | | | | Industries (Panasonic). Samsung iscurrently in |
| electrodes are also connected to a computer in | | | | second place with their 102" inch Plasma Panel. For |
| the display. Tocreate an image the computer | | | | the consumer thelargest panel you can buy is |
| sends a current on the electrode and | | | | made by Samsung measuring 80" and costing |
| thecorresponding position on the grid to charge | | | | awhopping $130,000. Imagine what the wife would |
| the gases in the pixels which causesthe gases to | | | | say if you brought that bad boyhome. |
| become ionized which in turn depending on the | | | | The only major con's with Plasma displays would |
| length of time thecurrent in on causes the gases | | | | be their price compared to a |
| to give off an ultraviolet ray. This ultraviolet ray | | | | Projection screens. Compared to LCD's Plasma's |
| thencauses the phosphor coating of the pixels to | | | | are much cheaper per inch. There isa myth going |
| light up the appropriate color. With allof these cells | | | | around that plasma displays do not last long and |
| or pixels lighting up at the same time they create | | | | will need to bereplaced quite often. Although they |
| a smooth image. | | | | do eventually loose their brightness and thecolors |
| Advantages of a Plasma Display | | | | will fade when the half-life of the gases are |
| The advantages of this technology is that since | | | | reached, most displays thesedays are rated at |
| the whole screen can be lit up at thesame time | | | | half lives of 50,000 hours. With normal viewing of |
| and every pixel can be used and "on" we get | | | | 4 hours a daythis would not be reached for 35 |
| very smooth images. Alsosince each pixel in the | | | | years and at 8 hours a day right around 15 |
| screen is lit independently the images are very | | | | yearsthe set will last. So unless you watch |
| bright and canbe seen from wide angles. Finally | | | | television 24 hours a day expect these displaysto |
| the biggest advantage of Plasma Televisions | | | | last you many years. |
| isthey can be made very large and extremely thin | | | | |