Understanding Semiconductor Displays and Their Operation

·August 3, 2025

·12 min read

Understanding Semiconductor Displays and Their Operation — Image Source: pexels

A semiconductor display uses advanced semiconductor technology to transform electrical signals into clear images people see on screens. This type of display works in many everyday devices, such as smartphones and televisions. Semiconductor technology shapes modern life by making information easy to view and interact with. Imagine a translator who instantly turns messages into pictures—this is how a semiconductor display operates, making digital communication possible for everyone.

Key Takeaways

Semiconductor displays create images by letting each pixel produce its own light, resulting in bright colors and deep blacks without needing a backlight.
These displays save energy, last longer, and allow devices to be thinner and lighter, making them ideal for smartphones, TVs, and other gadgets.
Different types like LED, OLED, and LCD use semiconductor chips to control light and color, with OLED offering the best contrast and color quality.
Advanced semiconductor materials and chips work together to deliver sharp, clear images and support new uses like medical imaging, smart windows, and fingerprint sensors.
BOE leads in semiconductor display innovation, creating flexible, high-resolution screens that improve user experience and energy efficiency across many industries.

What Is a Semiconductor Display?

Simple Explanation

A semiconductor display uses semiconductor materials to turn electrical signals into visible images. This technology appears in many devices, such as smartphones, televisions, and digital billboards. Each pixel in a semiconductor display can emit its own light when an electric current passes through it. This process allows the display to show bright colors and sharp images. Semiconductor technology makes these displays possible by controlling how light is produced and managed at the microscopic level.

Semiconductor displays stand out because they do not need external light sources to create images. Instead, the pixels themselves light up, which leads to better contrast and deeper blacks. This self-emissive property sets them apart from older display types that rely on backlighting. Devices that use this technology can be thinner, lighter, and more energy-efficient.

Key Features

Semiconductor displays offer several important features that make them popular in modern devices and applications:

Each pixel emits its own light, creating vivid colors and high brightness.
The ability to turn off individual pixels results in true blacks and very high contrast ratios.
Wide viewing angles allow users to see clear images from almost any direction.
Semiconductor materials enable precise control over light emission, leading to sharp and accurate images.
These displays can be made thinner and lighter, which benefits portable devices.
Energy efficiency is a major advantage, as these displays use less power than traditional technologies.
Longer lifespan means less frequent maintenance and lower costs over time.
The technology supports a wide range of applications, from smartphones and TVs to medical imaging and smart windows.
Semiconductor displays adapt well to different environments, making them suitable for both indoor and outdoor devices.
Environmental impact is reduced because these displays consume less power and use fewer hazardous materials.

Note: Semiconductor displays, such as OLED and LED screens, use advanced semiconductor technology to achieve superior performance in many devices and applications.

Semiconductor technology continues to improve, making displays more reliable and expanding their use in new applications. Devices that use this technology benefit from better image quality, longer life, and lower energy use. As a result, semiconductor displays have become essential in many areas of daily life.

Types of Semiconductor Displays

LED and OLED

LED and OLED displays both rely on semiconductor chips to control how light appears on the screen. LED displays use a backlight made from light-emitting diodes, which shine through a layer of liquid crystals. These displays use chips to manage brightness and color. OLED displays work differently. Each pixel in an OLED display contains organic material that emits its own light when powered by semiconductor chips. This structure allows OLED screens to achieve true blacks and vibrant colors. The chips in OLED displays enable each pixel to turn on or off independently, creating high contrast and wide viewing angles.

The following table compares the structure and performance of general LED, OLED, and LCD displays:

Display Type	Structure	Performance Characteristics	Advantages	Disadvantages
LED	LCD panel with LED backlighting	Uses backlight and liquid crystals; brighter and more energy-efficient than traditional LCDs	Energy efficient, bright, long lifespan	Cannot achieve true blacks, higher cost
OLED	Self-emissive pixels, no backlight	Each pixel lights independently; true blacks, infinite contrast	True blacks, vibrant colors, thin panels	Expensive, shorter lifespan, burn-in risk
LCD	Liquid crystals with backlight	Relies on backlight; affordable and durable	Affordable, long lifespan	Lower contrast, narrow viewing angles

Chips play a key role in both LED and OLED displays. They process signals and control how each pixel behaves. Semiconductor chips ensure that images appear sharp and colors stay accurate.

