Monday, April 7, 2014

IPS vs. LPS Screen

IPS ((In-Plane Switching technology): was originally developed by Hitachi and had been in use from the mind nineties. Earlier to this twisted nematic (TN) technology was used to make panels for monitors. Hitachi introduced the IPS technology for liquid crystal display (LCD) panels. This technology was used to overcome limitations faced by TN matrices, which included slow response, small viewing angles and low quality colour reproduction. The new technology of In-Plane Switching (IPS) introduced arrangement and switching of the molecules of the liquid crystal (LC) layer between the glass substrates in a plane parallel to these glass plates. This technology made a lot improvement in the colours schemes and the resolution in the technology used in twisted nematic (TN) monitors. It provided a better viewing angles and better resistance to touching. Hitachi went on making improvements in this technology making the IPS displays quite popular among the users. 

In 2010, Samsung emerged as Hitachi's main competitor by introducing yet another new technology called PLS (Plane-to-Line Switching). The intention of Samsung was quite clear. It wanted to supersede and overtake the conventional IPS technology introduced by Hitachi in the mid nineties. PLS technology introduced by Samsung became the company's wide-viewing angle technology. Samsung has claimed that the PLS technology has further improved the viewing angle. It claims to have increased 10 percent increase in brightness. The company also boasts of 15 per cent decrease in the production costs. There is increase in image quality and in the flexibility of the panel.

Both the IPS and PLS technologies are almost similar, and it is very difficult for the common user to know as to which technology has been used in the display screens. However, the PLS screens are known to be brighter and have better viewing angles. The PLS panels do not change colour on touching them. They do not leave a trail when the user drags his or her finger across the panel. The difference in both the panels is more of a technical and practical value. They are very small and mostly insignificant in the real life situations.