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Technology Behind Plasma Displays
digg writes "CoolTechZone.com has an in-depth article that gives an overview of how Plasma Displays work. From the article: 'So, what exactly is plasma? Plasma by definition is one of the four states of matter (apart from solid, liquid and gas) and consists of positively and negatively charged particles, which are added in roughly the same quantity.' This obviously makes the gas more or less inert but ensures that the charged particles are free to conduct electricity. Plasma can be produced if a gas is energized enough to split the molecules into positive and negatively charged ions. Mostly, the plasma displays use a mixture of noble gases like Neon and Xenon."
I'd personally be more interested in reading a comparison of Plasma and LCD. Preferably one that I could stand reading without my attention immediately turning to something else.
My discreet math professor, Dr. Bitzer showed us some of the original designs he had of the plasma screen (which was originally was developed for his distance learning program) he told us that the original problem most designers were having was that they were trying to put the capictors (resisters for the alternating current) inside of the plasma chamber which made the displays too clunky
he showed us his original working model
Four states of matter?
Has the author been living in a hole? Even being conservative I think you'd have to plump for there being 5 states of matter.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/States_of_matter
That's aside from the poor wording which suggests that there are 7 states (or perhaps that's what he meant??).
In our cleanroom, we use plasmas for etching silicon. Plasma etching is a standard process that is used in the manufacturing of just about every chip. The plasma in TV-screens is generated in the same manner as the plasma in our etching machines. Therefore I have to conclude that plasma screens will suffer from the etching, and will not have a long lifetime. Add to that the amazing energy consumption, and my choice for my next TV is made: LCD, or maybe even another CRT. I still think CRT monitors give a better poicture than LCD, and for TV's the difference is even greater.
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consider that even the lowest resolution that you can get on the computer monitor you are viewing is 640x480 whereas the best resolution that the finest analog TV can give you is a maximum of 480 horizontal lines
WTF does this have to do with Plasma vs. CRT? This is a limitation of analog vs. digital, not of any one display type.
Seriously, think for a second. You're whining that your TV doesn't have great resolution when monitors are usually at least 1024x768. Um. Most monitors are still CRTs! I had a CRT that did 1600x1200 for years!
Remember, plug a plasma TV into a coaxial cable plugged into standard analog cable TV, and you're going to get 640x480, no matter what the plasma is capable of.
I'm not sure if I even want to finish reading the article after that.
Don't thank God, thank a doctor!