Quantum dot technology in Samsung TVs. ⇡ Quantum dots. What are quantum dots
IN Lately Along with this, technology is gaining popularity, which we recently talked about on the pages of Mediasat. This time we want to introduce readers to quantum dot technology.
As journalists from The Conversation UK write, the Korean electronics manufacturer LG set the tone for everyone else by announcing at the January CES 2015 exhibition the upcoming release of ultra TVs to the market. high definition(Ultra HD) with displays that use quantum dot technology, an improved method for producing color displays.
What exactly is a “quantum dot”?
The technology, which has become a significant new step in the production of displays after , is to pass rays of blue light through nano-crystals ranging in size from two to ten nanometers (nm), which absorb light of one wavelength and emit light of another, specific wavelength . Each point, depending on its size, emits light a certain color. A film consisting of quantum dots having the dimensions necessary to emit red and green light. Achieving a glow effect using quantum dots narrows the wavelength of the resulting red and Green colour, which means reducing the amount of light blocked by the LCD filter. This means that we get clearer color reproduction and more vibrant colors.
Cadmium quantum dots produce a particularly pure green color. NASA
With its announcement, LG is ahead of other manufacturers who want to gain leadership positions by improving contrast, saturation and widening color range(the range of colors that the display can reproduce) - that is, everything that the use of quantum dots can provide. All this makes these displays ideal for viewing high-definition and ultra-high-definition content, as well as for all those who work in the field graphic design, photo and video production.
Transition to a new level of TV quality
The transition to Ultra HD television does not only mean increasing the number of pixels and producing higher resolution screens. Producers and broadcasters wish to provide an environment in which the video and photographic images delivered to the viewer are of the highest possible quality. dynamic range while maintaining economic profitability for the manufacturer.
And this is not something from the “distant future” series. In fact, the new standards - that is, what is needed to implement any new technology - have already been clearly defined. The ITU-rec 2020 standard for ultra-high-definition television provides for the broadcast of TV programs at speeds up to 120 frames per second, with a higher bit rate, as well as with an expanded color gamut and improved contrast.
Currently, content known as "high definition programming" is broadcast at a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, with certain frequency frames, range of colors and contrast, allowing it to be reproduced without problems on any compatible displays. However, both the broadcast and film industries are already capable of producing material whose quality exceeds the approved standard. The problem now is that there are not enough devices on the market that could display video material in such high quality - and therefore, there is little point in producing a large amount of content that is not particularly worth watching.
Thus, the use of quantum dots expands the capabilities of ultra-high-definition displays, allowing high dynamic range content to be transmitted to viewers in the future. There are also additional benefit: Quantum dots are much cheaper than all other competing technologies used to produce high-quality displays - such as OLED, organic light-emitting diodes. At past CES, the technology was loudly touted as the next great technology of the future, but it appears its star has begun to set before it has even fully risen into the sky.
Currently, quantum dots are only used in combination with other illumination technologies, but it is possible to develop methods that allow them to be used as a separate technology. In any case, since 2015 and in the near future, the world's best quality video and photo content playback in high resolutions will be associated using quantum dots.
Overall, the TV's 10-bit SUHD display delivers the most lifelike images and amazingly accurate color reproduction. Quantum LCD TVs are superior to previous generation LED screens in all respects and are in no way inferior to OLED technological solutions.
In the previous article we looked at why. Now it’s worth taking a closer look at each of the four presented Samsung models SUHD to evaluate their features.
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The graceful curve of the KS9000 and KS7500 screen
The models are united by a beautiful Curved TV screen with 4K resolution and an immersive effect, which is ideal for watching large-format films and video games.
The flagship KS9000 has a maximum diagonal of 78 inches - this is the largest of all possible quantum Samsung panels SUHD. There are also diagonals of 65, 55 and 49 inches with a design element common to all sizes - an elegant metal leg. A curved screen is inextricably linked with large diagonals, so if you want to create a real home cinema, then TV models Samsung SUHD with the Curved TV screen will be a real discovery for you. You will experience immersion in what is happening on the screen no worse than in a cinema, where everything is thought out to the smallest detail.
The same applies to the most beautiful models of the KS7500 series, among which you can find diagonals of 65, 55 and 49 inches. The main overall design element of the KS7500 can be considered the beautiful legs located closer to the sides of the TV. The uniqueness of the stand lies in the absence of any fastening screws - the legs simply snap onto the stand.
