V. S.

Patel College of Arts & Science, Computer Graphics

B.C.A. Self-finance, Bilimora By Samkit R. Shah

Chapter :2 Graphics System

2.1 Video Display Devices
Typically, the primary output device in the graphical system is a video monitor.
There are different types of video devices such as CRT(Cathode Rau Tube),
LCD(Liquid Crystal Display) etc…

2.1.1 Refresh Cathode-Ray Tubes

A basic CRT architecture consist of a e guns, deflection (Moving Around)

plates, phosphorus coated screen and coil.
A beam of electrons (Cathode rays) emitted by an elctrogun, passes through
focusing and deflects system that direct the beam towards specified position on the
phosphor-coated screen.
The phosphor then emits a small spot of light at each position contacted by
the electron beam.
Basic design of a magnetic-deflects CRT is Because the light emitted by the
phosphor fades very rapidly, some methods is needed for maintaining the screen
picture.
One way to keep the phosphor glowing is to redraw the picture repeatedly by
quickly directing the e-beam back over the same point. This type of displays is called
Refresh CRT.

1
V. S. Patel College of Arts & Science, Computer Graphics
B.C.A. Self-finance, Bilimora By Samkit R. Shah

The primary component of electron gun in a CRT are the heated metal
cathode and a control grid. Heat is supplied to the cathode by directing a current via
the coil of wire called filament. This causes electrons to be “boiled off” the hot
cathode surface. In the vacuum inside the CRT envelope, the free, negatively charged
electrons are then accelerated toward the phosphor coating by a high positive
voltage.
The focusing system in a CRT is needed to force the electron beam to
converge into a small spot as it strikes the phosphor. Generally, the focusing system
is accomplished with either electric or magnetic fields. This system is commonly used
in television or computer monitor.

2
V. S. Patel College of Arts & Science, Computer Graphics
B.C.A. Self-finance, Bilimora By Samkit R. Shah

2.2 Raster Scan Display

The most common type of graphics monitor CRT is the raster-scan display, based on
television technology. In a raster scan system, the electron beam is swept across the
screen, one row at a time from top to bottom. As the electron beam move across
each row, the beam intensity is turned on and off to create a pattern of illuminated
spot. Picture definition is stored in a memory area called refresh buffer or frame
buffer. This memory area holds the set of intensity values for all the screen points.
Stored intensity values are then retrieved from the refresh buffer and painted on
screen one row (Scan Line) at a time. Each screen point is referred to as a pixel or
picture element. The capability of a raster scan system to store intensity information
for each screen point makes it well suited for the realistic display of scenes
containing shading and color pattern. Home television sets and printers are example
of other systems using raster scan methods.

3
V. S. Patel College of Arts & Science, Computer Graphics
B.C.A. Self-finance, Bilimora By Samkit R. Shah

Intensity range for pixel positions depends on the capability of the raster system. In a
simple black and white system, each screen point is either on or off, so only one bit
per pixel is needed to control the intensity of screen positions. For this system, a bit
value 1 indicates that the electron beam is to be turned on at that position and a
value 0 indicates that the beam intensity is to be off.

Other bits are needed when color and intensity variations can be displayed. Up to 24
bits per pixel are included in high quality systems, which can require several MB of
storage for the frame buffer, depending on the resolution of the system. A system
with 24 bits per pixel and a screen resolution of 1024 by 1024 requires 3 MB of
storage of frame buffer.

On a black and white system with one bit per pixel, the frame buffer is commonly
called a bitmap. For system with multiple bits per pixel, the frame buffer is often
called as a pixmap.

Refreshing on raster-scan displayed is carried out at the rate of 60 to 80 frames per

second, although some system designed for higher refresh rates. Refresh rates are
described in units of cycles per second, where cycle corresponds to one frame. At the
end of each scan line, the electron beam returns to the left side of screen to begin
displaying next line. The return to the left of the screen, after refreshing each scan
line, is called the horizontal retrace of the electron beam. At the end of each frame,
the electron beam returns to the top left corner of the screen to begin the next
frame is called as vertical retrace.

4
V. S. Patel College of Arts & Science, Computer Graphics
B.C.A. Self-finance, Bilimora By Samkit R. Shah

Random Scan Display

When operated as a random-scan display unit, a CRT has the electron beam directed
only to the parts of the screen where a picture is to be drawn.

Random scan monitors draw a picture one line at a time and for this reason are also
referred to as vector displays (or stroke-writing or calligraphic displays).

Refresh rate on a random-scan system depends on the number of lines to be

displayed.

Picture definition is now stored as a set of line drawing commands in an area of

memory referred to as the refresh display file. Sometimes the refresh display file is
called the display list, display program, or simply the refresh buffer.

5
V. S. Patel College of Arts & Science, Computer Graphics
B.C.A. Self-finance, Bilimora By Samkit R. Shah

To display a specified picture, the system cycles through the set of commands in the
display file, drawing each component line in turn. After all line drawing command
have been processed, the system cycle back to the first line of the command in the
list.

Random-scan systems are designed for line drawing applications and cannot display
realistic shaded scenes. Since picture definition is stored as a set of line drawing
instructions and not as a set of intensity values for all screen points, vector displays
generally have higher resolution than raster systems.

Also, vector displays produce smooth line drawings because the CRT beam directly
follows the line path. A raster system, produced a jagged lines.

2.1.2 Color CRT Monitors

A CRT monitor displays color pictures by using a combination of phosphors that emit
different-colored light. By combining the emitted light from the different phosphors,
a range of colors can be generated. The two basic techniques for producing color
displays with a CRT are the beam-penetration method and the shadow-mask
method.

The beam-penetration method for displaying color pictures has been used with
random-scan monitors.

