Polarisation direction

[bazzabear]

An interesting difference I spotted between my computer monitor and my TV at the weekend, when I wondered into the lounge still wearing my polarised sunnies:

As you may know, if the polarisation of your sunglasses is perpendicular to the polarisation of a screen, the result will be them shutting out the screen altogether.

With my monitor, this happened with my head upright - but with my TV it happened if I put my head to the side.

So the two screens have their polarisation screen (I don't know the correct terms, sorry!) set differently to each other. One vertical, one horizontal.

Anyone know why? Is it something to do with maximising viewing angle for a TV, while a screen is designed for someone sat right in front of it?

 

[mid_gen]

I don't think the direction matters? AFAIK LCD displays function through the same mechanism as you see in your glasses. A polarised backlight is created, and the individual pixels can have their polarity changed though a change in current which turns the pixels on and off.

There may be some reasons why the polarity is aligned particular ways, it may not matter, I have no idea

 

[theone8181]

Try them on your phone and in car. My car is diagonal (possibly to avoid this issue).