Glossary of product benefits and technologies:

Here's a basic glossary of terms, features and benefits:

Audio Outputs
These are the stereo audio jacks that let you connect your TV to your stereo or home theater system.  Typically there are two types: fixed, and variable.   If you connect a TV's fixed output to your A/V receiver, you can raise and lower the TV volume via the receiver's volume control.  If you connect the TV's variable output to your receiver you control the TV volume using the TV's remote.

Back To The Top

A/V inputs (composite)
These are the standard RCA jacks that hook up audio and video components to each other, typically yellow (video), black (or white) and red (for your audio left and right input).   Composite video connections are not considered to handle the best picture because they mix color and black & white signals together.  Although composite connections provide an adequate quality picture, a better picture quality can be often be achieved using either an S-Video cable (good),  5-jack component video cable (better) or HDMI connector (generally best).

Back To The Top

Built-In Tuner
A TV tuner is simply a device which allows you to receive channels of television content.   Video displays that lack built-in tuners require some kind of external device that does have one in order to receive television channels.   All U.S. PRIMA models larger than 25” feature both built-in NTSC tuners (for channels 2-125) as well as an ATSC tuner to watch newer digital channels. Not all digital channels actually transmit full resolution (HDTV) content.   Our ATSC tuners also include QAM capabilities for users on cable systems, and all models allow additional optional tuners to be connected if necessary

Back To The Top

Cable Card (DCR pod access)
PRIMA does not provide single-direction (non interactive) Cable Card integration on our newer 2006 models as the acceptance of this format has met with dismal failure in North America.   In early 2006 fewer than 85,000 Cable Cards had been produced and only an estimated 48,000 were actually installed and working in U.S. and Canadian homes.   There remain significant software and inherent pass-through problems with various cable systems, and the second-generation adoption of “two-way” interactive Cable Card II pods appears far less likely to meet adoption by the industry.   Prima is placing an emphasis on wireless technologies for the future (such as 802.11n or wireless USB) rather than Cable Card pod access.   We believe in providing the absolute best display quality without the complications and costs of unproved (or unsettled) connective cable/network technologies.   We fully support HDMI connections in all of our models larger than 26” in the United States.

Back To The Top

Child Lockout or V-Chip
Both of these systems are designed to help parents limit their child's access to inappropriate TV programs.  Child Lockout allows parents to limit access to certain channels from those without the special code.

The V-chip allows parents to select the maturity level of the programming they feel is appropriate for their children based on the TV Rating System.   The V-chip reads the transmitted ratings code for all programming and will automatically deny access to programming that exceeds preset ratings limitations.   Our newer 2006 models sold in the United States include an updated Ratings Table to help provide improvements (per the FCC).

Back To The Top

Comb Filters
The purpose of a comb filter is to separate a composite video signal's luminance (Y) information from its color (C) information.  There are several ways to perform Y/C separation and comb filters are the most common.   There are several different types including:

Analog Comb Filter
Older technology generally found in many low cost CRT (tube) televisions, with limited improvement in sharpness. Sometimes referred to as a “2-line comb” filter.

Back To The Top

Digital Comb Filter
It converts color and black & white picture information to digital information, and does a better job in processing accurate video displays.   It provides better picture sharpness with less color artifacts and shimmer than on analog comb filter sets.

Back To The Top

3-7 Line Digital Comb Filter and 3D Y/C combs
These types of comb filters offer refinements and more critical processing.   They provide the highest resolution (picture sharpness) and virtually eliminate all picture artifacts such as dot crawl and shimmer.   Most PRIMA models include the latest versions of 3D Y/C processors available, and are combined with more advanced forms of video processing.

Back To The Top

Contrast ratio
This is the difference from the brightest whites to the darkest blacks capable of being displayed.   For contrast ratio the greater the difference in ratio means that the display to can show more distinctive color details to viewers.