Model Samsung SUHD K7500
Besides external differences There is also one significant thing - the patented Supreme UHD Dimming technology. Supreme UHD Dimming is a local dimming system for SUHD TVs that makes blacks look especially natural. The older model KS9000 has 1152 blocks of local video content enhancement, and the younger KS7500 has 576.
Among general characteristics can be distinguished:
- Maximum realistic picture with Quantum Dot display
- High Dynamic Range HDR with 1000 nits of brightness
- Ultra Black anti-glare screen coating
- Impeccable 360° design
- Immersive Curved TV Screen
- 10-bit UHD 4K panel delivering up to a billion colors
- Universal Samsung remote control One Remote
- Smart Hub– now your favorite content is collected in one place
- Ultra-thin screen bezels
On the left is the K9000 model, on the right is the K8000 model.
Slim minimalism KS8000 and KS7000
Fans of classic flat LCD screens will be pleasantly surprised by the presence of Samsung SUHD models KS8000 and KS7000, because for some interiors a flat-screen or wall-mounted TV is indispensable. In addition, Samsung SUHD TVs reduce reflections sunlight, you can enjoy extremely clear images from any angle.
The older KS8000 supports Supreme UHD Dimming technology with the same number of local video content enhancement blocks as the KS9000. The KS7000 replicates the UHD Dimming features of the KS7500. Along with the maximum available diagonal of 75 inches, the older model can offer sizes of 65, 55, 49 inches, the younger - 60, 55 and 49, respectively.
The seamless, sleek design of Samsung SUHD TVs is called "360 Design". Clean lines run throughout the entire display – even at the back. Not a single screw is in sight, and the rich matte texture adds an element of sophisticated elegance. Thanks to thoughtful design solutions every TV Samsung series SUHD harmoniously complements any interior.
Model Samsung SUHD K7000
Among the general characteristics we can highlight:
With this material we are just opening a series of articles about the top line of Samsung TVs from 2016 - and in each of them we will reveal in a little more detail the essence of their inherent key technologies and features: quantum dots, HDR 1000, Smart TV, curved display together with corporate design 360°. Today we're talking about about the current top model in the family - KS9000.
KS9000, however, has absorbed the entire complex of Samsung's latest achievements in the field of creating LCD TVs; it is a kind of pinnacle, a standard of this technology. First of all, the effect is achieved due to latest technology LED backlight using quantum dots. Let's talk about it in more detail.
⇡ Video review of the 2016 Samsung SUHD line
⇡ Quantum dots
Semiconductor nanocrystal technology has long attracted imaging engineers. More precisely, it attracts the physical dependence of the length of the emitted light wave (and, accordingly, color) on the size of the crystal. This is very convenient, you just need to grow the necessary crystals, and voila! - we have a source of pure color radiation without filters.
And we learned how to grow crystals just a few nanometers in size! In 2011 year Samsung for the first time presented a prototype of a television displaying an image solely due to self-luminescent quantum dots. True, it remained a concept, a hint of future great achievements. And for now we see a transitional stage.
The Samsung SUHD TV of the 2016 model year uses classic liquid crystal technology using VA-type matrices - and quantum dots are assigned only the role of a layer between liquid crystals and LED backlight. The latter makes crystals ranging in size from 3 to 7 nanometers luminesce - and yes, they do it in different colors.
Another effect of using Quantum Dot instead of light filters is the absence of loss of brightness on them. In addition to this, a special layer works between the diodes and the “quantum” diffuser, generating additional light. As a result, Samsung claims an honest 1000 nits for its KS-series TVs - and you can trust this number. TVs with quantum dots simultaneously show more shades, more accurately follow the author’s idea of color rendering, and at the same time turn out to be brighter - and in the latter case, the separation from OLED models, which have inherent problems with brightness, is especially noticeable.
Let's move on to the story about the Samsung KS9000 itself.
⇡ Design and interfaces
Televisions are the same gadgets as, for example, smartphones. And the trends in their design are exactly the same: smaller frames, thinner edges, more metal in the design. The style of the 2016 line was named “360° Design” - not because the back of the TV has the same screen as the front (although there are such experiments), but because of the visual “flow” of surfaces one into another, as if without joints . We won’t describe the concept in detail, we’ll just admit that the Samsung KS9000 is beautiful: the front panel is entirely occupied by the screen, the back is elegantly polished, and the thickness is a few millimeters.
