A passive-matrix display addresses pixels through intersecting row and column electrodes. The display selects rows one at a time and sends image data along the columns; each pixel is controlled where its row and column meet. It is called “passive” because there is no separate active switching element, such as a transistor, at every pixel.
How passive-matrix addressing works
In a passive-matrix panel, rows and columns of conductors form a grid. A controller scans the rows in sequence and applies the appropriate data signals to the columns. The voltage at a selected row-column intersection changes that pixel’s state, and the scan repeats to update the image.
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In a passive-matrix LCD, transparent electrodes cross around a liquid-crystal layer. The selected voltage changes how the liquid crystal affects light. In a passive-matrix OLED, OLED material sits at the intersections and emits light when addressed. The grid-based addressing is common to both; the way each technology controls or produces light is different.
Passive matrix describes addressing, not display material
“Passive matrix” names the method used to select pixels, not a single type of screen. Both LCD and OLED panels can use passive-matrix addressing. To identify how a particular display works, distinguish its addressing architecture from its pixel technology: an LCD controls light passing through the liquid crystal, while an OLED pixel emits light.
#1 Best Overall
- 1.8 Inch 128x160 Serial SPI TFT LCD Module Display with PCB Adapter IC Dot Matrix 3.3V 5V IO Inerface
- 1.8inch full color TFT LCD display screen with 128X160 resolution perfect for raspberry pi DIY projects.
- Built In 8 Pin Port: This 1.8 inch LCD screen display module has a built in 8 pin port and is suitable for most replacement displays.
- Using SPI communication mode, only 4 IOs are needed to illuminate the display, no backlight needed, the display unit can emit light.
- Equipped with ST7735 controller chip and support 3.3V power supply.
What the row-and-column grid means at scale
A technical chapter hosted by the USPTO describes one color VGA passive-matrix LCD using the STN effect: it has 640 RGB pixels across, represented by 1,920 columns, and 480 rows. In that example, 2,400 row and column interconnects address 921,600 color subpixels. These are figures for that particular example, not specifications that apply to every passive-matrix display.
Passive matrix versus active matrix
The key construction difference is whether each pixel has its own active switching element. Passive matrix relies on shared rows and columns; active matrix places a nonlinear control element at each pixel. That per-pixel control helps active-matrix panels address pixels more independently as resolution and information content increase.
| Consideration | Passive matrix | Active matrix |
|---|---|---|
| Pixel selection | Pixels are selected through shared row and column electrodes, scanned in sequence. | A control element at each pixel enables more independent control. |
| Construction | Simpler pixel circuitry; can be less expensive. | More per-pixel circuitry. |
| Image control as resolution rises | Shared addressing can make pixel selection less isolated as row count and resolution increase. | Per-pixel control helps with increasingly detailed images. |
| Potential image limitations | May show slower response, ghosting or crosstalk, blur, or reduced contrast, depending on panel design. | Generally better suited to high-resolution displays and fast-changing images; performance still varies by panel. |
What to check when evaluating a display
Neither label alone tells you how a panel will perform. For a specific display, look at its resolution and row count, motion response, contrast, viewing behavior, and power use in the intended application. The architecture does not establish a universal refresh rate, contrast ratio, power figure, or resolution limit; materials, panel design, and drive circuitry all matter.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 2004 LCD screen can display 4 lines x 20 characters, with i2c serial interface, blue display.
- Compatible with most development boards, such as Arduino, Raspberry pi, Tinkerboard, Nano pi, Banana pi, stm32, etc.
- Power supply: 5v; I2C address: 0x27; wiring method: GND—GND, VCC—VCC, SDA—A4, SCL—A5.
- Built-in independent potentiometer, backlight can be adjusted through the back potentiometer.
- Widely used in: Internet of Things, school electronics projects, smart buildings, maker DIY projects, etc., can display letters, characters, numbers, real-time clock or temperature.
Rank #3
- 【Display Specifications 】 Display Mode: Passive Matrix. Display Color: Monochrome (White) . Drive Duty: 1/64 Duty . 【Mechanical Specifications】 Outline Drawing: According to the annexed outline drawing . Number of Pixels: 128 × 64 . Panel Size: 42.04 × 27.22 × 1.45 (mm) . Active Area: 35.052 × 17.516 (mm) . Pixel Pitch: 0.274 × 0.274 (mm) . Pixel Size: 0.254 × 0.254 (mm) . Weight: 3.28 (g).
- 【Power up Sequence】 Power up VDD; Send Display off command ; Initialization; Clear Screen; Power up VCC; Delay 100ms (When VCC is stable); Send Display on command ; 【Power down Sequence】 Send Display off command; Power down VCC; Delay 100ms; (When VCC is reach 0 and panel is completely discharges) Power down VDD.
- 【Note】 Since an ESD protection circuit is connected between VDD and VCC inside the driver IC, VCC becomes lower than VDD whenever VDD is ON and VCC is OFF. VCC should be kept float (disable) when it is OFF. Power Pins (VDD, VCC) can never be pulled to ground under any circumstance. VDD should not be power down before VCC power down. Reset Circuit: When RES# input is low, the chip is initialized with the following status. Display is OFF;128×64 Display Mode;
- SSD1309 is a single-chip CMOS OLED/PLED driver with controller for organic / polymer light emitting diode dot-matrix graphic display system. It consists of 128 segments and 64 commons. This IC is designed for Common Cathode type OLED panel. The SSD1309 embeds with contrast control, display RAM and oscillator, which reduces the number of external components and power consumption. It has 256-step brightness control.
- 【FEATURES】 Resolution: 128 x 64 dot matrix panel . Power supply . VDD = 1.65V ~ 3.3V for IC logic . VCC = 7.0V ~ 16.0V for Panel driving. For matrix display . OLED driving output voltage, 16V maximum. Segment maximum source current: 320uA. Common maximum sink current: 40mA . 256 step contrast brightness current control. Embedded 128 x 64 bit SRAM display buffer . Programmable Multiplexing Ratio. Wide range of operating temperature: -40°C to 85°C.
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