Definitions for "Passive Matrix Display"
Keywords:  lcd, tft, energized, matrix, intersect
A type of LCD (liquid crystal display) screen found on portable computers where wires form a grid in front and behind the liquid crystals. Pixels are activated when a current is generated at the intersection of these wires. Unlike active matrix displays in which each pixel has a unique circuit, the passive matrix display does not refresh as fast and other nearby pixels on the screen can be accidentally activated from residual currents given a lower quality image.
a type of LCD screen used for some portable computers; parallel wires run both vertically and horizontally and pixels are turned on when the wires intersecting at that pixel are both energized; "passive matrix displays are generally inferior to active matrix displays"
A common LCD technology used in laptops. Passive matrix displays (DSTN, CSTN, etc.) are not quite as sharp and do not have as broad a viewing angle as active matrix (TFT) displays, but they have improved dramatically over the years. Looking head on into a passive matrix screen is not all that different than looking at an active matrix (TFT) screen. The difference is more noticeable with the viewing angle. A person looking from the side sees a dimmer image with passive matrix.