How Does a Plasma TV Work?
Plasma technology is different from that used in other display systems in that red, green and blue lights are created in every pixel, reducing the need for space. Charged electrodes between glass panels cause tiny pockets of inert gas to change a state of plasma. This process causes UV light to be produced, which in turn reacts with the red, green, and blue phosphors in each pixel to produce visible light. 
                                                       
Unlike traditional displays, where the image is scanned across the screen, in plasma displays all pixels are "lit" at once. Having no electron beam, back lighting or light polarization, the image is inherently sharper and brighter. Perfect from edge to edge.


CRT VS Plasma 

Cathode Ray Tube (CRT)		Plasma Display Panel (PDP)
CRT TECHNOLOGY: CRTs use a beam of electrons to stimulate phospors and thus make the image. The beam strikes the phospor cells at an angle, however, and this creates a larger spot size. Also, because it is difficult to focus the beam at all points, the image will be less precise in some areas.		PLASMA TECHNOLOGY: Each Pixel contains 3 cells, green, red, and a blue. Plasma Display Panels stimulate phosphor cells individually with electrodes.  There is no loss of focus.
CRT RESULTS:     Geometric distortion. The picture on a CRT will always have a certain amount of distortion.      Uneven light output. The picture on a CRT will have areas that are brighter and areas that are darker than others.      Difficulty focusing across the entire screen. The picture on a CRT will have some regions that are not as focused as others.      Picture distorted by magnetic fields. The CRT's electron beam can be influenced by magnetic fields, which results is a distorted image.		PLASMA RESULTS:      No geometric distortion. The plasma panel's accurate cell structure produces a picture that is geometrically perfect.     Even light output. The plasma panel is perfectly evenly illuminated - no dark or hot spots.      Perfect focus. The plasma panel has perfect focus across the entire screen     No susceptibility to magnetic fields. The plasma panel is not affected by magnetic fields.

Why Buy a Plasma TV
There are many reasons why you should buy a plasma screen.  Perhaps the main reasons that we hear from our customers is the saving of space coupled with contemporary design.  Critics agree, plasma TV's are futuristic looking, sexy, slim (most are less than 3 inches thick), and compelling to watch.  When combining these features with design and extra benefits of receiving a large bright screen, this is by far one of the best display solutions on the market today.  Plasma TVs create an enhanced display experience so real that it sometimes appears that you can reach out and touch actors in a movie, or see straight thru the flat glass screen with x-ray vision.  Once you “go plasma”, you won’t go back to traditional television… EVER! 


Who Really Makes YOUR Plasma TV?
Did you know there are very few Plasma TV manufacturers that actually make their own plasma TV'?  It's true!  Most use a system called re-badging or OEM. Basically they buy from a Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), add some extra feature and then stick there new logo and THERE PRICE on it and bill you thousands more. Please consider the following:

THE MAJOR MANUFACTURERS

NEC - Nec is a OEM manufacturer, The company's plan is to supply industrial unit under the NEC name and supply home units thru re-badges such as Marantz and RCA
Panasonic - Makes the complete units, Supplies Toshiba, JVC, Fujitsu and more
Pioneer - Makes all of there own equipment and sells OEM to Sharp Note: The 5030 and 4030 HD multimedia box is made by Sharp
Fujitsu - Only makes their own 42 inch in partnership with Hitachi . 50 and 61 inch Fujitsu Plasmas are Panasonic and NEC but the 42 inch are their own. Note Hitachi plasma screens are almost identical to Fujitsu and cost thousands less.
Sony - Makes their own boards and chips but uses Fujitsu/ Hitachi plasma screen glass.
Hitachi - Owns 50% of plasma screen factory with Fujitsu. Makes own internal components.
Philips - Uses Fujitsu/ Hitachi glass screen and most internal components as well. However, Philips makes its own bezel with built in speakers.
LG / Zenith - Make their own glass in Korea Zenith is owned by LG Electronics which OEM's Pioneer 50" units.
Samsung - Makes its own components in Korea