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It has become significantly smaller than before, but includes full set required interfaces: 4 × HDMI, 2 × USB, optical audio jack, antenna connectors. On the TV itself, in addition to the One Connect port itself, we see another USB, Ethernet and a Common Interface expansion slot.
Another feature is the lack of visible buttons. They are hidden on the bottom edge, right under the luminous plaque with the name of the manufacturer.
Let us also note the elegant metal leg: if usually this detail does not evoke any emotions - anyway, flat-panel TVs are designed to be hung on the wall, then for a curved model, placement on a cabinet looks more relevant.
A special charm is how the engineers were able to place the speaker output in the gap between the leg/wall mount rod and the body. A very elegant solution.
There is no point in writing about the dimensions - they depend primarily on the diagonal. The KS9000 comes in four sizes: 49, 55, 65 and 78 inches.
⇡ SmartTV and remote control
TVs learned to connect to the Internet and provide direct access to various gaming and Video-On-Demand services more than seven years ago - all this time the system was only being honed, finally turning the device from simple way playback images to your home entertainment center.
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For control, a remote control is used that is unusual in shape, but quite traditional in content - with a minimum of keys, but capable of controlling many devices at once.
The latter is achieved through the Smart Hub concept - the TV recognizes what exactly is connected to its ports and allows you to control the receiver, Blu-ray player, and so on, without changing the remote control. It is very comfortable.
We will tell you more about Smart TV from Samsung of 2016 in one of next articles, here we will concentrate on the key points.
At the heart of everything is a quad-core processor, which provides not only shell speed and multitasking, but also extremely high-quality processing signal coming from external sources. Taking into account the need to work with the most complex HDR signal and the ability for HDR upscaling (more on that later), there is more than enough work for it.
Among other things, the KS9000 has a built-in full-fledged media player that can play files in MKV containers, MP4 and M2TS, and with full support HDR video - all that remains is to find this video in some way. A huge reserve for the future.
At the first turning on Samsung KS9000 asks permission to connect to any available Wi-Fi network- naturally, there is a wireless module. Next we get access to a serious number installed applications, the number of which will only increase with system updates. The branded Smart TV is based on its own operating system Tizen, which was previously planned to be actively implemented in Samsung smartphones- now it primarily services televisions. The already mentioned multitasking, speed and low risk of catching a virus while surfing the web (due to the low prevalence of the OS, they are practically not written for it) are its advantages. But just in case, Samsung also uses antivirus software - problems with malware there should not be from the word “at all”.
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The interface of both Smart TV and the settings menu is extremely concise and simple. Among the proprietary features, we highlight the ability to preview popular/recommended videos from other applications on any screen. The range of services is extensive: Netflix, ivi, OKKO, Megogo and many others.
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It is also possible to play without a connection external device- and in two ways. Or to simple arcades in standard application“Games”, or games of the PS4 and Xbox level through streaming content delivery in the GameFly service. To use it you need to have account Samsung.
⇡ Picture
Samsung has not disclosed the specifications of its TVs for quite some time, refusing to talk about contrast or minimum black field luminosity. This, however, does not mean that they are hiding from us the terrible truth, - it’s just that at one time the endless race of numbers led to rather ridiculous results, when companies were measured by contrast ratios measured in millions to one. Confirm or disprove these numbers regarding the so-called dynamic contrast, was impossible, and the real, static contrast was several thousand to one. And this is a very good result.
With the advent of the HDR standard (we will talk about it in more detail in one of the following articles), increased resolution also made sense - when, in addition to a simple increase in the number of displayed pixels, a significant increase in detail in the shadows and highlights of the image was added (that is, extended dynamic range), the picture became look truly impressive.
The native resolution of the KS9000 panel is naturally 3840 × 2160. By using 1152 backlight units we get high level dynamic contrast with minimal flare for an LCD. The contrast, depending on the user mode, is around 4000:1 - 5000:1. And not at the expense of brightness, which even in cinema and game mode, determined primarily to achieve maximum depth black, reaches 500 cd/m2. In addition to this, the panel is equipped with an Ultra Black anti-glare layer. According to the manufacturer, it absorbs 99.7% of external light. It’s not easy to believe, but the fact is that there is practically no glare, it’s comfortable to watch TV in daylight, even with the backlight not turned up to the limit.
Two more important advantages of the KS9000 are the highest smoothness of motion display and response time. These are only visual, subjective impressions, but no artifacts, blur or trails are noticeable. There will be no problems in gaming mode either - in fact, LCD panels have always had a decent response time, and this VA is no exception.