Back To The Top

Component Video connectors
The next step up in performance instead of using a basic S-Video connection or composite connections.   Component cables and inputs can provide an excellent picture with very high resolution, better color accuracy, and less color bleeding.  Component Video transmits the video signal in three parts: the luminance (Y), the blue chrominance (Pb), and the red chrominance (Pr).   If you plan to use your TV with external devices such as a progressive scan DVD player take advantage of this increased quality by using either Component cables or HDMI.   Resolution quality is still dependent on the quality of the source (the equipment which outputs the signal), the quality of the resolution at the source, and whether the data is improved or limited during processing.   Component video connectors have either 3 end connectors or 5 end connectors at each end (if you include in your count the Left and Right end connectors used to hook up the audio portion).   A set of composite connections has only three (a video, and a left and right audio), usually in red, white (or black) and yellow.   Component connections generally provide a significant improvement in quality, particularly with progressive scan DVD players and recorders.

Back To The Top

CRT - (Cathode-Ray Tube)
A "picture tube" (CRT) is the vacuum tube which creates images when an electron beam scans across a phosphor-coated screen.   While performance can be outstanding in premium CRT televisions, the weight and size of these TV's has greatly been reduced demand by flat-panel models using LCD and plasma technologies.

Back To The Top

DCDi by Faroudja 
A sophisticated video process found in several PRIMA models which creates a more defined and natural “photo like” image even with full-motion moving images.   Combined with HD resolution screens (particularly smaller screens from 20”-27”) this process maximizes clarity when screens are viewed at close distances.

Back To The Top

Digital Focusing
Digital focusing computer-aligned circuitry provides precise and consistent picture performance from the moment the TV is turned on.   Digital focusing helps to maximize picture brightness with sharper corner focus, to ensure a detailed picture across the entire screen.   Imbedded in many PRIMA models.

Back To The Top

Digital audio output
A connection found on HDTV’s and HDTV tuners for sending the Dolby Digital audio of HDTV broadcasts to an A/V receiver with Dolby Digital decoding.  The two most common types of digital output are coaxial and optical .

Back To The Top

DVI
An older connection (prior to the wider and more recent use of HDMI) which provides an uncompressed, encrypted, high-band width digital HD signal to the television.   No longer used on newer 2006 PRIMA models, it has been replaced with HDMI connectors for better performance and simplicity.

Back To The Top

Display resolution & categories of TV's available:

HD resolution (not to be confused with HDTV)
The ability to reproduce a 16x9 format image in a minimum of 720 progressive scan and 1080i (interlaced).   While an HD resolution screen can also display conventional 480i and 480p, it must meet 720p and 1080i minimums.   Some may also reproduce in 1080 progressive scan. HD resolution sets are the best of those available.   They may or may not include an ATSC HD “over-the-air” tuner which would make them an HDTV.

Back To The Top

“High Definition Television (HDTV)”
A high definition television ties together the clarity of an HD resolution display and combines it with an integrated tuner capable of capturing HDTV “over-the-air” HD channel reception.   Some HDTV models (those providing DCR ---digital cable ready--- or QAM) also may allow digital cable compatibilities.

Back To The Top

“HDTV ready”
Older HDTV ready televisions larger than 24” are no longer legal for sale (from manufacturers to retailers) in the United States as of March 1, 2006 if they do not contain a built-in ATSC tuner capable of receiving “over-the air” HD broadcast signals.

As of March 1, 2007 no consumer televisions (of any size) will be allowed for sale from manufacturers to U.S. retailers that do not include an integrated ATSC tuner capable of receiving “over-the-air” HD broadcast signals.   Thus when U.S. analog “over-the-air” channel broadcasting ends (channels 2-69 when they are received by an antenna rather than cable or satellite) in early 2009, the newer televisions will already be able to receive the newer digital channel replacements.

Back To The Top

Conventional Television (Analog reception and display)
Primarily smaller and older tube sets in sizes 24” and smaller, and LCD models under 24”, these models (without built-in ATSC tuners) will remain available for sale in the U.S. from manufacturers to retailers thru March 1, 2007. In early 2009 analog U.S. NTSC “over-the-air” broadcasting will end.   These are the televisions of the past 40 years and display at 480i resolution.

