OLED screens brighten Sony handhelds
[Computer Shopper] 16:34
Sony may be puling its Clie handhelds out of the US and Europe, but that doesn't mean the company has lost all faith in the handheld market.
The latest Palm-powered Clie PEG-VZ90 will feature the first of Sony's Organic LED screens (OLED) - as it drives the technology into mass production.
An OLED display differs from conventional TFTs in that it uses an organic layer that emits light when voltage is applied. This means you can do away with a back light, so the screens are both thinner and draw less power.
In real terms, Sony's data on its OLED screens compared with an LCD equivalent make for impressive reading. The OLED produces nearly three times the brightness, far greater response times - about 0.01 millionths of a second compared with 16, a colour range equal to that of the NTSC standard used in televisions, wider viewing angles and a tenfold improvement in brightness.
A shame then that with the handheld available only in Japan, we won't be getting our hands on it.
Matt Whipp
pcpro.co.uk
Sony begins mass producing OLED displays
By Spencer Chin , EE Times
September 14, 2004 (3:46 PM EDT)
URL: eet.com
MANHASST, N.Y. — Sony Corp. announced Tuesday (Sept. 14) it would begin mass production of full-color, Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) displays this month, with the first application being the company's CLIE PEG-VZ90 handheld personal entertainment device.
Measuring 3.8 in. diagonally, the display provides a resolution of 480 x 320 pixels, and shows 262,144 colors. Brightness is 150 candelas per square meter, and viewing angle is 180 degrees.
According to Sony, the OLED display measures 2.14 mm thick and can show TV content and digital still images. As with other OLED displays, the device does not require a backlight and can be made thinner than liquid crystal displays.
Sony announced plans to build active-matrix OLED displays 18 months ago, partnering with Toyota Industries as the company aggressively pursues advanced display development.
Besides its OLED venture, Sony struck a deal with Korea's Samsung to form S-LCD to develop and build LCD panels for flat-panel TVs. The joint venture company began operating in July.
And for additional background...
Sony OLED Displays Coming Soon
Posted By: Ryan on Monday, February 09, 2004 1:16:29 PM
A new article has been published which confirms and earlier PalmInfocenter story about Sony planning to use Organic LED display technology in a future handheld. The report claims Sony has developed a new OLED display to be used in a yet unnamed PDA line sometime in the Spring.
The new report in Digitimes states, Sony has announced that in the spring of 2004 it will commercialize an active matrix OLED (AMOLED) PDA panel using LTPS (low-temperature poly-silicon) from Sony-Toyoda’s line. The PDA panel will be three to four inches in size diagonally, a significant increase for OLED dimensions. This display is likely to be only the second AMOLED product on the market. [...] Because the PDA market is relatively small, Sony can supply enough panels for a whole product line, even at the early stages when its AMOLED yield is somewhat low.
This article confirms and adds credit to an earlier report that claimed that Sony would have a PDA out in the Spring of 2004 with an OLED display. Sony is expected to officially announce the TH55 and TJ37, and TJ27 at the PalmSource Developers Conference Tuesday in San Jose. Those models have already been released in Japan and Hong Kong. There is no information available of yet to indicate whether they will have OLED screens.
About OLED Screens
Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) is a generic term for a whole group of possible screen types. OLEDs are made up of thin films of organic materials that give off light of various colors when voltage is applied to them. Like LCDs, OLEDs have both active matrix and passive matrix forms.
The main advantages of OLED screens over current ones is the screen itself glows so there is no need for a back- or side-light. This means they require less power and take up less space, two important factors in a handheld. They also cost less to make.
OLEDs have a faster response time so they are also better able to show video. They can be seen from wider viewing angles. They are less susceptible to heat and cold. OLEDs have fewer manufacturing steps and use both fewer and cheaper materials than LCDs do.
Numerous companies are working on developing OLED screens, like Sony, Pioneer; and TDK. Research scientists at Kodak invented the OLED in the early 80s and the company continues working with them today.
216.239.57.104 |
