We already know that the modes of LCD screens include TN, STN, FSTN, and VA, and their effects on the screen are different. In addition, there are also differences between positive and negative modes in the same mode. This chapter will reveal the difference between positive and negative modes. In order to provide customers with better choices.

Positive Mode LCD

The advantage of positive mode displays is that the background is brighter and a backlight may not be required. They typically use transflective or reflective polarizers and have lower power consumption. They can be seen in ambient light.

Negative Mode LCD

Negative mode displays require a backlight to be visible. They usually use a fully transmissive polarizer. They have better contrast and wider viewing angles in dim indoor environments. Readability is slightly better than with positive displays.

But in bright ambient light, or even in direct sunlight, the display is easily washed out. To be visible in bright ambient light, the backlight brightness must be increased to over 800 nits. This makes sunlight readable displays consume a lot of power.

Positive mode or negative mode, which one is better?

The two models have their own advantages, and customers can choose according to their specific needs!

Positive Mode LCD Advantages

• Low cost;

• Low power consumption with battery as the main power source;

• Use outdoors or in bright ambient light.

• High contrast, clearer to see under normal circumstances

• Dark characters on light background: such as black characters on yellow-green background (yellow-green screen) and black characters on gray-white background (FSTN), this type of screen has better display effect under sunlight. (As shown below)

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(320X240 graphic LCD module | STN+yellow-green | yellow-green backlight)

(3.2-inch 128x48 graphic LCD display module | FSTN+ gray text on white background)

Negative Mode LCD Advantages

• Used in indoor or low-light environments;

• Clear or capture images or contrast with better viewing angles;

• Green or black background night vision, such as aviation panels, bedside alarm clocks, etc.

• Dark background light characters: generally need to add backlight to achieve the display effect, it is clearer in the sun and outdoors, and is mostly used for e-book software. It can be matched with the color of the watch, with good visual impact, not easy to reflect light, and good concealment.

(3.2-inch 128x48 blue background white text graphic LCD display module)

(3.8 inch 320X240 graphic LCD module | DFSTN- | black background with white text)

The concept of positive and negative modes is not limited to monochrome LCDs (LCD panels, character LCDs, graphic LCDs, etc.), it is also used for color displays and even other display technologies. We will classify the display as follows,

Positive LCD:

• positive TN LCD

• HTN LCD

• yellow-green STN LCD

• Gray STN LCD

• positive FSTN LCD

Negative display:

• Negative TN LCD

• Blue STN LCD

• Negative FSTN(Thin Film Compensated STN) LCD

• VA LCD

• FFSTN (Dual Film FSTN) LCD

• TFT (Thin Film Transistor) LCD

•  IPS (In-Plane Switching) LCD

• AFFS (Advanced Fringe Field Switching) LCD

  
  

The display effects of positive and negative modes, taking monochrome LCD as an example, are as follows:

All the above products are available at Hot Display. For more information, please contact us directly!