| active matrix
Flat-panel displays for laptop
computers are created by laying diodes over a superfine grid of wires. The
diodes are activated by applying current to various points around the
grid. Connect enough of these dots and you get an image. Active-matrix
displays use transistors to keep their diodes in an on or off state,
unlike their passive-matrix cousins, which rely on the diodes'
persistence. As a result, active-matrix displays are brighter and produce
better color than passive-matrix displays. However, the additional
technology required to build active displays also makes them far more
expensive. |