THE SECONDARY MANUFACTURERS

RCA/ Thompson - Partners with NEC to OEM its product. Basically a NEC with a new bezel.
JVC - 50 inch is Panasonic, 42 is NEC
Toshiba - OEM from Panasonic.
Sharp - OEM product through Pioneer for 50" and 42 though they may make some internal component changes .
Runco - OEM 50" from Pioneer and 42" from NEC,
Marantz - OEM 42" plasma monitor from NEC.
Viewsonic - OEM 50" plasma screen from Pioneer ( old 502 ).
Sampo - 42v3 is old Fujitsu, 42v6 is Samsung Plasma


What is so Great About Viewing a Flat TV/Surface?
A flat viewing surface is advantageous for several reasons. First, the image itself is more realistic. With a conventional tube TV the image is distorted by the curvature of the glass. With Flat TV the image is not distorted in this manner. Second, the viewing angle is wide. A Flat TV is viewable from anywhere in the room. Its bright clear picture looks great straight on or from the side. Finally, the flat surface minimizes the viewing interference of reflections from room light.

Keep in mind, All Flat Screens Are Not all the Same!

Plasma displays are not the same as an LCD screen, like those on laptop PC's or the ones that you see on commercial jetliners. Among other differences, an LCD screen uses backlighting for its illumination; plasma displays are self-lit, which produces a far brighter picture. Nor should the "flat panel TV's" you may see in stores be confused with a plasma display. These flat panel TV's, like plasma displays, do have a flat screen, so they don't have the edge distortions of a conventional curved screen. But their use of CRT's gives them the same bulky "behinds" of regular TV's, and they cannot offer the same practical advantages of plasma displays.

Is a Plasma TV a TV Monitor, Computer Monitor or What?
A Plasma Display is a television monitor, capable of displaying high definition TV, regular TV, and home video. AND it's a computer monitor, capable of doing everything a regular computer monitor can do. Just bigger and better!

Where are Some Popular Applications of Plasma Screens?
There are many different applications for Plasma displays.  Whether it's placed in your home or in a business area, your plasma display will provide an excellent display solution for your needs.

Home Theater - For your personal use, experience crisp, clear pictures on a flat screen.
Conference Room Settings – Display sophisticated business presentations using a range of digital sources, including laptop computers, VCRs, DVDs and more.
Retail Locations – Advertise flawlessly using plasma displays to gain attraction and create short-term or long-term multi-media environments with added appeal. 
Terminals – a number one choice to present clear text, eye-catching graphics, and flexible mounting options.  Plasma monitors are commonly used in most terminals around the world.
Classrooms - Plasma displays on powered ceiling lifts make excellent ceiling monitors in a lecture hall environment.
Versatility Switching Between Data Sources - The beauty of plasma is its ability to handle full-motion video as well as text-based presentations with equal clarity.  Most displays are designed to take full advantage of this versatility. You gain total plug-and-play capability from a wide range of data sources and a second set of side-mounted inputs gives you an easy way to use your monitor for multiple tasks.  If you seek superior display quality and excellent versatility, then a Plasma display is clearly the best choice. 


Installation Basics…working with a Tuner/Satellite Box
Plasma monitors do not come with built in tuners.  NTSC/ATSC television signal must be passed through a satellite box, cable box, HDTV receiver, VCR/VHS device, or an outboard tuning device. Most of these components offer an RF style cable input or commonly known as a cable connection. Signals are then passed to the plasma TV using these connections:

Satellite Box - S-video cable is normally utilized. However if component output is available it will produce a better over-all picture quality.

Cable Type Box - Composite RCA to RCA or RCA to BNC connection is used. Some new cable boxes also have S-video, Component Video Outputs which are popular.

HDTV Decoder Box - 15 pin VGA to 15 pin VGA cable is normally used though 3 cable component RCA to component RCA or BNC is also an option.

VCR/VHS/DVD - RCA to RCA or BNC is normally used though S-video is better option if available on the VCR. – Note:  Optional decoders boxes will have a mix of the above options.

Distance-How Far Away Should I be?
Pixel distortion or motion artifacts can occur on early generation plasma monitors when displaying an incoming signal with poor resolution (some cable channels - a signal of around 250 interlaced is generally poor). However, this effect known as "pixelating" is lessened by increasing the viewing distance from the plasma display. Early generation models generally viewed the proper distances as 8 to 12ft. on a 42" plasma and 12 to 16ft. or more on a 50". Now, with the many improvements that have been made to the units, the latest 50" models can be viewed comfortably from 9ft. So it really becomes a matter of preference. It’s fine to some people to view a 42" plasma from 16ft. away in there home. 