Back To The Top

Standard Definition TV (SDTV)
A conventional (older) television (480i resolution) which simply adds a low-cost ATSC “over-the-air” tuner to capture the content of a HD signal, but it is not capable of actually reproducing HD or ED resolution.   While it can assist in eliminating multipath reception problems, the picture resolution remains the same as a conventional television.   The television is still an analog television, simply with a digital tuner capture mode, but without any digital display ability, nor progressive scan or HD display ability.   It simply acquires the HD channel content (in regular 480i resolution) and displays it.   This is the lowest cost solution to meet new U.S. FCC requirements.   Only the tuner has been improved, not the resolution.

Back To The Top

Enhanced Definition (ED) resolution
This means the video display is capable of reproducing at least a 480p (progressive scan) image.   An improvement over an interlaced (480i) display, it matches the display performance of conventional (non-HD) DVD discs.

An EDTV adds an “over-the-air” ATSC tuner.   At best however it too will only be capable of displaying HD content signals in 480p at best.   So while you can watch an HD show, you will not see it in HD resolution.   To be considered HD resolution the display must provide an image quality in a minimum of 720p and 1080i.

Edge Correction
Delivers a cleaner image by sharpening the edges of objects in a digital picture.

Back To The Top

EDTV  (see “Display resolution” in this glossary)

Back To The Top

Faroudja  (see DCDi in this glossary)

Back To The Top

HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) 
Like the older DVI connection it typically replaces, an HDMI connection allows for the uncompressed data transfer of video between HDMI-enabled consumer electronics devices.   A key difference between HDMI and DVI is that HDMI transfers the video and audio signal.  DVI only carries the video signal.   Many PRIMA models feature dual (two separate) HDMI connections.   This allows the use of both a HDMI connection to an external digital tuner (such as a digital cable set top box or satellite receiver), plus the expansion for high-definition disc players and recorders (such as HD-DVD or Blu-Ray disc hardware), and other HD devices.   According to the HDMI’s official Web site, the advantages of HDMI are:

1) The highest quality video seen and audio heard.
2) Fewer cables mean less mess and provide a confusion-free connection.
3) Automatically configures remote controls of devices connected by HDMI.
4) Automatically adjusts video content to most effective format.
5) HDMI is compatible with DVI, which means it will allow connection to PCs.

Back To The Top

HDTV   (see “Display resolution” in this glossary).

HDTV ready  (see “Display resolution” in this glossary)

Back To The Top

LCD - Liquid Crystal Display
L CDs first became popular in the early 1970s.  Today, they can be found in a variety of digital devices, including calculators, watches, flat panel and some rear projection TVs.   As the name implies, they use a gas-like substance known as Liquid Crystals to create a display.

LCD televisions do not produce their own light, so a light source behind the display is also necessary; this is accomplished by using several light sources and a "diffuser plate" to help distribute the light evenly.  This backlight must be powerful, as polarized glass and liquid crystal materials absorb typically from 35%-55% of the light that passes through their layers.

Back To The Top

Menu Languages
For multilingual households, this allows on-screen operating menus to appear in different languages.   All North American PRIMA models display in English, Spanish, and French.

Back To The Top

MTS (Multichannel Television Sound)
The means in which stereo sound is broadcast “over-the-air” to analog TV channels.   Various processors exist to provide stereo reception.   SAP is the secondary audio program often associated with listening to channels individually --- such as English or Spanish as optional language channels.

Back To The Top

NTSC TV Tuner
NTSC is short for National Television Standards Committee.   An NTSC tuner refers to a standard analog TV, which displays in 480i, typically for channels 2-69, and added cable channel content.   It cannot receive newer digital “over-the-air” transmissions unless it is also combined with an ATSC HDTV tuner.

Back To The Top

Plasma
In a fluorescent light bulb, an electric current excites gas in a glass tube causing the release of ultraviolet photons.  These photons hit the phosphor coating inside of a fluorescent tube, and this phosphor creates visible light.  Plasma displays use a technology similar in concept to a fluorescent light bulb.

