The first step in a search for LCD/Plasma is to understand some of the similarities and differences between them. Both are different in construction, yet share similarities in design and testing. The most important consideration between the two is the need for a contaminate- free environment when replacing the polarizer on a LCD panel in contrast to a Plasma panel which has no polarizer requirement. Other, less significant differences are size, LCD can be as small as your cell phone panel of 1 inch, while Plasma starts at 42 inches; LCD has a backlight illuminator while Plasma does not; and LCDs use liquid crystal filled tubes while Plasma is gas filled. The types of defects between the two can vary as well. An example would be Mura (a defect in the panel cell structure that appears as color bleeding) and burned screen on Plasma caused by the same image being displayed over a period of time. The most common similar defect is the need to replace a COG (chip on glass) or COF (chip on film) using a process referred to as TAB (tape automated bonding). These transistors provide the matrix to drive rows and columns of pixels. There are additional requirements such as test equipment, repair procedures, processing equipment, tribal knowledge, clean rooms and facility space to be considered. It is recommended to visit an operating LCD/Plasma repair facility and ask for a tutorial on the product repair, so you can be aware of all requirements.


Update on 2009-12-23