-D-

Term (Acronym) [units]: Definition

Diagonal Size: A measurement of a display’s size from one corner to the diagonally opposite corner. For any aspect ratio, the diagonal size is the square root of the sum of the square of the long-side plus the square of the short-side (otherwise known as the Pythagorean theorem!).

Diffuse Reflection: Reflected light that travels in many directions, producing a soft or hazy reflected image rather than a sharp image.

Diffuser: A film that causes light to diffuse or spread out in many directions.

Digital: In digital technology, real-world analog signals are converted (digitized) into binary numeric form, where data is expressed as a stream of ones and zeros.

Digital Light Processor (DLP): A reflective Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMs) -based microdisplay from Texas Instruments. DLP modulates light by either reflecting it into a light absorber or directing it through projection optics. Grayscale is achieved via pulse width modulation.

Digital Micro-Mirror Device (DMD): A generic name for Texas Instruments’ DLP and similar devices, all of which are "spatial light modulators".

Digital Still Camera (DSC): An electronic device used to capture and store photographs electronically instead of using photographic film in a traditional camera. The acronym DSC is also used to refer to the display used on a digital still camera.

Digital Video Camera (DVC): An electronic device used to capture and store video electronically instead of using photographic film in a traditional movie camera. Digital video cameras are known generically as "camcorders", since they contain both a camera and a recorder. The acronym DVC is also used to refer to the display used on a digital video camera.

Digital Visual Interface (DVI): An emerging standard for a digital connection between PCs and flat-panel digital displays. The standard was developed by an industry consortium, the Digital Display Working Group (DDWG).

Digital-To-Analog-Converter (DAC): A device that converts digital input signals into analog output signals. DACs are common devices in LCD drive electronics and in SOG LTPS panels, where they are often integrated into the backplane.

Diode: A component that allows an electric current to flow in one direction but blocks it in the other direction. In displays, the most common instance of a diode is an LED.

Discrete Component: An individual component such as a resistor or capacitor, as differentiated from an integrated circuit which contains many components. Often shortened to just "discretes".

Dithering: A technique used in computer graphics to create an illusion of greater color depth from a limited number of colors. The most common application of dithering in displays is the simulation of 8-bit RGB color on LCD panels that physically support only 6-bit color (this includes most TFT LCDs).

Doping: The process of intentionally adding impurities into a pure material such as a semiconductor or conductive polymer in order to change its electrical properties. Often used with OLED materials.

Dot Matrix Display: A dot matrix display (also called a "graphic display") is a simple display device made up of a matrix of lights usually arranged in a rectangle. Individual lights are selectively energized to depict an image or graphic shape. Dot matrix displays are typically used when only a small amount of information of limited resolution must be displayed. The lights can be LEDs, gas bulbs, filament bulbs or other such devices. Common sizes of dot matrix displays are 128x16, 128x32 and 192x64.

Dot Pitch: The distance between pixels on a CRT. Depending on the manufacturer, dot pitch distance is measured diagonally, horizontally or both. The term is also used (incorrectly) with FPDs, where the correct term is "pixel pitch".

Driver Chip: An integrated circuit (IC) mounted on a display which provides voltage to one row or column of the display.

Dual Brightness Enhancement Film (DBEF): A film from 3M that increases the brightness of LCD displays by recycling most of the light that is normally lost in the rear polarizer.

Dual Scan STN (DSTN): An enhanced STN passive-matrix LCD. The screen is divided into halves and each half is scanned simultaneously, thus doubling the number of lines refreshed per second. DSTN displays are not as sharp or bright as active matrix displays, but they consume less power.