And of course, as befits a top-end TV of 2016, there is a curved panel, which some like, some don’t, but its implementation is very good. Thanks to Auto Depth Enhancer technology, the depth of each plan is worked out separately, optical distortions are reduced to a minimum.
⇡ Conclusion
Samsung KS 9000 is, if not the logical limit of LCD technology, then at least the obvious peak this moment. Against the background of a 10-bit panel, using a unique filter on quantum dots and HDR 1000 technology, which provides previously unavailable high dynamic range, other technological advantages, such as native 4K, high contrast levels, almost perfect motion processing and the beautifully implemented Smart TV of 2016, even fade into the background. An excellent TV in every way.
We express our gratitude to the Samsung brand store in GUM for the opportunity to shoot
On international exhibitions Many new display technologies are being demonstrated, but not all of them are viable or have the potential for successful commercialization. One of the pleasant exceptions is quantum dot technology, which is already used in the backlight of LCD displays. It is worth talking about this technical innovation in more detail.
Quantum dots
Quantum dots are nanoparticles of semiconductor materials. Their parameters are determined by their sizes: as the size of the crystal decreases, the distance between the energy levels increases. When an electron moves to more low level, a photon is emitted. By changing the size of the dot, you can adjust the photon energy and, as a result, the color of the light.
This is not a new discovery; in fact, quantum dots were created more than thirty years ago. But until recently they were used only in special scientific instruments in laboratories. Strictly speaking, quantum dots are microscopic elements capable of emitting light in a narrow wavelength range. Moreover, depending on their size, the light can be green, red or blue.
By changing their size, you can finely regulate the wavelength of the emitted light. This technology, used in modern models televisions, dates back to 2004, when the QD Vision company was organized. Initially, the staff of this research laboratory tried to use quantum dots to replace organic dyes when marking various biological systems, but then they decided to try the technology on televisions.
This idea was soon joined well-known companies. In particular, in 2010, researchers worked together with LG on the QLED project. However, the very concept of technology in relation to LCD TVs was constantly subject to changes, its working title also changed several times. A year later, in collaboration with Samsung, a prototype of a color screen based on quantum dots was created. However, he did not go into the series. The latest implementation of this concept is part of Sony's Color IQ technology, which introduced the Triluminos backlit screen.
As you know, all LCD TVs create a picture by mixing basic colors– red, green and blue ( RGB model). Sometimes yellow is added, which, however, does not significantly affect the system of creating a picture on the LCD screen. Mixing RGB colors in LCD TVs is carried out using color filters, and in plasma panels- thanks to the phosphor.
In classic LCD models, “white” LEDs are used as backlight. The color in the white spectrum, passing through color filters, gives a certain shade. More advanced models use phosphor LEDs that emit light in the blue region. This light then mixes with yellow to become visually white. To create the same on the screen from a similar white, respectively, red, blue and green filters are used. This is quite effective, but still wastes a lot of energy. In addition, here engineers have to look for a certain balance between color rendering quality and backlight brightness.
Advantages of quantum dot TVs
Two years ago, Sony introduced mass-produced models for the first time television devices with Triluminos backlighting, in which quantum dots are implemented. This is, in particular, the KD-65X9000A. The backlight uses blue diodes, but there is no yellow phosphor. As a result, blue light, without mixing, directly passes through a special IQ element that contains red and green quantum dots. The manufacturer calls the main advantages of the technology deeper color rendition and minimization of losses in brightness.
It is expected that, compared to LED backlighting, quantum dots will provide an increase in color gamut by almost 50 percent. The color gamut in the new Sony TVs with Triluminos backlighting is close to 100% NTSC, while models with regular backlighting have about 70% NTSC. Thus, it can be stated that quantum dot backlit TVs can indeed improve image quality, making color reproduction more realistic.
But how much more realistic? After all, it is known that in the same Sony TVs the picture is created using the usual filters that mix colors? It is quite difficult to answer this question; a lot depends on the subjective perception of image quality. In any case, the happy owners of the first Sony TVs with the new backlight, they note that the image on the screen looks like a painting painted with purer colored paints.
The fact that other leading companies immediately joined in the implementation of this technological innovation confirms the fact that quantum dots are not solely a marketing ploy. At CES 2015 Samsung company introduced SUHD TV TVs, which also implemented similar technology. It is noted that the new TVs provide higher image quality at a lower price than OLED models. LG also presented TVs with quantum dot technology (Quantum Dot) at the ULTRA HD exhibition.
