Home Theater Info

Soon, the terms "PDP" and "Plasma Display" will probably be as familiar as "TV" and "CRT" are today. But plasma display technology is so new that not many people know even the basic concepts that underlie the technology yet. Here is a basic primer.

A plasma display unit is a panel that consists of many tiny cells filled with a neon xenon gas. When voltage is applied between two electrodes inside a cell, ultraviolet radiation excites the phosphors lining the cell and light is produced. Do this for every cell in the display, and voilà -- a bright, crystal clear image is the result.

Inside the PDP-505HD's plasma panel, a series of red, green, and blue cells are grouped in a precise matrix. These cells are activated individually, unlike standard CRTs or LCDs. This means that they emit light individually, creating a precise pixel on the viewing area.

The diagram below illustrates light emission for a single color. This occurs 3 times in each PDP panel cell -- once each for red, green and blue emissions.

The advent of HDTV, SDTV, DVD, and other new media have created a demand for larger, higher-resolution displays. Pioneer's new plasma display technologies demonstrate inherent engineering advantages over conventional CRTs (Cathode Ray Tubes) and LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) panels.

Cathode Ray Tube (CRT)	Plasma Display Panel (PDP)

CRT TECHNOLOGY: CRTs use a beam of electrons to stimulate phospors and thus make the image. The beam strikes the phospor cells at an angle, however, and this creates a larger spot size. Also, because it is difficult to focus the beam at all points, the image will be less precise in some areas.	PLASMA TECHNOLOGY: Plasma Display Panels stimulate phosphor cells individually with electrodes. There is no loss of focus.
CRT RESULTS: Geometric distortion. The picture on a CRT will always have a certain amount of distortion. Uneven light output. The picture on a CRT will have areas that are brighter and areas that are darker than others. Difficulty focusing across the entire screen. The picture on a CRT will have some regions that are not as focused as others. Picture distorted by magnetic fields. The CRT's electron beam can be influenced by magnetic fields, which results is a distorted image.	PLASMA RESULTS: No geometric distortion. The plasma panel's accurate cell structure produces a picture that is geometrically perfect. Even light output. The plasma panel is perfectly evenly illuminated - no dark or hot spots. Perfect focus. The plasma panel has perfect focus across the entire screen. No susceptibility to magnetic fields. The plasma panel is not affected by magnetic fields.