Through research and inventive genius, James Fergason found numerous practical applications for liquid crystals, which are compounds that can flow and yet maintain their characteristic molecular orientations. Small temperature changes can change their color, making them particularly useful in mapping the location of warm blood vessels and tumors in the body, as well as fractures and flaws in metal parts used in industry. Small inputs of electrical or mechanical energy can disrupt the weak chemical bonds in liquid crystals and make the substance twist, rotate, or flow, making them particularly appealing for displaying images.

Fergason's most important invention using liquid crystals are liquid crystal displays (LCDs), used in pocket calculators, wristwatches, video games, computers, and televisions. LCDs contain a layer of numerous twisted nematic (TN) liquid crystal cells placed between two layers of polarized glass. Electrical contacts are made to the liquid crystal by embossing the layers of glass with a pattern of segmented electrode bars. When electrical voltage is applied across any segment in the display, the liquid crystal aligns with the applied electric field. Changing the applied voltage to the crystal in a precise pattern and at precise times can make the pattern tick off the seconds on a digital wristwatch, display letters on a computer screen, or form an image on a television screen. LCDs consume little energy and have a long lifetime.

Television LCD flat panels can be as thin as two inches thick, with larger ones no more than three inches thick. Light from powerful bulbs in the back of the panel move through a diffuser plate that distributes the light evenly across a screen. The light then passes through a layer of thin film transistors (TFTs) and color filters that control the amount of electricity passed into each liquid crystal cell. The result is hundreds of thousands of LCD pixels, each generating red, green, or blue color to produce the final image on a television screen or computer monitor. By using pixels to generate color, the scan lines produced by televisions that use cathode-ray tubes (CRTs) to scan the picture tube from top to bottom with an electron beam are eliminated, resulting in a smooth, evenly lit, saturated image across the entire display. LCD screens can be viewed under any lighting conditions, including very bright, sunlit rooms.

Although the liquid crystal display (LCD) screen was first made by George Heilmeier in 1968, Fergason has remained the consummate inventor of useful LCD devices for decades. His LCD inventions range from watches to television screens to eye protectors and surgical imaging devices.

Free term papers are not written to satisfy your specific instructions. You can use our professional writing services to buy a custom written research paper, term paper, or essay on Technology at affordable price. CustomTermPapers is the best solution for those who seek help in writing term papers, essays, and research papers related to Technology and other relevant topics.