The comparison with OLED is not accidental. After all, many companies first turned to OLED technology as a way to improve image quality modern TVs, but encountered problems with their production when launching into series. This is especially true for OLED TVs with large screen diagonals and ultra-high resolution.
In the form of quantum dots, a kind of backup option was found - the color gamut on such TVs is almost as good as on OLED displays, and there are practically no problems with the industrial development of the technology. This allows companies to produce TVs that will rival OLED technology in picture quality, while remaining affordable to a wide range of consumers.
December 4, 2016 at 10:35 pmQuantum dots and why they are installed
- Quantum technologies,
- Monitors and TV
Good day, Habrazhiteliki! I think many people have noticed that advertisements about displays based on quantum dot technology, the so-called QD – LED (QLED) displays, have begun to appear more and more often, despite the fact that at the moment this is just marketing. Similar to LED TV and Retina, this is a technology for creating LCD displays, using LEDs based on quantum dots as backlight.
Your humble servant decided to figure out what quantum dots are and what they are used with.
Instead of introducing
Quantum dot- a fragment of a conductor or semiconductor, the charge carriers of which (electrons or holes) are limited in space in all three dimensions. The size of a quantum dot must be small enough for quantum effects to be significant. This is achieved if the kinetic energy of the electron is noticeably greater than all other energy scales: first of all more temperature, expressed in energy units. Quantum dots were first synthesized in the early 1980s by Alexei Ekimov in a glass matrix and by Louis E. Brous in colloidal solutions. The term "quantum dot" was coined by Mark Reed.The energy spectrum of a quantum dot is discrete, and the distance between stationary energy levels of the charge carrier depends on the size of the quantum dot itself as - ħ/(2md^2), where:
- ħ - reduced Planck constant;
- d - characteristic point size;
- m is the effective mass of an electron at a point
For example, when an electron moves to a lower energy level, a photon is emitted; Since you can adjust the size of a quantum dot, you can also change the energy of the emitted photon, and therefore change the color of the light emitted by the quantum dot.
Types of Quantum Dots
There are two types:- epitaxial quantum dots;
- colloidal quantum dots.
Quantum dot design
Typically, a quantum dot is a semiconductor crystal in which quantum effects are realized. An electron in such a crystal feels like it is in a three-dimensional potential well and has many stationary energy levels. Accordingly, when moving from one level to another, a quantum dot can emit a photon. With all this, the transitions are easy to control by changing the dimensions of the crystal. It is also possible to transfer an electron to a high energy level and receive radiation from the transition between lower-lying levels and, as a result, we obtain luminescence. Actually, it was the observation of this phenomenon that served as the first observation of quantum dots.Now about the displays
The history of full-fledged displays began in February 2011, when Samsung Electronics presented the development of a full-color display based on QLED quantum dots. It was 4 inch display controlled by active matrix, i.e. Each color quantum dot pixel can be turned on and off by a thin film transistor.To create a prototype, a layer of quantum dot solution is applied to a silicon circuit board and a solvent is sprayed on. Then a rubber stamp with a comb surface is pressed into the layer of quantum dots, separated and stamped onto glass or flexible plastic. This is how stripes of quantum dots are applied to a substrate. In color displays, each pixel contains a red, green or blue subpixel. Accordingly, these colors are used with different intensities to obtain the most more shades.
The next step in development was the publication of an article by scientists from the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore. Where were quantum dots described that not only luminesce? orange, but also in the range from dark green to red.
Why is LCD worse?
The main difference between a QLED display and an LCD is that the latter can cover only 20-30% color range. Also, in QLED TVs there is no need to use a layer with light filters, since the crystals, when voltage is applied to them, always emit light with a clearly defined wavelength and, as a result, with the same color value.
There was also news about the sale computer display on quantum dots in China. Unfortunately, I haven’t had a chance to check it with my own eyes, unlike on TV.
P.S. It is worth noting that the scope of application of quantum dots is not limited only to LED monitors; among other things, they can be used in field effect transistors, photocells, laser diodes, they are also studying the possibility of using them in medicine and quantum computing.
P.P.S. If we talk about my personal opinion, then I believe that they will not be popular for the next ten years, not because they are little known, but because the prices for these displays are sky-high, but I still want to hope that quantum the points will find their application in medicine, and will be used not only to increase profits, but also for good purposes.
Tags:
- QLED
- LED
- Quantum display
