Building a liquid crystal display (LCD)

[@handymanatwork]

Hi Ben,I'm an experienced LCD engineer who is still working in the field. I have to say your work is amazing even from a professional point of view! Here I'd like to remind you that most of materials, like PR, developer, are not good to health. So just be careful when using them. You may need a ventilation system to avoid breathing too much gases. Best regards:)

[@cyrustakem7993]

Jigang Zhao hi, as a professional, do you think i could extract the liquid from a broken lcd pannel?

[@jus.2ne889]

@Frank Heuvelman wtf are you talking about

[@jsutinbibber9508]

@@jus.2ne889 i cannot inform the enemy

[@jsutinbibber9508]

Old Master Zhao Jigang, know the enemy.

[@bashmakovakarina5800]

Hi Ben, how are you? Im also very surprised that it is possible to do the LCD at home. Im texting from Central Asia and now is the summer. There are over 10 millions of people in the city, 3.6 millions are registered here and 6.4 (please correct me if im wrong) are not registered)) air and commodities temperature is over 50 plus. i gonna check now what do crystals need to grow. Have a nice day.

[@RimstarOrg]

Man, you are one good explainer! And I can picture all the pleasure you had doing the research for this. Way too much fun. Fascinating. Thanks!

[@DC-go5mc]

Ben, I was a working Engineer in the mid 80's and needed a 4x6 TN LCD with 64 segments for an application. All the manufacturers said it was impossible. The company I worked for paid for the research to develop many of the things you demonstrated. I worked with company X to do this work. We did the 5um glass beads, ITO patterning at large scale, crystal mix ratios, -40 to +70C performance range, super glue coating then using a cloth to scratch the parallel lines. Amazing to stumble across this video and see your presentation. Thanks for bringing back the memories. Very good explanation of issues we worked to resolve.

[@2degucitas]

You explained LCDs in a way even dummies like me can understand. THANK YOU1!!!!

[@prempraneethkota6486]

Lol

[@draggy76]

No building however has actually occurred. making this vid clickbait

[@AntalMadincea]

draggy76: Yes, he built it, but it is a process that spans several episodes.

[@severusfumizuki9934]

+draggy76 It is an amazing educational video, and he didn't use the words "Show" or "Tutorial" in the title, so no, its no clickbait. Also, in order to build something, you have to first understand how it works, so I would even go so far and say, yes, this counts as an instructional video. Oh and also: Actually building a macro-size LCD cell, is neither interesting, nor really difficult. If someone doesn't have the mental capacity to do it, after watching this video, instead requiring an audiovisual step-by-step instruction to do it, then someone should not concern himself with how an LCD works, and instead stick to "AMAZING LIFEHACK!!!" - quality videos, aka. "hotglueing junk that breaks after one use - now with dubsteb".

[@souravzzz]

When I was a kid I used to take off the top polarizer from calculators and rotate it 180 degrees. It'd give me a white-on-black display instead of the usual black-on-white and I used to feel like a god damn scientist :D

[@matucha123]

wait, but rotating filter 180 doesn't change polarization?

[@souravzzz]

Turning it over does (at least for some variants).

[@andruloni]

I see you like flipping stuff around. Why are your comments not flipped?

[@souravzzz]

op oʇ ʇɐɥʍ ǝɯ llǝʇ ʇ,uop

[@andruloni]

Now go for the name and you're all set :)

[@Rayden440]

Before I saw this video, if someone were to ask me how LCDs worked. I would have answered, "magic." Thank you for the very informative video.

[@riverdeep399]

Kevin lol Me too. He's so clear and precise at explaining, everything flows easily.

[@nunyabusiness7630]

Extremely thorough and well thought out for a fourteen minute presentation, as well an appreciated ability to speak clearly using proper English to convey/share with the rest of us curious minded tinkerers/ engineers. Keep on keeping on, I subscribed! Thank you!

[@JugurthaHadjar]

What a badass ! Whenever a friend comes near my computer, I tell him "Let me show you something" and then put any of your videos and say "Look at this dude." Almost all my friends are engineers, as I am, so they appreciate the beauty of it. Keep up the good work, Ben. You are a frigging inspiration, and I don't use that word !