LCD

LCD stands for liquid crystal display. This technology uses a layer of liquid crystals sandwiched between two sheets of glass. A backlight, often powered by LED chips, shines through the crystals. The chips control how the crystals twist and block light, forming images on the screen. LCDs use semiconductor chips to manage the flow of electricity and adjust the display in real time.

LCD technology remains popular because it offers a balance of cost, durability, and performance. The chips inside LCDs help extend their lifespan and improve energy efficiency. LCDs do not achieve the same deep blacks as OLEDs, but they provide reliable performance for many applications. The wafer used in manufacturing LCDs forms the base for the chips that drive the display.

BOE Innovations

BOE has introduced many advancements in semiconductor display technology. The company developed a 16K 110-inch naked-eye 3D display that uses a unique chip algorithm for ultra-high definition and wide viewing angles. BOE also created a 32-inch light field display with face tracking, powered by advanced chips for immersive 3D effects. In the automotive sector, BOE offers flexible displays with chips that allow screens to fold or curve, adapting to different vehicle designs.

BOE’s Mini-LED and Micro-LED products use semiconductor chips to achieve high brightness and contrast. The company integrates AI technology into display chips, enabling real-time image enhancement and energy savings. BOE’s focus on green technology includes low-power oxide displays and recyclable materials, supported by efficient chips.

BOE leads the global market with innovations in esports displays, automotive screens, and smart cockpit solutions. The company’s chips and semiconductor chips set new standards for performance and user experience.

BOE’s ecosystem strategy brings together partners and brands, expanding the reach of its technology. The company’s chips power displays in smart vehicles, wearables, and advanced monitors, showing the impact of semiconductor chips in modern life.

Core Components and Chips

Semiconductor Materials

Semiconductor displays rely on a variety of materials, each with unique properties that affect performance and cost. Manufacturers use a wafer as the base for building microchips and integrated circuits. The most common material is silicon, which forms the backbone of semiconductor fabrication. A silicon wafer provides high purity and reliability, making it ideal for integrated circuits and display chips. Other materials, such as amorphous silicon, low temperature polysilicon, and metal oxide, support different display types and applications. Organic semiconductors enable flexible and ultrathin displays, such as OLEDs, and allow for printable manufacturing processes. These materials help reduce power consumption and make displays more durable.

Semiconductor Material	Description / Usage	Display Type / Application
Amorphous Silicon (a-Si)	Used in thin-film transistors (TFT) for lower-resolution displays and TVs	AMLCD
Low Temperature Polysilicon (LTPS)	Higher mobility, supports high resolution; more costly	AMLCD, AMOLED
Metal Oxide (MO)	Better mobility, used for large displays	AMOLED (TVs, large displays)

Display Chips

Display chips serve as the heart of semiconductor displays. These chips process signals, control pixels, and manage image quality. The wafer acts as the foundation for these chips, which are created through advanced semiconductor fabrication. Different types of chips, such as DIP, SMD, COB, MicroLED, Mini-LED, and OLED, support a range of display technologies. Integrated circuits within these chips enable precise control over brightness, color, and refresh rates. Microchips built on a wafer allow for high pixel density and fast response times. The importance of semiconductor chips becomes clear in their ability to deliver sharp images and vibrant colors. The function of semiconductor chips includes converting digital signals into analog voltages, activating individual pixels, and maintaining image stability.