Two layers of phosphor, usually red and green, are coated onto the inside of the CRT
screen, and the displayed color depends on how far the electron beam penetrates
into the phosphor layers.

A beam of slow electrons excites only the inner green layer.

A beam of very fast electrons penetrates through the green layer and excites the
outer red layer.

At intermediate beam speeds, combinations of red and green light are emitted to
show two additional colors, orange and yellow. The speed of electrons and adjust
screen colors at any points, is controlled by the beam acceleration voltage.

6
V. S. Patel College of Arts & Science, Computer Graphics
B.C.A. Self-finance, Bilimora By Samkit R. Shah

Beam penetration has been an inexpensive way to produce color in random-scan

monitors, but only 4 colors are possible, and the quality of pictures is not as good as
with other methods.

Shadow-mask methods are commonly used in raster scan systems (including color
TV) because they produce a much wider range of colors than the beam penetration
method.

A shadow-mask CRT has three phosphor color dots at each pixel position. One
phosphor dot emits a red light, another emits a green light, and the third emits a
blue light.

This type of CRT has three electron guns, one for each color dot, and a shadow-mask
grid just behind the phosphor-coated screen.

The three electron beams are deflected and focused as a group onto the shadow
mask, which contains a series of holes aligned with the phosphor-dot patterns.

When the three beams pass through a hole in the shadow mask, they activate a dot
triangle, which appears as a small color spot on the screen.

We obtain color variations in a shadow-mask CRT by varying the intensity levels of

the three electron beams. By turning off the red and green guns, we get only the
color coming from the blue phosphor.

7
V. S. Patel College of Arts & Science, Computer Graphics
B.C.A. Self-finance, Bilimora By Samkit R. Shah

2.1.4 Direct View Storage Tubes

An alternative method for maintaining a screen image is to store the picture

information inside the CRT instead of refreshing the screen. In last 1960’s the DVST
was introduced in the display technology. The DVST give alternative method of
maintaining the screen image.

A direct-view storage tube (DVST) stores the picture information as a charge

distribution just behind the phosphor-coated screen.

Two electron guns are used in a DVST.

 Primary Gun
 Flood Gun

One, the primary gun, is used to store the picture pattern and the flood gun maintain
the picture display. A primary gun produces high speed electrons which strike on the
storage grid to draw the picture pattern.

The continuous low speed electrons from flood guns pass through the control grid
and are attached to the storage grid.

Advantages of DVST

 Refreshing of CRT is not required.

 Because no refreshing is needed, very complex pictures can be displayed at
very high resolutions without flicker.
 It has a flat screen

Disadvantages of DVST
 DVST do not display colors.
 Erasing requires removal of entire picture on the storage grid. Thus erasing &
redrawing process take several seconds.
 Erasing of selected portion of the screen is not possible.

Due to these disadvantages storage displays have been largely replaced by raster
system.

8
V. S. Patel College of Arts & Science, Computer Graphics
B.C.A. Self-finance, Bilimora By Samkit R. Shah

2.1.3 Liquid Crystal Display

LCD stands for Liquid Crystal Display monitor. LCD was introduced in the 1970’s. It is
also called flat panel monitor. It is now applied to display terminal also. Its
advantages are low energy consumption, smaller and lighter weight. It is well suited
for usage in portable computers (Laptop). LCD technology can be found in digital
watches and computer monitors also.

LCD display use two sheets of polarizing material with a liquid crystal solution
between them. An electronic current passes through the liquid causes the crystals to
align so that light cannot pass through them. Each crystal acts as a shutter, either
allowing light to pass through or blocking the light. Color LCD display uses two basic
technologies for producing color.

Passive Matrix Display

This type of LCD display uses a grid of conductive metal to charge each pixel.
Although they are less expensive to produce, passive matrix monitors are rarely used
today due to the technology’s slow response time and inaccurate voltage control
compared to active matrix technology.

9
V. S. Patel College of Arts & Science, Computer Graphics
B.C.A. Self-finance, Bilimora By Samkit R. Shah

Active Matrix Display

It is expensive. Most LCD displays use active matrix technology. A thin film transistor
(TFT) arranges tiny transistor and capacitor in matrix on the glass of the display. To
address particular pixel, the proper row is switched in, and then a charge is sent
down the correct column. Since all of the rows that column intersects are turn off,
only capacitor at the designated pixel receive a charge. The capacitor is able to hold
the charge until the next refresh cycle.

Advantage Of LCD Monitors:

1. Require less power:- CRT displays are somewhat power hungry, at about 100
watts for a typical 19 inch display. The average is about 45 watts for a 19 inch
LCD display. LCDs, also produce less heat.

2. Smaller and Weigh less:- An LCD monitor is significantly thinner and lighter
than a CRT monitor, typically weighing less than half as much. In addition, you
can mount an LCD on arm or a wall, which also takes up less desktop space.

3. More adjustable:-LCD displays are much more adjustable than CRT displays.

4. Less eye strain:- Because LCD displays turn each pixel off individually, they do
not produce flicker like CRT displays do.

10
V. S. Patel College of Arts & Science, Computer Graphics
B.C.A. Self-finance, Bilimora By Samkit R. Shah

Difference Between CRT and LCD

Characteristics CRT LCD

Picture Quality Upto 1600 X 1200 Fixed within each monitor

(Resolution)

Refresh Rate Flickering Occurred Flicker Free

Dot Pitch More Space Less Space

Screen Size In 17” CRT monitor, you In 17” monitor you

usually get 16.1 usually get close to 17”

Physical Size CRT monitor are big, Small,compact and light

bulky and heavy weight

Cost Less Expensive More Expensive

Color Cant Maximum Color Better than CRT

Viewable Angle From Any angle From frond end side only

Power Consumption Consumes more power Consume less power

11