What is Micro Lens Array (MLA) technology?

[What Hi-Fi?]

MLA is here to shake up the world of TVs, but what exactly is it? And how will it make the best OLED TVs even better?

What is Micro Lens Array (MLA) technology? : Read more

 

[SL 75]

I've yet to see a satisfactory explanation for what the MLA actually does to increase light output without any change to the source level. A lens can only collimate the light or diverge it, or is the MLA simply more transmissive than the "OC" layer shown in the left diagram? Everything I've seen so far is showing stronger light and shooting in all directions at the same time!

 

[Deleted member 194101]

I'm bewildered now with all these panel technologies. Then you have the various picture processing methods. I was thinking about a small TV I could also use as a monitor, about 3 feet away, but I don't know where to start. A 42" LG OLED would be ideal, but there's always a better TV out the following year. I don't mind progress, but this stuff doesn't sit still for 5 minutes and I'm fed up of chasing specs these days. It was so much easier with only CRTs on sale!

 

[SL 75]

I'm bewildered now with all these panel technologies. Then you have the various picture processing methods. I was thinking about a small TV I could also use as a monitor, about 3 feet away, but I don't know where to start. A 42" LG OLED would be ideal, but there's always a better TV out the following year. I don't mind progress, but this stuff doesn't sit still for 5 minutes and I'm fed up of chasing specs these days. It was so much easier with only CRTs on sale!

Just buy something good now and don't worry too much, there is of course always something better coming but life is too short. Read specs if you enjoy the challenge, otherwise don't kill your brain, you can still enjoy a TV.

Meanwhile, I still have not found a solid explanation of how a passive lens can amplify light while at the same time dispersing it over a wider area.

 

[Shawn1234]

Just buy something good now and don't worry too much, there is of course always something better coming but life is too short. Read specs if you enjoy the challenge, otherwise don't kill your brain, you can still enjoy a TV.

Meanwhile, I still have not found a solid explanation of how a passive lens can amplify light while at the same time dispersing it over a wider area.

It looks like it reduces reflection within the panel:

A New Generation of OLED - META Technology and Micro Lens Array (MLA) Explained - TFTCentral

Explaining LG.Display's third generation of OLED panels with META Technology, Micro Lens Array and META Booster

tftcentral.co.uk

.

 

[Wales1]

Jesus I'm fed up with all these acronyms. Just give me a TV with a good picture and I'm happy.

 

[AlastairB]

The key detail seems to be "When an image signal is transmitted, OLED produces light in the organic light emitting layer and operates on the principle that the light is transmitted to the user. However, much of the light generated is lost within the panel due to internal reflection, resulting in lower brightness. By applying the Micro Lens Array, micro lens patterns help emit a significant amount of light that had been lost due to internal reflections, creating a brighter screen than existing panels"
The whathifi author could have written that. As usual, I have to suspect that a whathifi author has simply copied and pasted "magic woo" from another source, without any understanding. Which is completely unhelpful.