Plasma is a highly ionized gas-like substance that acts as a conductor of electricity.   A plasma display is made of plasma-filled chambers, which are layered between two wired glass panels.   Images are displayed when an electric current excites the plasma, causing ultraviolet light that strikes the phosphors on the back of the display to highlight appropriate colors.   Unlike LCD displays there is no back light source because plasma units produce their own light.

Back To The Top

Picture-in-Picture (PIP)
This technology provides a small picture of another channel (or sometimes the image from another external video device) in the corner of your TV's screen.  You may also have the option of watching split-screen programming, or having multiple programs shown in several boxes on the screen.

Back To The Top

PixelWorks DNX (Digital Natural Expression) 
A trademark technology, Pixelworks is a leading provider of advanced IC’s which process and optimize video in several models of the new Prima 2006 product line including our newer LCD 37”, 42”, and 47” models with 1080p (progressive scan) performance.

This processing improves pixel response rates and virtually eliminates jagged edges and other image artefacts.  Scaling and color processing enhancements are also provided.   Pixelworks operates a joint development lab in our own R&D facilities with both Prima and Pixelworks engineers.

Back To The Top

Progressive scan
Some digital television broadcast formats (720p, 480p), and some higher-end DVD players (usually 480p), use a type of video signal known as progressive scan.   Instead of splitting each video frame into two sequential fields like standard interlaced NTSC video (480i), progressive-scan video displays the entire frame in a single sweep.  So, where standard NTSC video displays 30 frames (60 fields) per second, progressive scan displays 60 full frames per second.

Displaying progressive-scan video requires more bandwidth (there's twice as much vertical information) and a faster horizontal scan frequency than interlaced video.   Progressive-scan picture quality is more film like, with more fine detail and less flicker.   For progressive-scan viewing, you'll need a TV that's ED (Extended Definition) or HD (High Definition) capable.

Back To The Top

QuadPlexd       
A processing method which is a combination of several new video enhancement technologies that provide “next generation” performance for digital progressive scan displays.   The Prima development and engineering group has carefully achieved optimum high-definition performance by optimizing each processing platform in conjunction with others.   Natural looking color tones and razor sharp details are highlighted through this video process, including dynamic edge enhancements throughout the screen.

Back To The Top

Rear-projection TV
Typically referred to as "big-screen" TVs, these large-cabinet TVs generally have built-in screens measuring at least 40".   Up until a few years ago, all rear-projection TVs used three CRT’s to create images.   Using CRTs resulted in cabinets that were relatively heavy and bulky — nearly always designed as floor standing TVs.   Some newer rear projection technologies (like DLP and LCoS) have reduced depth on these sets (down to typical depths between 7” and 18”), but none are flat-panel thin like PRIMA flat panel LCD and plasma models.

Back To The Top

Response Time
Commonly these numbers accompany advertisements, brochures, user manuals, etc. regarding LCD monitors.   This number represents image response time and is articulated in terms milliseconds (ms), such as 8ms, 12ms, 16ms, 24ms and so on.   Response time is the screen’s signal reaction speed, or the time it takes for a liquid crystal panel to go from total white to total black and then back again.   A 16ms LCD monitor corresponds to 63 images per second, while 12ms is equivalent to 83 images a second.   The bottom line is that quicker response times translate to smoother and more fluid images.  So, the next time you notice an advertisement shouting to the world that a lightning quick 16ms response time --- which is actually a fairly nice standard --- remember that a product that sports a 12ms response provides a further upgrade in image smoothness and fluidity.

Back To The Top

Resolution
The sharpness of a video image is generally described as "lines of resolution" or pixels.   This resolution depends on two factors: the resolution of your display and the resolution of the video signal.   Since video images are always rectangle-shaped, there is both horizontal resolution and vertical resolution to consider.   See Display resolution.

Unfortunately there is no uniform “standard” that has been accepted for this measurement from one manufacturer to another. Generally it comes down to a subjective decision on what constitutes viewing a pixel.   A more conservative manufacturer may test based on a virtually square pixel with little deformation.

Another may count a pixel when it has virtually become a line without width.

