Displays

University of Colorado Boulder via Coursera

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/displays

Introduction

### Course Review: Displays on Coursera #### Overview Are you interested in the intricate world of electronic display technologies? If so, the **Displays** course offered on Coursera, which can also be taken for academic credit as ECEA 5607 as part of CU Boulder’s Master of Science in Electrical Engineering degree, is a fantastic opportunity for you to deepen your knowledge in this field. With the increasing relevance of advanced display technologies in today’s consumer electronics and their application across various industries, this course is both timely and valuable for professionals and students alike. #### Course Content The course is structured into several modules, each focusing on different types of display technologies, including: 1. **Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs)**: The first module covers the fundamentals of LCDs, the backbone of most computer monitors and televisions today. You'll dive into the operation of liquid crystals, how they manipulate light, and the design principles that make them effective. This foundational knowledge is essential for anyone looking to understand more advanced display technologies. 2. **Electroluminescent Displays**: Electroluminescent (EL) displays represent a thrilling area of study. This module explores the mechanism of EL, which relies on the non-thermal generation of light through an electric field applied to certain materials. By learning about its advantages—such as fast response times, high resolution, and excellent viewing angles—you’ll understand why EL displays are pivotal in areas demanding superior display quality. 3. **E-ink, Electrowetting, & Plasma Displays**: The final module introduces several promising technologies like e-ink, electrowetting, and plasma displays. Each of these technologies offers unique benefits such as exceptional contrast ratios and ultra-low power consumption. This segment of the course is particularly exciting as it introduces learners to innovative methods that challenge conventional display technology, reinforcing the idea that the display industry is constantly evolving. #### Learning Outcomes By the end of this course, you will have the ability to select the most suitable display technology for various applications, alongside the skills to perform basic designs of these displays. The course emphasizes understanding the affordances and liabilities related to each technology, which is crucial for making informed decisions in engineering and design contexts. #### Why Recommend This Course? 1. **In-depth Knowledge**: The course provides comprehensive insights into essential display technologies. Whether you’re a student looking to specialize in electrical engineering or a professional seeking to update your skill set, the structured modules will help you gather crucial information and practical insights. 2. **Practical Applications**: The relevance of what you learn is immediately applicable. Modern displays are everywhere—from smartphones to large-scale displays. Understanding these technologies can enhance your career prospects in various industries. 3. **Well-Designed Curriculum**: The course is well-structured and engaging, with each module building upon the previous one. This thoughtful organization ensures that you grasp each concept before moving on to more complex topics. 4. **Access to Expert Insights**: Instructors from CU Boulder bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the course. Learning from leading experts in the field can enrich your understanding and inspire your learning journey. 5. **Academic Credit Option**: For students interested in formal qualifications, this course can be taken for academic credit as part of a master's degree program, adding significant value for those pursuing higher education in engineering. #### Conclusion In a world where display technologies are rapidly advancing, gaining a solid understanding of these devices is more important than ever. The **Displays** course on Coursera not only equips you with essential knowledge but also empowers you to apply this knowledge in practical and meaningful ways. Whether you are pursuing a career in electrical engineering or simply have a passion for technology, I highly recommend this course as an enriching educational experience. Don’t miss the chance to dive into this fascinating subject!

Syllabus

Liquid Crystal Displays

The course will cover the basics of electronic display devices, including liquid crystals, electroluminescent, plasma, organic light emitting diodes, and electrowetting based displays. At the end of this course learners will be able to select a display technology and perform basic design of the display and have a thorough grasp of basic principles that drive display operation. Module 1 will cover the fundamentals of liquid crystal displays, used in most computer monitors.

Electroluminescent Displays

In this module, we will talk about electroluminescent displays. Electroluminescence is the non-thermal generation of light caused by an applied electric field to a material. Displays using this technology have many advantages including fast response, wide viewing angles, high resolution, wide operating temperatures, light weight, and good display qualities. You will learn about fundamentals of this important class of displays and challenges. It's a very exciting topic!

E-ink, Electrowetting, & Plasma Displays

In this module, you will learn about promising display technologies that include e-ink, electrowetting and plasma displays. While the technology is different than the liquid crystal displays, these techniques have their own advantages in terms of contrast, scaling to large areas and ultralow power consumption. I hope you have as great experience learning about these techniques as I have had in preparing the course material.