A display technology that is used for graphics-based screens (a matrix of rows and columns). Using one transistor for each row and one for each column, passive matrix screens are addressed one row at a time for each electronic frame. They are not as sharp and have less contrast than active matrix screens, and they suffer from the "submarining" effect, in which the cursor disappears when moved rapidly.
Passive Matrix LCDs
Passive matrix LCD screens typically contain no more than 240 lines of resolution. They were used in the first LCD screens on laptops by addressing two 240-line modules simultaneously to make a 480-line screen. For more details about passive and active matrix LCDs, see
LCD types. Contrast with
active matrix.