[@RexTorres]

One of the best (if not *the* best) explanation of how LCDs work... This guy never ceases to amaze me.

[@LoMe64]

Great video - thank you very much! About the rubbing with a cloth: Some years ago there was an article in a german magazine "c't" about how to make custom LCDs. In the article they recommended to rub the surface with a piece of styrofoam to create the microscratches.

[@SardiPax]

Fascinating video. I work with LCD displays and there were still quite a few bits of information that were new to me. I especially liked the 'rubbing the plastic' to align the crystal molecules. I'd be interested to see you manufacture a laser, not an LED one, perhaps a gas or crystal one. Thanks again.

[@SardiPax]

I hope someone has one for you, I'd love to that that.

[@billkratzer1]

***** what are they used in ? 8KJ xenon flashtube. I have a question. quartz can be liquified yes? and would it act as a light focusing device in the right shape? but more importantly, what are the flash tubes used in?

[@Romenadan]

Bill Kratzer Not a whole lot these days unfortunately. The flash tubes good for ruby lasers are very large and spiral in shape. Many have an outer jacket for water cooling as the heat produced inside a laser cavity is intense enough to cause thermal cracking of even a quartz envelope with even modest pulse rates.

[@billkratzer1]

Matt Giordano but Matt, what type of device is this component used. there are sources out side this country.

[@billkratzer1]

oh yea, thanks for the response. but this guy Ben is awsome and I would like to help

[@NikolasSkoufis]

Amazing explanation of how LCDs work. Thanks Ben, and good luck with this project. It's proving to be really fascinating.

[@merlebufomunger9898]

Very nice and clear, yet not dumbed down. I'll be watching! Thanks!

[@artonline01]

if the zombie Apocalypse happens someone save him so we can rebuild technology faster

[@b34113411]

he just made it from commercial products idiot

[@jnk1296]

you weren't hugged enough as a child, were you?

[@chromzeez]

If a zombie apocolapse ever does happen, by that time, the media would have been so saturated with zombie related content that everybody should know how to protect themselves in case of one

[@GamingAmbienceLive]

you just gather the zombies and burn them

[@holytoledo760]

b34113411 no one said, so new technologies can be made. It was said, so we can REBUILD faster. How many technologies do you have stored in your head ALA Fahrenheit 451 survivor? You do great work guy. You have the most interesting and in-depth channel I have seen. It is always a pleasure to watch your videos.

[@dan428]

The funny thing is most of us watched this video about creating primitive LCD displays on our own advanced LCD displays

[@anthonyczuchaj5912]

Irony

[@KuntalGhosh]

Watching on oled display 😂

[@maximilianufer4170]

This is so amazing Just look at an LCD display in your house and think about how much work and cleverness is put into them

[@michalotron]

This is the best explanation of how LCD works I've ever seen - thanks! Science is beautiful.

[@richbooth8948]

Wow! I have played around with LCD displays and thought I knew a lot about them... wrong! I thought it was a big deal rotating the polarization film thus inverting the display (dark parts became light and light parts dark). You have a gift. Nice job!

[@superdau]

I really love your videos! Since I've always been interested in everything science related I know the operating principle of almost all the things you try, sometimes even in great detail. But what I often don't know is how things are actually made. And you show that these things can even be made at home, when I thought you'd need a clean room, large machines and perfect computer control. Btw. not to jinx it, but you're pretty much the only one I know who can get a video with a 1000:0 like/dislike ratio. Says quite alot about you and your subscribers! Thanks alot!

[@heXan]

In the first 1:20 min of the vid you completely shatter in a general way the knowledge of an average student with a BSc in physics in europe. Thank you for making these interesting videos! :)

[@Falcrist]

This may be your best video yet, Ben. The clarity of your explanation puts it above even your electron microscope videos.

[@MDREZABOSS]

I was looking for this lecture about a month. Thank you so much for sharing your experiments.

