Liquid crystal on silicon - Definition and Overview

Liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS or LCoS) is a "micro-projection" or "micro-display" technology typically applied in projection televisions. It is a reflective technology similar to DLP projectors, however it uses liquid crystals instead of individual mirrors. This is contrary to LCD projectors which use a transmissive approach. In LCoS, liquid crystals are applied directly to the surface of a silicon chip coated with an aluminized layer making it highly reflective. As the liquid crystals open and close, the light is either reflected from the mirror below, or blocked. This modulates the light and creates the image.

LCOS technology requires less optical-quality glass than do liquid crystal display and plasma display technologies, which makes it less expensive to implement in such devices as televisions.

External links

• Biever, Celeste. 'Intel inside' comes to flat panel TVs (http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99994550) (January 9, 2004). NewScientist.com.
• What's so hot about LCOS technology?, a comparison of DLP and LCoS (http://www.projectorcentral.com/lcos.htm)