Problems With Vertical Lines on a Philips LCD

By Elizabeth Falwell

LCD -- short for liquid crystal display -- uses thousands, in some cases millions, of tiny liquid crystals to generate the colors you see on your Philips TV screen. The problem is that these liquid crystals and the pixels they form are vulnerable to damage or even software issues that can cause monochromatic vertical lines on the screen; in many cases, you likely did nothing wrong to cause this issue.

TAB Fault

One of the most common causes of vertical lines on your LCD television isn't unique to Philips' line of products. Called TAB fault, this issue has the potential to affect all LCD TVs. A TAB fault -- short for tape automated bonding -- occurs when your TV is subjected to some type of jolting impact, such as a hard object being thrown at it, or the TV as a whole being dropped. TABs connect the TV's processor -- which acts as its brain -- with the electrode layer that is responsible for generating the electrical currents that cause the liquid crystals to change colors. When the TABs fail, this connection is disrupted; this results in a thin, black line that spans the entire vertical length of your TV. TAB faults can also result in horizontal lines.

T-CON Failure

Another issue that leads to vertical lines on LCD TVs is T-CON failure. T-CON stands for timing control board; it is part of the active matrix of an LCD TV. It works by digitizing the signal it receives from the TV's processor into information the tiny transistors that supply the liquid crystals with an electric current can process. When the T-CON board fails, the synchronization between different parts of the board falls apart. This can lead to both temporary and permanent vertical and horizontal lines on your screen, as well as pixelation.

Software Updates

Monochromatic vertical lines on your Philips LCD -- particularly those located near the outside edge of your screen -- may be due to outdated firmware. To see if new firmware is available for your Philips model, visit the manufacturer's customer support website. If new firmware is available, download the zip file to a USB. Next, insert the USB with the new firmware into the port on your Philips LCD TV; the upgrade process should begin automatically. Follow the prompts on screen to complete the upgrade.

Philips' Policy

While you can upgrade your firmware yourself to eradicate vertical lines on your Philips LCD TV, the other problems that cause this issue aren't as easily solved. TAB and T-CON board failure are complex technical issues you won't be able to resolve on your own. Contact Philips' customer support website; these issues are covered by the manufacturer's one year limited warranty, meaning you should be able to get your TV repaired or replaced at no cost to you.