[@tenzinadelinesmith8075]

This is so cool omg I was sitting here so confused about how my calculator was showing the numbers and whatnot this was so helpful!!!! Thank you!

[@mrmotinjo]

If my lessons back in school were this interesting, I would have paid more attention in school! Up until now, I had only a very faint concept about how liquid crystal displays worked, and this presentation helped me understand it much better :)

[@w2aew]

Awesome video Ben - simply fascinating!

[@jimmy21584]

I never really understood the physics properly until now - this is a fantastic video!

[@siliconwitch]

It always amazes me how the manufacturing processes behind these things takes it to a whole new level.

[@apierson2011]

Very interesting and informative! I found this video by chance when doing some light research on liquid crystals and really enjoyed it. Thanks!

[@christheother9088]

I've salvaged the polarized sheets off old LCDs before...now I know why they're there in the first place. And of course all the other layers make sense now too. Thanks.

[@gamingSlasher]

Much science and engineering that is in something that we nowadays think are so common and even old. Very interesting to hear. Thank you very much.

[@EddyGurge]

The more videos of yours that I watch, the more I understand, and the more I realize how little I know.

[@lazertag720]

now make a full colored LCD at 1080p resolution

[@colbiesthename2875]

Pff, 4K!

[@MisterBones2910]

+danscalafani It's a joke.

[@porg7063]

Ahmad Zuhdi 8k? I was thinking 20k at least

[@GaleDoesMusic]

I was thinking *21k*

[@Neon-zj1uk]

in a 5.2 inch form factor

[@Reth_Hard]

It's so refreshing here! I'm a bit tired of all those stupid click-bait thumbnails and those youtubers who are asking us desperately (and too often) to press this damn "Like" button and to not forget to subscribe to their poor channels! Fortunately! their is still some interesting people on KZbin who are not only there to monetize us! Like this guy right here...

[@esotericsean]

That was amazing! Completely explains why LCD screens display colors when you press on them. I almost want to attempt making my own LCD pixel display and make a rudimentary Gameboy or something.

[@NickMoore]

The cloth rubbing trick is great. There are loads of weird industrial tricks like that in manufacturing, some times the old way is still the only way.

[@MysticalDork]

It reminds me of the technical challenges that were encountered during the development of the SR-71 such as the massive thermal expansion of the fuel tank pieces. We still don't have any polymers or elastomers that will stand up to the temperatures involved.

[@spiderspider1384]

since he didn't change the way he talks or explains things. videos from 8 years ago feel the same as today. really good

[@Igor-ug1uo]

3:51 I enjoy the fact that you say "random again" instead of "turned" 👍😁

[@RossGerard]

Thank you for taking the time to post this video. I appreciate it.

[@jhoughjr1]

a new phase that is basically the transition between phases. Id bet all phase changes states have similar properties if we could correct of spacial and temporal variations. IE see on small scales and slower paces of time.

[@mathbee]

This is the best channel on KZbin. Thanks Ben!

[@DrakeDorosh]

Such an amazing journey. When you said they were static field crystallized it made me wonder if the layer could be activated in a vacuum by interfering electron beams. I guess one of the polarizers would have to be conductive. A difficult experiment.

[@FLYGTRVIC]

Your explanations are always easy to follow, thanks!

[@saraswathynambiar338]

Please continue with further tests and study to help improvements.

[@PasanKarunanayake]

Excellent in-depth explanation.

[@bizzlemedia]

Very interesting! You are one talented and clever individual. Thanks for sharing and keep up the excellent work!

[@operator8014]

Didn't understand a lot of this, but understood enough to know it's FRIGGIN COOL!

[@PopCultureFan_]

LOL used to say that to my older techie friend too lol ' I dont understand a word u said....but keep talking.....first off its sexy

[@Colonel1954Dz]

Man this makes you appreciate even most primitive mobile displays. I especially love the ridiculous solutions that actually work! Like putting glass beads in between sheets xD

[@McPeppr]

Very well explained. I already knew how light is twisted. But that's about it. You explained how to apply that to a product. My take away is, patterns are shaped by the electrodes not the liquid crystal. And a broken display with dark areas must have a misalignment in that glasses distance.

