Subfield Motion is a patented technology used in Samsung plasma TVs to improve image quality and reduce blur in dynamic scenes. Samsung registered this commercial name as a trademark, but since the discontinuation of plasma TVs in 2012, it has only been found in older models.
Subfield Motion in plasma TVs
In the era of analog television, the frame rate was linked to the frequency of the power grid, which was used as a synchronization reference. Half of the AC period was used for this purpose, allowing video to be transmitted at 25 Hz in countries with a 50 Hz power grid, such as Europe, and 30 Hz in countries with a 60 Hz power grid, such as the US and Canada.
With the advent of digital television, a frame rate standard of 60 frames per second was established. This standard inherited the capabilities of flat computer screens, and since plasma TVs supported 60 Hz, it improved image quality, especially for content with a low native frame rate.
Don’t believe advertising claims that a TV supposedly creates intermediate or additional frames to improve dynamic scenes. This is not the case. A TV does not have enough computing power to create unique intermediate frames.
Subfield Motion technology works by displaying the same frame several times in a row, creating the illusion of a smooth image. This approach can lead to the so-called “soap opera effect,” where the movement on the screen looks overly smooth and artificial.
In dynamic scenes, black frames may also be inserted between the main frames, depending on the content. This technique helps the eye to “erase” the previous image from the retina more quickly, making the frame change more noticeable and reducing image blur.
For marketing purposes, large numbers are used to impress the buyer, such as Subfield Motion 400 Hz or Subfield Motion 600 Hz; some models were rated at 1000 Hz. Of course, this was not true; the frame rate did not exceed 60 Hz, but at the time this was the norm, and the company’s marketing departments provided parameters that could not be explained.