Display Chip Type	Description	Advantages	Typical Applications
LCD	Uses liquid crystals and electrodes to filter light	Energy efficient, affordable	Monitors, TVs, phones
LED	Arrays of LEDs form images	High brightness, vibrant colors	Billboards, video walls
OLED	Organic compounds emit light per pixel	Thin, flexible, excellent contrast	Smartphones, TVs
MicroLED	Tiny LED pixels for high resolution	Exceptional brightness, color	High-end displays

Control Circuits

Control circuits play a vital role in the operation of semiconductor displays. These integrated circuits manage the flow of electricity across the wafer, ensuring each pixel receives the correct signal. The importance of semiconductor chips in control circuits lies in their ability to handle complex tasks quickly and efficiently. Semiconductor fabrication techniques allow for the creation of compact, reliable control circuits that fit within the thin layers of a display. The wafer supports these circuits, which work together with display chips to produce smooth images and accurate colors. The function of semiconductor chips in control circuits includes managing refresh rates, reducing motion blur, and supporting high resolutions. Integrated circuits and microchips built on a wafer ensure that modern displays meet the demands of speed, clarity, and energy efficiency.

Tip: The combination of advanced semiconductor materials, display chips, and control circuits on a wafer enables the high performance seen in today’s displays.

How Semiconductor Displays Work

Semiconductor Devices in Action

Semiconductor devices form the backbone of modern display technology. These devices use materials like silicon to control the flow of electricity and light. In displays, semiconductor devices such as CMOS and CCD image sensors play a crucial role. Each sensor contains millions of tiny pixels, each acting as a photodiode. When light hits these pixels, the photodiodes convert the light into electrical signals. This process relies on the photoelectric effect, where photons striking the semiconductor material release electrons, creating a measurable electric charge.

Manufacturers arrange these pixels in large two-dimensional arrays. Each pixel collects charge based on the amount of light it receives. To capture color, engineers place a color filter array—often in a Bayer pattern—over the pixel grid. This filter allows each pixel to detect red, green, or blue light, mimicking how human eyes perceive color. Microlenses above the filters focus incoming light onto the sensitive area of each pixel, improving efficiency.

Semiconductor chips manage the flow of information from these pixels. The chips read the accumulated charge from each pixel and convert it into voltage signals. These signals travel through control circuits, which organize the data for further processing. The integration of digital logic, analog-to-digital converters, and timing circuits on the same chip enables fast and accurate image capture. This technology supports high frame rates, making real-time video and motion capture possible in many devices.

Note: The combination of advanced semiconductor materials, precise chip design, and optical enhancements allows displays to achieve high brightness, sharp contrast, and accurate color reproduction.

From Signal to Image

The journey from an electrical signal to a visible image involves several key steps. First, semiconductor devices detect light and convert it into electrical signals. Each pixel’s signal represents the intensity and color of the light it received. The chips then process these signals, organizing them into rows and columns that match the layout of the display.

Next, the chips use image processing algorithms to enhance the raw data. These algorithms perform tasks such as noise reduction, color balancing, and sharpening. The goal is to create a clear and accurate digital image. The chips also handle interpolation, which fills in missing color information by analyzing neighboring pixels. This step ensures smooth gradients and lifelike colors.

After processing, the chips send the digital image data to the display panel. In OLED and LED displays, each pixel receives a specific voltage that determines its brightness and color. The semiconductor materials in the pixels emit light directly, creating the final image that users see. In LCDs, the chips control how liquid crystals twist to block or allow light from the backlight, forming the image on the screen.

Semiconductor technology enables displays to adapt to different applications. For example, in medical imaging, chips process high-resolution images quickly, allowing doctors to see fine details. In smartphones, the same technology supports fast refresh rates and vibrant colors for gaming and video. Smart windows use semiconductor chips to adjust transparency and display information, combining privacy with interactive features. Fingerprint recognition systems rely on chips to capture and analyze detailed images of fingerprints, enhancing security in electronic devices.

The versatility of semiconductor displays comes from the integration of chips, materials, and control circuits. These components work together to turn electrical signals into vivid images across a wide range of devices and applications. As semiconductor technology advances, displays continue to improve in resolution, speed, and energy efficiency, expanding their role in daily life.