Can Plasmas Handle HDTV? 
Yes, all have either component inputs or RGB and will support the HDTV formats. The higher resolution plasmas will better support the higher formats; but the advanced scan conversion, (NEC's Scrubland) will make all formats look excellent. This scan conversion makes it possible to view XGA computer resolutions with virtually no noticeable degradation. 


What is the Life of a Plasma TV? 
Depending upon the model, we are told 30,000 - 40,000 hours before half brightness. At 10hrs/day that is over 8 yrs. Plasma TVs are ready for the future. Whether it be DVD, HDTV, Digital TV, or a digital satellite receiver, the Plasma TV is the perfect display companion. The dramatic, high-impact picture makes it not only compatible but a very wise choice of television viewing.


Is a Tuner Built Into a Plasma? 
Most of the time…NO.  However, any source, DVD, Satellite, VCR will hook-up to it through a variety of inputs. The best way is to run all your input sources into an A/V surround sound receiver, and the monitor output of the receiver into the plasma. That way your audio is processed in surround sound and the plasma displays the video source selected at the receiver. If you are tuning Cable TV a VCR can be used as the tuner or you can use an HDTV tuner/satellite receiver. Call envisionTek if you would like to discuss this further. 


Audio Considerations - Do Plasmas Have Speakers? 
There is only one plasma TV maker that incorporates built in speakers into the plasma frame (Philips). Most manufacturers do however offer speakers as additional options which can be attached to the side of the plasma TV. Amplification of these speakers comes through built in 7 or 8 watt amplifiers which are built in to the side of the plasma display (this is plenty of wattage for excellent audio output). Many users will want to attach speakers to the amplifiers for watching simple programming such as the news or displaying the unit in a board room or at a trade show. There are two options to consider here: 1) The user may purchase flat, slim speakers which attach to the sides of the plasma monitor, 2) The viewer may choose to use his or her own bookshelf, or satellite speakers. Small cube type speakers may also be attractively mounted on the wall beside the plasma display TV. In addition, home users will often use a sound system with surround sound or their external amplifier/receiver component. Some manufacturers of plasma TVs offer no built in amplifiers for sound. In this instance an outboard amplifier/receiver must be used. Remember, manufactures make factory speakers that match, and some have small amps built-in to accommodate. However, you should view this as more a trade show audio application, certainly not Home Theater as the fidelity just isn't there. The speakers with your surround system are the way to go. If you want a wall variety, Acoustic Research has some HiFi speakers (Phantom) that are made to complement the plasma display. They are about the thickness of the plasma, similar height and quite nice. Tannoy is a favorite and has any type and price range your budget can afford, even their full Pro line made famous in the recording studio and movie industry. 


Do Plasmas Have Wall Mounts?
Yes, either straight or tilt, ceiling mount or tabletop stand. Tall stands are also available as well as motorized mechanisms to drop it from above a ceiling or to come up from a cabinet at the end of a bed. These items are normally sold separately.  Call envisionTEK for clarification.

What are the Advantages of Plasma over Regular or Projection Televisions?
While at a retail store, you'll probably see dozens, even hundreds, of other displays and TV's, and it may become a little overwhelming. Here is a quick list of advantages of a Plasma Display over conventional CRT-type TV's:

- 4" thick, and can be hung on a wall
- Much larger picture
- Higher color accuracy
- Brighter images
- Better resolution
- High-definition capability
- 16:9 aspect ratio vs. standard 4:3
- Can be used as a monitor for a PC or Mac
- Images don't bend at the edge of the screen
- Reflections from windows or lights are minimized
- Wider viewing angles
- Takes up less space (zero, if wall-mounted)

Advantages Of Plasma Displays Over Projection Monitors
Like plasma displays, the best rear-projection monitors are great for viewing TV and video. However, a Plasma Display has certain key advantages over rear-projection monitors:

- Ideal for any room, even rooms where space may be limited
- 4" thick, and can be hung on a wall
- Can be used as a monitor for a PC or Mac
- Higher color accuracy than most PTV's
- Brighter images than most PTV's
- Better resolution than most PTV's
- Wider viewing angles


Can a Plasma be Used as a Computer monitor? 
Absolutely, the inputs are there. The better plasmas can be used at their native resolution or will scan convert to 1024 or above. You could watch TV and at a commercial, hit a button and surf the net.


