Field Sequential Colour

FSC, Field Sequential Colour is a new way of generating colours in the LCD module without the need for colour filters.

Using simple TN technology and a RGB LED backlight, 8 basic colours can be generated by switching the LCD segment and backlight on and off sequentially. With the RGB backlight you can play around with both background colours and segment colours in the same module. You can get 7 segment colours on a white background or 7 background colours and black segments. It's all done in the LCD controller IC, so it's only a question of changing software to select the required colour. At the moment the LCD needs to be a static or low duty TN panel to get the switching of the segments fast enough so the human eye does not see any flicker. This limits the technology to use in numeric and icon based graphics, but it is an easy way to get simple colours at a very low cost and also keep the processing power to a minimum. For the same reason it's difficult to have any standard modules with this technology as most solutions would need special icons depending on the application. To the right is a simple picture showing the basic operating principles.

Typical numeric information is used in a wide range of applications like Medical, Industrial controls, White goods, temperature sensors, smart meters etc.

If you have any application that may benefit from this simple colour technology please contact RDS for a discussion of possibilities.