Transmissive Mode
Relies entirely on a backlight shining through the display -- unreadable without one, but consistent in any lighting and in total darkness.
What It Is
A transmissive LCD has no reflector behind the liquid-crystal layer -- instead, a backlight (LED or EL) sits behind it and shines through, and the display is only visible because of that backlight.
How It Works
Light from the backlight passes through the rear polarizer, the liquid-crystal layer, and the front polarizer to reach the viewer. Segments that are switched 'on' block that light path, appearing dark against the backlit background; without the backlight powered, the display is effectively invisible.
Pros
- Fully readable in complete darkness -- performance doesn't depend on ambient light
- Consistent appearance and contrast regardless of lighting conditions
- Works well for backlit brand colors and night-use products
Cons
- Highest power draw of the three modes -- backlight must always run for the display to be visible
- Washes out and becomes hard to read in very bright ambient/sunlight conditions
- Requires backlight hardware, adding cost and cell thickness
Best For
Products used in low light or darkness where the display must always be visible regardless of ambient conditions -- dashboards, indoor appliances, night-use instruments.
Need a Segmented LCD Built to This Spec?
Every BIBA segmented display is engineered from a blank sheet around your product -- the layout, icons and connector are drawn to match your exact requirement.