LED Backlighting

Fri, 28 Jan 2011 23:52:51 +0000

In regards to LED backlighting and LCD backlighting, many consumers are not aware of the differences, between a LCD HDTV and a LED HDTV. The simple answer is that the LED HDTV is a LCD TV that uses LED lighting instead of the traditional Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamps (CCFL) lighting used in a LCD HDTV. The LCD TV that uses CCFL lighting provides the backlighting through a special plastic sheet. This sheet is called a light guide and distributes light from a fluorescent tube evenly over the surface of the TV. This means that the LED TV will be more energy efficient than a LCD TV that uses CCFL lighting.

On an LED-backlit TV, The LED backlighting is accomplished thru the use of LED’s that provide the lighting source. LCD TVs need backlighting because they do not produce light themselves as does a traditional cathode ray tube (CRT) television. Therefore, a LCD set needs illumination to produce a visible image

Recents tests by manufacturers have reported up to 30% savings on energy costs compared to LCD sets using CCFL lighting. The other advantage suing LED backlighting is the typical LED set will be thinner than the LCD set. This is because the light emitting diodes are much smaller than its fluoresent counterpart. Some prototypes of these future generation sets will be manufactured under an inch in width.

The most obvious reason LEDs have fallen into favor in LCD TVs: they’re simply more efficient and the LED backlighting technology is newer. Although fluorescent lights do a decent job converting electricity to light in the big scale of things, LEDs perform even better. Typically, manufacturers claim an efficiency improvement of up to 30 percent over fluorescent-based sets, which can add up significantly over the lifetime of a TV, especially on larger screens that use more juice to begin with.

The difference in image quality is what really matters when comparing the differences in these sets. A tradional LCD set using fluorescent tubes will provide a uniform light across the entire screen. With many of the current LED TV’s featuring 1080i and 1080p resolution, you will see many advertised as LED EDGE LIT. This menas the LED lights are arranged around the edge of the HDTV. This too will provide a uniform light across the entire screen.
A new technolgy in some sets take LED lighting a step further and offer HDTVs with local dimming. Local dimming is made possible using a technique called “full-array backlighting.”

With this type of backlighitng, the light emitting diodes are placed on a grid behind the LCD panel. It allows more lighting possibilities because these 1,500 LED’s are placed behind the LCD instead of around the edge. The technology allows the LED’s to light a specific part of the screen based on the programming being displayed. This allows for better contrast and deeper blacks. This is the most current backlighting technology on the market for LED sets.

Many consumers don’t really care that much about energy efficiency and thinness as the current LCD’s are pleny thin enough. What really matters is the image quality and whether the increased prices will justify the cost of the set. Since the technology is just evolving for local dimming LED sets, expect to pay a premium for these sets. These HDTV LED sets will be a hot commodity for videophiles.

If your looking to save some money upfront and primarily looking for LCD TV Deals, then a LCD backlight TV will work just fine. If your interested in the latest and greatest technology, then by all means find a HDTV set with LED backlighting.

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