P
Plasma TV
The plasma panel contains small cells with a mixture of gases; when an electric current pass through those cells it excites the gas, which goes into a plasma state, generating light.
Pixel
Pixel is the agglutination of picture element, while picture is abbreviated as pix. Pixel is the smallest point in an image, with 3 color dots (red, green and blue) and thus manages to reproduce 256 color shades (equivalent to 8 bits); the combination of many pixels generates an image, and the higher their number, more defined is the image. Pixel is directly related to definition, when we say 1024 x 768, this means the horizontal number of pixels versus their vertical number in a perpendicular line to the screen height, and this definition generates an image of 786,432 pixels. (1024 x 768).
Progressive Scan (p) (progressive image)
Some TV sets or image generators have a signal processing system called Progressive Scan. Unlike the interlaced system, here each image picture is formed sequentially, thus considerably improving image quality. Most LCD and Plasma TVs available in the market already incorporate this technology.
Projection TV
It works just like a projector, however the image is generated inverted and projected in the rear part of the TV screen, so that we see the straightened image on the other side. In projectors a very strong light goes through mirrors that filter the light into 3 colors, which are joined and projected to form the image.
R
RCA (see Composite)
S
Satellite TV
With the progress of this technology, one can receive the satellite signal directly at home. A satellite receives the broadcast from other satellites or a terrestrial base, and retransmits the signal to each home, which must have a specific antenna that must be pointed at the satellite in space; also provided as a paid service.
SDTV Television (Standard Definition TV)
These are the TV sets with a native definition of 480 horizontal lines. Most TV sets currently available in the market can reproduce signals with 480 interlaced lines (480i), and with digital broadcasting the image quality of these sets will equal the one offered when connected to a DVD player. With the "progressive scan" functionality, those sets can reproduce 480 progressive lines (480p) generating an even better image. The SDTV concept is related to image quality, and not to the fact that the product is digital or analogical. A SDTV product can have a digital tuner.
S-Video
S-video or Separated Video offers better image quality (subjective in the first generation) than composite video. Three wires are used that travel along a single cable: one to carry the black and white image, another to carry color information, and a third for grounding. Remember that this format is inferior to Component Video.