What Does True Resolution/Native Resolution Mean…and How Does it Apply?
Resolution is defined by the number rows of horizontal and vertical pixels that create a picture. Native resolution describes the actual resolution of the plasma display and not the resolution of the delivery signal. When the delivery format is higher or lower than the flat screen's native pixel resolution, the delivery signal will be converted to the plasma's native resolution through an internal converter. Generally, the closer the incoming picture signal is to the native pixel resolution on the plasma display monitor - the better the picture. For example, a VGA computer signal of 853X480 will match up perfectly with a plasma monitor with 853X480 native pixel resolutions, while an XVGA signal of 1024X768 will match up better with a plasma monitor that has the higher resolution of 1024X1024. There are more considerations that deal with the quality of the internal converter/scalar, and also whether or not the monitor is progressively scanning (853X480) or interlacing the signal (1024X1024). All 42" inch plasma display monitors are HDTV ready, while none will show the true HDTV signals of 1080i. However, they will benefit from the better signal and still show something close.

Native resolution options include:

1024x1024
1024x768
1280x768
1365x768
 640x480
 825x480
 853x480.

Resolution options: Here are basic choices for native or true resolutions:

VGA, or "640 x 480" – This is the lowest data resolution that is currently on the market.

SVGA, or "800 x 600" – This is a popular resolution today, because most notebook computers are SVGA. Matching the plasma resolution with the computer resolution will produce good results.

XGA, or "1,024 x 768" - XGA plasma TVs are generally more expensive, and are the second most popular resolution format. Many of the newest products are coming out in XGA. They are getting more popular as prices drop and the use of XGA notebook computers increases.

SXGA, or "1,280 x 1,024" – SXGA products are high resolution, and notably more expensive than XGA. These products are targeted for high end personal computer users and low end workstation users. They are used primarily for command and control, engineering and CAD/CAM applications where acute resolution of small details is important.

UXGA, or "1,600 x 1,200" – UXGA is for very high resolution workstation applications that are detail or information intensive. These are expensive plasma TVs that support a broad range of computer equipment. Relatively few products on the market have this native resolution.

Application specifics for your plasma TV

First, you must decide how you want to use the plasma TV?  Perhaps you have a need for very accurate display of small visual details.  If your primary use of the system is for "Powerpoint" style graphics, pie charts, graphs, and general business presentation products, you don’t need to pay extra for high resolution equipment. SVGA resolution is very adequate for this kind of work, and makes an excellent solution for the money.

However, if you are often presenting materials like Excel spreadsheets that have a lot of numeric data on the screen, you will probably be happier with XGA resolution. This format is able to produce a clean, clear, and more legible image of small numbers and other data.

Finally, if you are projecting engineering drawings or other images of a highly detailed and technical nature, you will probably need a very high resolution SXGA projector to produce an acceptable image for your purposes.

As you consider the question of resolution, keep in mind that the best resolution for your plasma TV is the resolution of your intended computer application. If you typically use a notebook computer with SVGA resolution, you will want a plasma TV with the same native SVGA resolution in order to get the sharpest and cleanest image. Similarly, if you normally use a computer with XGA output, you will get the best picture from plasma that has XGA as its native resolution.

Most of the plasma TVs on the market today are capable of projecting input signals other than their native resolutions. For example, you can usually hook up an XGA computer to SVGA plasma. The plasma TV will automatically convert the incoming 1,024 x 768 signal to its native 800 x 600 output. However, there is always a loss of sharpness and detail in the process, so you will end up with a picture that is not quite as sharp as if the incoming signal had been the same format as the plasma TVs native resolution.

This loss of sharpness also happens if you plug an SVGA computer into a higher-resolution XGA plasma TV. You will usually get a decent image, but the conversion from the 800 x 600 input to a 1,024 x 768 output will produce some fuzziness that you may not appreciate after having spending money for an XGA plasma TV.

…Let’s sum it up for you
How to properly select the right resolution depends upon the computer sources you are using, your budget, and your application. Here are some general guidelines:

Choose a resolution format for both your computer display and your plasma TV that is adequate for the type of materials you will be presenting (the smaller and numerous the details in your presentation materials, the higher the resolution that is required to display them successfully).

