Title: Display Fundamentals

Faculty: Cambridge University Engineering Department

Department/School: Photonics and Sensors Group

Aims: The purpose of this module is to cover the fundamental concepts of Physics and Engineering that are critical to modern display research and development. The module is intended to fill in necessary gaps in the fundamental concepts behind display technologies.

Learning outcomes: On completion of this module, the students should be armed with the tolls required to understand the fundamental concepts behind display technology. Through a combination of lectures, structured coursework and simple lab exercises, a knowledge of the basic display background material will be gained. This includes:

Basic theory

• Light propagation and EM radiation, Coherent and incoherent sources, Simple ray tracing theory, Simple lens design

Polarisation

• Eigen waves and the Jones matrix, The Meuller matrix

Refractive optics

• Reflection and refraction at surfaces, Total internal reflection, Simple waveguiding

Diffraction

• Diffractive light propagation (Huygens wavelets), Simple Fourier transformations, The positive lens

Interference

• Antireflection coatings, Multiple layer coatings

Etendu

• Definition of etendu, and how to avoid its limitations

Contrast ratio

• What is contrast ratio?, Pixel contrast vs display contrast ratios, Integrated contrast ratio, Contrast ratio with background illumination

Basic theory

• Light sources and wavelength, Wavelength dependence, Angular geometry, Solid angle

Radiometry

• Radiant energy and flux, Irradiance, Radiant Intensity, Radiance

Lambertian surfaces & Photometry

• Eye response and luminous efficacy, Luminous flux and Illuminance, Luminous intensity and Luminance, Other photometric units

Classical approaches

• Resolution charts, The MTF, The CRT MTF, Line spread functions, The point spread function, Knife edge tests

Matrix display MTF systems

• Fourier analysis, Experimental measurement techniques

Colour in displays and display systems

• Colour points, gamut, gamma, Colour in TV - principles ( eg reduced chroma B/W, colour difference ), Luminance/chrominance/ RGB relationships, coding systems ( PAL, NTSC, DVB...), Colour in computer graphics - 6/18/24 bit, colour palettes, sRBG, bitmaps.

Primary references

Delivery mode: Face to face, with structured coursework

Duration / Period of teaching: During the summer

SCOTCAT Credit rating: Equivalent to a standard 12 lecture course.

Pre-requisites / co-requisites: None

Prohibited Combinations: None.

Assessment: Class Exam. 50%, Degree Exam. Assessed Coursework 50%

Examinations: 2 hour exam at the end of the course

Exemption scheme: None

Module leader/co-ordinator: Dr. T.D. Wilkinson