Precision Dimming is the name used by Samsung to describe their application of Local Dimming to edge-lit LED LCD HDTVs. Until recently, LED lights in edge-lit LED LCD HDTV displays could be dimmed as groups to improve black levels but, not individually. The lighting control areas tended to be large reducing the effectiveness. Local dimming was only available on full array LED LCD displays where LED backlights are distributed in an even matrix behind the LED panel.

Edge-lit displays can have a 30% to 40% cost advantage over full array LED panels and allow the manufacture of thinner displays. So, there has been considerable effort on the behalf of HDTV manufacturers to achieve the benefits. Samsung has been successful and released Precision Dimming technology with it’s C8000 and C6800 2010 LED LCD HDTV models. Precision Dimming relies on the use of special edge mounted LEDs to enable the controlled lighting of variable size, diamond-shaped areas – effectively providing Local Dimming. Higher contrast ratios, deeper blacks and energy savings are achieved by lighting being varied in intensity to match what is required for the frame being shown.

Precision (Local) Dimming provides greater performance improvements than global dimming which is the lowering and raising the backlight brightness as a whole. Edge lighting of LED displays requires a light diffuser panel to evenly spread the lighting across the back of the LCD panel. When looking for such a LCD HDTV it is worth remembering that lighting uniformity becomes more difficult to achieve as the display size increases.

For more detail about read our technology guide on Local Dimming.