[@nicholasmccain5818]

@Applied Science Your level of research is quite amazing. You have the ability to explain in detail all of the projects I have always wanted to accomplish. Subscribed because I know that your next project is already on my list!

[@reddaB]

That was really interesting and I learnt a lot. I was happy to have guessed at the micro scratches as a solution before you said it so I feel that I did actually grasp the concept. I have been meaning to learn how lcd functions for years and this video was great to learn from thanks! :)

[@sumobear1777]

that's how I kept cheaters from getting my answer in school. I went in to the calculator, carefully peeled the polariser off, cut it in half and stuck it to my glasses. to everyone else, it looked broke but only I could see my answers.

[@FLomasterZ]

Everyone who have polarized glasses will see all.

[@br0k3nilluzion]

Awesome. Good description of everything.. Thank you for taking the time to make this.

[@gasworker3042]

Thanks for the video's Ben, You do a fantastic job explaining your projects.

[@MedhaviN]

Its amazing how we come up with such things to fix our problems,.. Thanks for your explanation, it was the best i got online :)

[@MrClaudiodonate]

You really should be a professor. Awesome video! Thumbs UP!

[@edmarkham2632]

Very interesting. I have always wondered how different technology works. It's very good to be curious about things in our world.

[@mcnuggetwarrior8218]

Came here from Dr. Stone, really interesting how it works. Great video and explanation

[@crunchblack1]

Excellent presentation. Thank you for presenting this in an easy to understand manner.

[@ThisIsMMI]

You explained it perfectly 👍👍👍

[@SimEon-jt3sr]

It's amazing how far they've gone from game boy days to today's stuff, they're little marvels really.

[@rolandkeith5322]

Top video the way you explained the set up made it quite easy to understand

[@ricardoasaavedra]

This is a really nicely done video! Thank you for explaining the concepts so well!

[@121Ruskiy]

Thank you for breaking down something that I thought I'd never understand

[@SoundOfYourDestiny]

Great job on this. I'd be very interested in how to build a much simpler structure: "privacy film" or "smart glass", where we can make it opaque by applying or removing electricity. The commercial implementations are very expensive and some are slow.

[@slayer646464]

Crazy. How do people even figure this out? If I tried to make a tv I would have to use a flashlight and some socks.

[@henrryhernandez3418]

Careful observation and playing with knowledge (safely). A lot of ideas come from serendipity.

[@khhnator]

that's the thing, they dint try to make a tv, only a piece of glass/plastic that could switch between opaque and translucent and the the polarizer and liquid crystal stuff already existed. and the people who invented/discovered polarizers and liquid crystal were also not trying to make a tv. everything is build up on top of other knowledge that many times doesn't even seems to have any use at the time

[@mork6668]

You're talking about the famous already invented sock 📺 TV, right?

[@Verschlimmbesserung]

Technological advance is incremental. For instance, the TV was not made by one person, nor was it made overnight from scratch. First was the discovery of electricity, then came the inventions that made use of electricity, various people contributing all sorts of devices.

[@countrpoint9072]

Thanks man. Your channel is phenomenal!

[@SamiyuruSenarathna]

Very nice explanation!

[@UEGUnequaled]

Your videos are so educational!

[@toolthoughts]

it's inspirational, really, to see someone take on these kinds of challenging projects, not to mention be so damn handy

[@mrsipo1975]

Just wow. Don't ever stop sharing your knowledge please. Can't wait for the next episode. Where is this project going? You did mention OLED a few times.

[@phy445]

Rubbing the poyimide does not only induce scratches. It actually stretches out some of the polymer chains as well. This helps with the alignment process. I think this is why your glass rubbing was not as effective as you hoped. An alignment layer can be made by dragging a piece of PTFE across the ITO. You have to press quite hard and it helps if the glass is hot. This process leaves a layer of aligned polymer molecules on the glass surface. It works surprisingly well.