Use a plasma TV that matches the native resolution of your computer display, so that you can avoid the image fuzziness that often comes from scaling one input format to a different output format.

If you are using a high resolution computer display, and find that plasma with matching resolution is out of your budget range, select plasma that is one step down in resolution. However, make sure that the scaled plasma TV image gives you results comparable to your computer display. By doing this, you can often save a lot of money and still end up with a very acceptable image on the screen.

And finally, give some consideration to the useful life or your plasma TV. VGA resolution was popular for 8 years, SVGA resolution became the most popular resolution for projectors (similar use to plasma TVs) in 1997, and XGA is expected to replace SVGA in popularity by the end 1999. If you keep pace with the changes in the personal computer industry, you know that performance doubles about every 18 months. Keep this in mind as you make your plasma TV choice.

What Does Scaling Mean?
The plasma TV’s process of converting a different input format to its native output format is called "scaling." Some plasma screen TVs are very good at scaling, so the resulting image fuzziness is relatively minor, and the image is very adequate no matter what the source. The quality of scaling varies widely among plasma TVs and like all technology, it is constantly being improved. If scaling is an important consideration, be sure you see it demonstrated as you would use it.

What is Wide Screen Format and How Does it Affect a Regular TV Broadcast? 
The wide screen or 16x9 format is HDTV standard, so they are designed for the future. 16x9 is the way most movies are produced, so you will finally get to see the entire movie, not a panned and scanned version modified to fit your screen. If you input a conventional 4x3 picture to it, you have the choice of viewing it in the 4x3 or various modes which intelligently stretch the picture to fit. Someday all new broadcast signals will be in 16x9 format. 


When Will TV Stations Start to Broadcast Digital Signals?
As of November 1999, digital broadcasts will have reached the top thirty markets, accounting for roughly 50% of the U.S. population. By 2003, digital broadcasts will be available in every market in the country.

Will TV Stations Stop Broadcasting Regular Signals When They Switch to Digital?
No. Stations are required to broadcast regular TV signals alongside the digital programming until at least 2006 and probably well beyond.


When Will Digital TV Sets be Available?
Our full line of HDTV products is already available. It includes Plasma Displays, HD Projectors, set-top decoder boxes and 6-channel home theater audio equipment.
- You will need one set-top box required to view DTV programming.

Will I be Able to Adapt my Current TV so That it can Receive Digital Broadcasts?
Yes. Our new digital set-top decoder box allows many current televisions to display digital programs. The resulting picture quality that will rival DBS or DVD. Conventional televisions will not be able to display full HDTV resolution quality.

How Will a Digital Picture Look on my Conventional TV?
A DTV picture viewed on your conventional TV (set-top box required) will be comparable to a picture from a digital broadcast satellite (DBS) or DVD player. This is an improvement over conventional broadcast television, because DTV signals can't be degraded by environmental interference that would otherwise cause "snow" or "ghosting".


Will I Need an Antenna?
Yes. Initially, DTV is available over the air. This means you will need an antenna to receive it. Outdoor or attic antennas will be generally more effective than set-top versions. DTV is also available from your cable and satellite providers.

What's the Difference between Plasma Vs LCD?
What's the difference between a plasma display and an LCD flat screen, and how do these differences enter into your decision-making process? Often "plasma" is used as a general term for thin, flat displays or monitors, but there are some general differences in the technologies, as listed below. Overall, LCD is great for displays 28-inches and smaller, and plasma is ideal where 32-inches or larger display is needed. They are complementary technologies. Please note, we just are starting to see LCD's that are designed for video/TV use where several of the items below may be subject to qualification.

What's the Difference Between DTV, HDTV, and SDTV?
"DTV" is a general reference to Digital Television technology. DTV will either be broadcast in HDTV (High Definition TV)—with resolution as high as 1080 scanning lines (interlaced) or 720p—or SDTV (Standard Definition TV), with 480 scanning lines (interlaced or progressive). Broadcasters will most likely broadcast daytime programs in SDTV while switching to HDTV for prime time movies and specials. For HDTV formats, Dolby Digital 5.1 channel surround sound is the audio standard (also known as AC-3)1. This provides 3 discrete audio channels for the front speakers (left, center, right); 2 channels for the rear surround sound speakers, and one channel for subwoofer sound. You will need a TV or an external audio system which is capable of decoding AC-3 to get the full effect, but any standard stereo system will provide you with good audio.
- One Dolby and Dolby Digital AC-3 are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corp.


