Collage about IPS technology
LG AH-IPS pixel structure
LG S-IPS pixel structure

Today IPS (In-Plane Switching) is the technology that is the most widely used in the world due to its unique quality characteristics and high level of reliability during operation. It was the introduction of this production technology into our everyday life that caused revolutionary changes in the development of television technology. For a long time, engineers were not able to develop a high-quality solution for the production of television matrices that meet the requirements of our time. And only IPS-matrices received unrivaled operational characteristics at that time, which allowed to significantly expand the list of devices. The main difference between this type of product is the ability to reproduce a stable image from a different angle of view due to the fact that the crystals work in the same plane, so the image always remains legible and does not change its color regardless of the position of the viewer relative to the screen. Additionally, during the daily operation of the matrix proved to be highly reliable devices with a low failure rate. That is why, in these times IPS-matrix may be found in the data display devices, such as displays, monitors various types of television devices, laptops, mobile phones and many other similar products.

IPS technology
Mechanical strength of the matrix
Production of IPS matrices
Production of IPS matrices
Production of IPS matrices

Wide viewing angle

 

The image remains clear and legible regardless of the position of the viewer relative to the screen, as the liquid crystals move in the same plane. The viewing angle of the IPS matrix is 178о.

Production of IPS matrices

The basic principle of operation is to change the intensity of the light flux coming from the backlight of the display. Depending on the level of the electric field created between the two plates, the molecules of the liquid crystal occupy different positions in space, thus regulating the level of illumination coming from the backlight of the display. The peculiarity of this technology is that the molecules rotate in the same plane, so the viewer is able to see a high-quality image at wide viewing angles (see illustration).
The direct developers of this technology were engineers from Hitachi and NEC, who officially introduced the technology in 1995-96. Each of the companies named the technology IPS (Hitachi) presented in 1995 and SFT (NEC) in 1996. The first IPS panels were expensive in production, with a significant drawback - a large response time (up to 50ms), which was noticeable even during scrolling, not to mention heavy 3D games. Therefore, improvements were needed that were made by various LCD panel manufacturers.
The extensive production of LG Electronics IPS devices has been around since 2000. In the course of its own development, the company was able to dramatically improve the performance of the matrix, while increasing the value of contrast, viewing angle, speed, color accuracy and energy efficiency.

Компанія LG активно інвестувала в дану розробку свої ресурси і створила свої власні варіанти IPS-технології:

 

  • S-IPS (Super-IPS) 2001 рік - покращена технологія стандартної IPS. Має покращену контрастність та менший час відгуку, чим у оригінальної матриці

 

  • AS-IPS (Advansed Super-IPS) 2005 рік - в порівнянні з S-IPS матрицею, покращена контрастність та прозорість самої матриці, що покращує яскравість.

 

  • H-IPS (Horizontal-IPS) 2007 рік - збільшена контрастність і проведена оптимізація білого кольору, що зробило зображення більш реалістичним. Створена для професійних фоторедакторів, дизайнерів, 3D/2D майстрів та ін.

 

  • E-IPS (Enhanced-IPS) 2009 рік - покращено час відгуку (до 5мс), покращена прозорість, що дозволило використовувати менш потужні та більш дешеві лампи підсвітки. Необхідно відзначити, що дані вдосконалення, скоріш за все не найкращим чином відіб'ються на кольоропередачі та якості півтонів, так як частина кристалів чисто технічно була обрізана. Також є різновидом H-IPS.

 

  • P-IPS (Professional-IPS) 2010 рік - забезпечує 102-відсоткове охоплення кольорового простору NTSC та 98-процентний Adobe RGB (30 біт чи 10 біт на кожен субпіксель (1.07 млрд. кольорів)), що робить дану технологію, однією з найкращих в світі. Також покращено час відгуку та глибину в режимі True Colour. Є різновидом H-IPS. По праву вважається професійним типом матриць, проте ціна на неї є однією з найвищих.

 

  • AH-IPS (Advanced High Performance-IPS) 2011 рік - підвищена точність кольорів, підвищена роздільна здатність, а також більша пропускна здатність світла для зниження енергоспоживання виробів.
Schematic description of IPS technology

Liquid crystals

Liquid crystals

Polarizer

Polarizer

Glass Substrate

Glass Substrate

Electrodes

Electrodes

IPS

off.

IPS

on

Stable image quality
Color transmission and display accuracy
Resistance to high temperatures
Wide viewing angle

Resistance to high temperatures

 

Due to the location of liquid crystals IPS technology has a high thermal resistance to direct sunlight. The matrix can withstand long-term temperature conditions within 110oC.

Mechanical strength of the matrix

 

Provides high protection against external damage due to the absence of image distortion in the event of physical impact on the screen of the device.

Stable image quality

 

IPS technology has no effect of gravity, ie when during operation liquid crystals have the property to flow into the lower part of the matrix, creating a light-colored spot.

Color transmission and display accuracy

 

IPS technology ensures accurate color reproduction and display.

Effect of Gravity

No

Gravity

Effect

Gravity

Conventional
IPS
Conventional
IPS
Conventional
IPS
Conventional
IPS
LG AH-IPS
LG S-IPS

Pixel structures of different types of IPS matrices