[@phy445]

***** When I was doing my PhD back in the early nineties it was a handy way to induce alignment in other polymers when casting from solution. The effect was originally discovered by David Tabor and his co-workers in the early seventies. David Tabor was a true giant of the scientific world - and all round really nice person. Not enough people know about him. A nice summary of his life and works can be found at: www.smf.phy.cam.ac.uk/files/574FrictFieldBMFRS54.pdf

[@ninedux]

best explanation video i could find... great job and thanks!

[@jamieshelley6079]

very informative and filled in some knowledge holes, many thanks

[@RyanVasquez6089]

I LOVE THIS SO MUCH!!!!!!!! you are so knowledgeable and educated

[@dazaro3]

Wow ,your videos are super interesting.

[@techninja42]

Congrats! You finally got it working... mostly ;). Great explanations as always. Once you've made your own LCD switching glasses, it'll be time to do your car windows.

[@PopCultureFan_]

Who is this tech guy?😍 I like tech too, well its kinda why im here lol. I admire u type of guys. Nice voice too 🙂

[@penalastral]

very informative, you explain very well

[@JasperZandvliet]

Very interesting and great respect for figuring it all out.

[@C134B]

i'll begin my college job this year on the most advanced liquid crystals lab on Chile, thanks!

[@samrg123]

you sir, are both genius and inspirational.

[@ryanjbourke]

Your work amazes me. Keep these great interesting videos coming.

[@tom_something]

This was remarkably informative. Thanks for sharing!

[@jubjuber1]

Thank you for helping me understand why pressing on LCD screens causes rainbow colors and distortion!

[@NayanSharma.]

Wow, and i thought that it was too hard to make one or atleast understand its working principle :D. Thank You, great job!

[@aadishjoshi2525]

Dude where have you been when I completed my graduation. OMG my life would have been way different if I had met you first

[@marius5361]

about the coating technique.....what if you spin the glass with a motor and pour some nail polish for some time to get the ideal layer thickness (trial and error )..and the glass should be put like on an wine shaped glass so it can be touched only by the margins to avoid the impurities...idk if that helps, it's jut a thought.btw you are a very good at explaining very clear and not let my brain foggy.

[@arafat877]

Amazing job, could you share with me a list of machines (uv exposure ....) and chemical products you have used to make this LCD please ??? And a PDF version of this video if it's possible.

[@riverdeep399]

Intelligence and creativity is super attractive. :) I really want to try this...

[@asifimam]

Can you please also make a video on e-ink or e-paper display? would love to see how one can make them.

[@serta5727]

The actual best explanation

[@trinitylea966]

Thanks man! This was fascinating!

[@morphuk1]

Great explanation and very interesting project!

[@axodal]

This is coolest video in all of KZbin! I have wanted to understand LCD's at this level ever since my parents replaced my red LED watch with a newfangled LCD watch in the late 1970s. I couldn't wait to take it apart and look inside. I quickly discovered the trick with rotating the two polarizers. Problem was that most encyclopedia texts on the subject were very cursory. I eventually bought a book titled The Physics of Liquid Crystals. But it did little to explain the subject to the layman. May I ask if you have industrial experience with fabricating LCDs, or did you find the info in the public domain?

[@bubblegumgun3292]

so would they count as liquid mechanical TV, kinda makes CRT sound more like the future tech

[@aqbhawkins28]

The commercial use is in TVs. This is amazing, liquid crystal is made into all TV screens. This is how they can got the black and white screens by your first/second test then color screens by your third test. The electrical energy of connection from the remote to the TV screen. It is awesome to see and now understand. It I am not correct on this it seems to be a great idea to create.

[@number7redking]

This video makes it seem like I'm looking at my laptop screen made from magic and/or it's worth millions of dollars.

[@manda3dprojects966]

Legend says that if you drink a Liquid Crystal then your eyes can see the unseen, and you see amazing things.

[@AntonioBarba_TheKaneB]

Man, your research activities are very inspiring to me :) Still no flux capacitor, though...

[@sdlksdfsadf]

Very informative and inspirational. Thank you man.