What's the Difference Between Interlaced & Progressive Scanning?
These designations refer to the method by which the lines of picture information will be scanned in 1/30th of a second to create the image on your screen. "Interlaced" means alternate lines scanned in alternate passes, the way conventional TV sets currently work, while "progressive" represents sequential scanning of all lines in a single pass, the way computer monitors display their information (see diagram in our "DTV Benefits" section).


Will all Digital Programs be Transmitted in the 16:9 Wide-screen Formats?
No. All HDTV and some SDTV programs will be transmitted in the 16:9 wide-screen aspect ratios (the format of movie theaters). Aspect ratio refers to the width of a picture relative to its height.
Today's conventional TV aspect ratio is 4:3 DTV broadcasts may also be delivered in the 16:9 format, the same as many movie theater screens. Today’s conventional TV aspect ratio is 4:3. SDTV programming may utilize 16:9 or 4:3. Of course, wide-screen programs can be viewed on conventional TV screens in the letterbox format (black areas above and below picture). Likewise, you'll be able to view regular aspect ratio pictures on a wide aspect TV screen, with the picture digitally "stretched" to fill the screen, or with gray areas on both sides of the picture.

BUYING A PLASMA TV ONLINE

How to Shop for a Plasma TV, LCD TV, or Projector Online

Retail Store Locations:

Retail stores are a great place to begin your search for a plasma television, or LCD TV.  More and more brick and mortar retailers are beginning to offer plasma and LCD screens in their stores, giving you a place to go to see the various brands, sizes, and models.  This will give you an idea of what you like, and what you dislike.  Some screens have better image quality than others, and shopping online alone does not give you the ability to physically see and touch the product you are purchasing.   Retail stores are a great place to start!

Online Web Retailers: 

There are many places online to shop for a plasma television or LCD TV online, and you will see a very wide variation in price.  The look and feel of the website, as well as the professionalism, depth of information, and ease of navigation.  Make sure that the online retailer provides an address and a contact phone number on their website for you to contact them.  It is always good to speak to a representative of the company before ordering online.  This way you will feel more confident that you are buying from a reputable, knowledgeable professional who will be there if you have any questions, or problems!

Here are some tips to help you avoid having a bad Internet buying experience:

Price Too Good To Be True:

Buyer Beware!  If you see a retailer charging extremely low prices for products everyone is selling for a considerable amount more be extremely cautious!  The retailer you are shopping may be selling a refurbished unit, and trying to pass it off as new.  There is also a possibility that they are selling “gray market goods” which are products that were destined for Non-US sales and will not come with a manufacturer’s warranty.  The price may look great, but the headache you’ll get if there is a problem is not worth the savings!

Shipping Scams:

Corporate Customers:

Extended Warranties

It is wise to purchase an extended warranty on your plasma television.  Just like insurance on your car, you may not ever use it but if you need to it’s there!  Make sure the retailer you purchase from carries extended warranties from a legitimate warranty provider.  The warranty provider should be a reputable business and provide 800# with online support too.  Also, since shipping and transporting a plasma is difficult, costly, and delicate make sure your extended warranty covers in-home service!

Policies:

Technical Support:

Advice:

INFORMATION ABOUT CABLES


Component Video
A component video input is the BEST way to connect a DVD player to a plasma TV. Ideally you should use a progressive scan DVD player for picture quality up to 480 lines of progressive resolution. There are 3 different types of component video inputs, they are: RCA inputs, BNC inputs and VGA inputs. All three inputs offer the same picture quality. The method you choose will depend upon your situation and choice of plasma TV.


S-Video
The S-video cable is one of the best ways to upgrade your video input from the standard composite video. Most plasma TV’s include one s-video input. The cable is generally thicker than composite and comes in a number of forms ranging from the basic s-video cable to the silver s-video cable which we recommend for plasma TVs.


Composite Video
The Composite video can be used to connect a range of video sources to the plasma television. These may include: cable TV signals, satellite TV signals, DVD player signals and VCR signals. Composite video offers the poorest video picture quality; if you connect the video source using an s-video or component video signal you will notice a considerable improvement in the picture quality.
   