Thus one manufacturer could claim a higher resolution and in fact have a more distorted and less sharp picture.   For this reason PRIMA cautions comparing resolution figures without knowing whether the tests were conducted using equally conservative methods.  Vertical resolution: The number of horizontal lines (or pixels) that can be resolved from the top of an image to the bottom.  (Think of hundreds of horizontal lines or dots stacked on top of one another.)

Additionally there is Horizontal resolution: The number of vertical lines (or pixels) that can be resolved from one side of an image to the other.   Horizontal resolution is a trickier concept, because while the vertical resolution of all analog (NTSC) video sources is the same, the horizontal resolution varies according to the source.

A typical televisions VHS VCR reproduces in a range from about 230-280 lines of horizontal resolution, while a DVD player typically ranges from 400-480.

HD DV camcorder output ranges typically from near 700-740 lines of horizontal resolution and some professional models can now exceed 760.   There are few consumer playback sources beyond hard disc drives or the newest HD content discs which offer resolution much beyond these levels, though processing continues to improve as 720p and 1080p playback devices and video displays expand.

Back To The Top

RF Jacks
These are the coaxial, screw-on connections that cable and satellite TV signals travel through.   Some TVs have dual RF Inputs to allow switching via remote control between two signal sources (e.g. antenna and cable or antenna and satellite).

Back To The Top

Scaler
Scaling is the process of converting a video signal to a resolution other than its original.   Scaling involves either “up conversion” or “down conversion”, and may also include a conversion between progressive- and interlaced-scan formats such as 720p to 1080i.   Scaler processors are typically part of the video processing chipsets, though you can also purchase “outboard” external devices designed for critical “manual control” segmentations.   With the latest chipsets found in 2006-2007 HDTV flat panel models however the visual differences in sophistication offered by external devices are disappearing for home and even many pro-application uses.

Back To The Top

SDTV   (see“Display resolution” in this glossary).

3-2 pulldown processing
Video processing found in many digital TVs and progressive-scan DVD players.   Artifacts and some types of video distortion are corrected when film-based material (at 24 frames per second) undergoes conversion to video (30 frames per second), and is then de-interlaced creating a progressive-scan signal.

Back To The Top

V-Chip
See Child Lock-out

Back To The Top

Viewing Angles

Back To The Top

 

 

Watts Per Channel
Typically numbers given by a manufacturer to express available audio power output.   Unfortunately for consumers there is no agreement among all leading manufacturers of televisions for a common standard of measurement or even distortion level while rating TV audio.   It is quite common to see wattage specifications that are based on exceedingly high distortion levels (10.0% is not uncommon among major TV manufacturers versus 0.1% among many audio manufacturers).   PRIMA is participating with current Consumer Electronic Association R3 members in a technical Working Group to establish new standards for equalized comparisons.   PRIMA televisions are designed for minimum levels of distortion in both the preamplifier and power amplifier stage, and high signal-to-noise ratios, typically less than 1% and with S/N above 80 db at the rated measurement levels.

Back To The Top

WSXGA
Short for Wide SXGA, WSXGA is a resolution that supports 1600 by 900 pixels or 1600 x 1024 pixels.

Back To The Top

WUXGA
Short for Wide Ultra Extended Graphics Array, WUXGA has a resolution of 1920 horizontal pixels by 1200 vertical pixels.

Back To The Top

WXGA
Short for Wide XGA, WXGA is a video resolution that supports a maximum resolution of 1366 horizontal pixels by 768 vertical pixels.

Back To The Top

XGA
Short for Extended Graphics Array, XGA was introduced in 1990 and is IBM’s upgrade to the VGA video standard.  XGA supports a maximum resolution of 1024 horizontal pixels by 768 vertical pixels.

Back To The Top

Zoran SupraHD
Chipmaker Zoran Corporation operates a joint development lab at Prima’s R&D headquarters.   This includes development of digital television products, including the use of Zoran’s SupraHD and Supra TV ATSC decoder products in Prima LCD and plasma models.   The collaboration (Zoran and Prima) has existed for more than 20 years.

Back To The Top