Tip: The seamless interaction between semiconductor devices and chips allows displays to deliver high-quality images in everything from televisions and smartphones to medical equipment and smart building solutions.

Applications of Semiconductor Technology

Medical Imaging by BOE

Medical imaging stands as one of the most important applications of semiconductors. BOE has advanced this field with IGZO technology, which improves electron mobility and supports higher frame rates in dynamic X-ray imaging. IGZO offers better grayscale stability and a higher signal-to-noise ratio than traditional materials. This technology allows medical devices to produce clearer images with less noise, which helps doctors make accurate diagnoses. IGZO also supports flexible substrates, enabling detectors that conform to the human body for continuous monitoring. These features make IGZO-based devices ideal for dynamic heart imaging and other demanding medical applications. Hospitals and clinics benefit from these semiconductor applications by gaining access to reliable, high-quality imaging tools.

BOE’s innovations in medical imaging demonstrate how semiconductor technology can improve patient care and support advanced diagnostic applications.

Smart Windows and Displays

Smart windows represent another growing area for applications of semiconductors. BOE’s smart window technology integrates automatic dimming, privacy protection, and display functions into a single device. These windows adjust their transparency based on sunlight, reducing glare and saving energy in buildings and vehicles. In public transportation, smart windows appear in high-speed trains and subway cars, providing passengers with comfort and information. Buildings use these devices to optimize natural light, protect privacy, and lower energy costs. The integration of display technology into windows creates new applications, such as interactive panels and adaptive shading. These semiconductor applications help cities and businesses create smarter, more efficient environments.

Fingerprint Recognition

Fingerprint recognition has become a standard feature in modern devices. Semiconductor displays enable advanced fingerprint sensors that work beneath the screen, allowing seamless unlocking and secure authentication. These sensors use ultrasonic or optical technology to capture detailed fingerprint images, even through glass. Edge AI on the sensor chip processes biometric data quickly, improving security and user privacy. Devices with these sensors offer faster unlock times and better spoof detection. Semiconductor advancements also support larger scanning areas and multi-fingerprint recognition, making these devices more versatile. Applications of semiconductors in fingerprint recognition extend to smartphones, financial systems, and secure access control, enhancing safety and convenience for users.

The wide range of applications for semiconductor technology—from medical imaging to smart windows and fingerprint recognition—shows how these devices shape daily life and drive innovation across industries.

Semiconductor displays use semiconductor technology to turn electrical signals into images, powering many devices people use daily. The role of semiconductors has transformed vehicles, wearables, and smart home applications, making user interfaces safer and more intuitive. BOE leads the global market, driving innovation in flexible displays and expanding the impact on electronics. As semiconductor technology evolves, new applications emerge in health, transportation, and entertainment. These advances encourage everyone to appreciate the unseen technology behind modern devices and their growing applications.

FAQ

What makes semiconductor displays different from traditional displays?

Semiconductor displays use materials that let each pixel emit its own light. This design creates brighter images and deeper blacks. Traditional displays often need a separate backlight, which can limit contrast and increase power use.

How do semiconductor displays save energy?

Semiconductor displays control light at the pixel level. They only use power where needed. This feature reduces overall energy use. Devices with these displays often last longer on a single charge.

Where can people see semiconductor displays in daily life?

People see semiconductor displays in smartphones, TVs, smartwatches, and even car dashboards. Hospitals use them for medical imaging. Smart windows and fingerprint sensors also use this technology.

Why does BOE stand out in semiconductor display technology?

BOE leads with advanced materials and chip designs. The company creates displays for medical, automotive, and smart building uses. BOE’s products offer high image quality, energy savings, and flexible designs.

Can semiconductor displays improve security?

Yes. Devices use semiconductor displays for fingerprint recognition. These displays capture detailed images of fingerprints. This technology helps protect personal data and supports secure access in phones and financial systems.