BNC Adapter on Component Cable:
The BNC type adapter is noticeably round and is used for component set-ups.  The back of the plasma screen will have 3 or 5 of these type of inputs.  It is only necessary to hook-up a three cabled BNC adapter to run a component signal.  The other two inputs are used for the 5 BNC adapters video outputs which are becoming less used since they are not necessary to have component set-up perform correctly.  The 3 BNC connection will “sync” on green.  
 
  
VGA- Means computer
All 15 pin VGA inputs found on plasma TVs are exactly the same as ones found on PC monitors. They can  be used for  either PC, HDTV decoder or DVD player connections. If you wish to connect a PC or a HDTV decoder to your plasma TV you will need a VGA - VGA cable and for DVD players you will need a  VGA - RCA cable.
  
    
Audio inputs
All audio inputs can be used to connect speakers to plasma TVs, these may be the extra speakers manufacturers sell as options with the plasma TV or other stand alone speakers. If the plasma TV does not have any audio inputs you will need to set-up your own home theater system with an audio receiver and home theater speakers.

• One fL = 3.43 cd/m2 or 3.42626 nits
• One cd/m2 = 0.292fL or 1 nit

Magnetic Field - A state produced in a medium, either by electrical current flow in a conductor or by permanent magnet, that can induce voltage in a second conductor.
MHz (Megahertz) - A unit of frequency equal to one million cycles per second.
Micro-mirror - refers to a display using a large number of small mirrors which are deflected to direct light toward or away from the viewer.

Microstructural - refers to structures near to or smaller than a few micrometers in size.
Microdisplay, or Miniature display - refers to small displays that are of such high resolution that they are only practically viewed or projected with lenses or mirrors. Microdisplays are typically magnified by optics to enlarge the image viewed by the user. For example, a miniature display smaller than 1 inch in size may be magnified to provide a 12 inch to 60 inch viewing area.
Monochrome - refers to a display that emits a single hue but may vary in intensity and saturation. For example, monochrome miniature displays used in many HMDs are typically green and are used to display symbology or sensor imagery.

MPR - A rating factor by the Swedish National Board of Measurement and Testing. This council produces the recommendations for the magnetic and electrical field emissions guidelines. The council’s name has been changed to SWEDAC.
Multiscan Monitor - Monitors that are capable of displaying a range of resolutions or graphics standards having different horizontal and vertical frequencies.
Nit - refers to a measure of luminance equivalent to 1 Cd/m2, 1fL = 3.42626 nits.
Non-emissive displays - refers to a broad category of displays which absorb or block light from a separate light source. Liquid crystal, electrochromatic, electrophoretic, ferroelectric, and micro-mirror displays fall in this category.
Non-Interlaced(Progressive Scan) - Each line is scanned during each total vertical (full) screen refresh.
"OEM" - is an acronym for "original equipment manufacturer". OEMs manufacture components and sub-assemblies which are purchased by companies which integrate the components and sub-assemblies into final products.   

Organic light emitting diode (OLED) - refers to a type of display which uses organic material as a diode type light emitting material. The operating principal of OLED devices is current injection. For comparison, the operational principal of inorganic LEDs is collisional excitement due to an electric field. There are two categories of OLEDs: small molecule and polymer-based.
Personal - Viewer TM refers to Headset Monitor incorporating a flat panel display that provides data or video images privately to an individual via a virtual computer screen.
Phosphor - Phosphorescent substance of red, green and blue that emit light when activated by electrons.
Plasma displays - refer to displays which emit light from electrically excited gas mixtures. Color plasma displays use phosphors which absorb ultraviolet light that is generated by special gas mixtures.
Plasma Flat Panel Television - Ultra-thin plasma television displays make for easy placement within home theater systems. The plasma technology allows for brightness, clarity, and a viewing range of 160 degrees. The flat-panel display consists of millions of phosphor-coated miniature glass bubbles containing plasma. An electric current flows through the screen causing certain plasma-containing bubbles to emit ultraviolet rays, triggering the phosphor coating to produce the proper color (red, green, or blue).
Pin Cushion - The appearance of curved edges on the display image inward.
Pixel - is a contraction of "picture element" and refers to a single dot of light that is the smallest individually addressable unit of an image that can be displayed.
Polymer based OLEDs - refers to a category of organic light emitting diodes. When a current is passed through a cell, the polymer's molecular structure is excited, creating light emission. The output efficiency of this process is within the spectrum from blue to infrared.   
Polymeric display - refers to a display using light emission from polymers when an electric current is passed through the material or polymer diode.
Progressive Scan - the way a screen displays the image you see before you in a full picture per each frame, rather then the interlaced method in which it shows you the odd lines, then even.  This shows you all lines at once. Ex: Computer Monitor
Projection TV - Projection TVs create a miniature picture inside the projector. In rear projection systems, the image is then shone onto a large screen located within the television unit itself. Front projection systems instead shine the image onto a screen that is separate from the television unit.
Resolution - refers to pixel density (number of pixels) or dot pitch (measured in micrometers or millimeters). Resolution is typically referenced by Rows x Columns. Commonly used resolutions include ¼ VGA (240 x 320), VGA (480 x 640), SVGA (600 x 800), XGA (768 x 1024), and SXGA (1024 x 1280). eMagin using modified nomenclature by adding a + for its color SVGA+ (852 x 600) and XGA+ (1066 x 768) designs being developed.
"RF" - applications refers to radio frequency, or very high frequency and millimeter wavelength.
Rear Projection TV - Rear projection is a method of projection that combines a projector and viewing screen into one television unit.
RGB - refers to red, green, and blue pixel combinations used to create full color.
"SBIR" - Program refers to the U.S. Government's Small Business Innovation Research program which promotes the use of small businesses for research. It is a highly competitive program whereby small business are awarded research funds targeted for technical solutions to meet the needs of various Government Departments. The Company has been awarded more than 5 SBIR programs, and is currently performing a Phase III program.
Screen Gain - Screen gain refers to a projected image’s level of brightness on a screen. A low screen gain displays a dark screen image. Conversely, a bright screen image indicates a high screen gain.
Set-top Box (DTV STB) - A unit similar to today's cable boxes, which is capable of receiving and decoding DTV broadcasts. A DTV 'Certified' STB can receive all 18 ATSC DTV formats and provide a displayable picture. 
Spectrum - A range of frequencies available for over-the-air transmission. 
Standard Definition Television (SDTV) - Digitally transmitted SDTV includes 480 line resolution in both interlaced and progressively scanned formats. It offers significant improvement over today's conventional NTSC picture resolution, and is similar to DVD or DBS quality because the digital transmission eliminates snow and ghosts, which can be common with the current NTSC TV format. Also, thanks to digital compression technology, several programs can be transmitted simultaneously within the same channel. 
S-Video - Separated video. An encoded video signal which separates the brightness from color data. S-video can greatly improve the picture when connecting TVs to any high quality video source such as digital broadcast satellite (DBS) and DVDs. 
Subwoofer - A subwoofer is an individual speaker commonly found in home theater sound systems that processes bass sounds as low as 15 hertz.
Surround Sound - Surround sound refers to a sound system arrangement designed to literally “envelop” the listener with sound.
UHF - Ultra high frequency, the range used by TV channels 14 through 69. 
Upconvert - The term used to describe the conversion of a lower apparent resolution to a higher number, such as "upconverting" 720p to 1080i. This is a misnomer, though, since to accomplish this, the horizontal scanning frequency is actually lowered from 45kHz to 33.75kHz. Resolution quality is not improved by this method. 
Vacuum fluorescent - display refers to a display using hot wire electron emission which is directed toward a cathodoluminescent phosphor to emit light. These displays are found in some clock radios and automobile indicators.
VHF - Very high frequency, the range used by TV channels 2 through 13.    
Viewing Angle - A screen’s viewing range indicates the maximum angle that an image can be viewed at from an off-center point.   
Virtual reality ("VR") - or artificial reality refers to an electronic system which is designed to create a simulated environment around the viewer. Such as system must be interactive with the user to be considered true VR.  


Y, PB, PR - Generally used where a digital TV signal source is employed. The video signal is separated into its component parts of brightness and color differentials. The most advanced method for interconnecting decoded video data.
Y, U, V - Also sometimes referred to as Y, Cr, Cb, where a video signal is separated into components of brightness and color, arguably to a degree more advanced than S-video