news archive
First Commercial OLED Drivers Now Available
Beverly, Massachusetts, March 28 - Clare, Inc., a maker of mixed-signal integrated circuits, custom ASICs, and optically isolated solid state relays, will announce the first commercially available current-based driver IC solution for organic light emitting diode (OLED) displays on April 2. The MXED102 OLED column driver and MXED202 OLED row driver ICs provide OLED display system developers with the first comprehensive, off-the-shelf driver solution for OLED displays.
"OLED displays have now captivated the display industry," said David Mentley, senior vice president at Stanford Resources. "While there is still much development work to be done, access to standard driver ICs will provide a real boost to the market development."
The availability of Clare's complete OLED driver IC solution represents the first opportunity for many of the 85 companies estimated to be involved in OLED development to run systems with drivers designed specifically for OLED displays. These application specific standard product (ASSP) current drivers will enable OLED system designers to test and evaluate advanced prototypes of their systems in a variety of configurations and environments.
"We have tested Clare's first-generation OLED column driver and it is performing quite well in our designs," said Dr. Robert Jan Visser, innovation manager, Philips Components. "We look forward to Clare's continued support in developing this emerging display technology."
"The availability of an off-the-shelf current-based driver solution from Clare changes the dynamic of the OLED display market," said Dennis Cocco, president of Clare's Micronix IC Group. "It evens the playing field by allowing companies that do not have the means to develop a proprietary driver solution to go forward with the final stages of product development and achieve their time-to-market goals."
Clare's OLED driver solution is comprised of two complementary ICs, the MXED102 OLED column driver and the MXED202 OLED row driver. The MXED102 is a second-generation column driver that supports up to 240 columns in both small-molecule and polymer passive-matrix OLED displays. The MXED102 features 2-percent current matching of adjacent and cascaded outputs. This is the first driver for the OLED display market to exhibit such precise current control.
The MXED202 OLED row driver is the complement to the column-driver IC. This row driver comes in 120- and 128-output configurations, and is compatible with both small-molecule and polymer displays. One additional feature of both of these driver ICs is their cascadable design: Multiple row and current drivers can be cascaded together to drive displays larger than 240 columns and 120/128 rows.
The MXED202 OLED row driver is currently available in sample quantities, and the MXED102 OLED column driver will be available in sample quantities beginning June 1, 2001. For sample quantities, both devices are priced at $15.00 each for gold-bumped dice and $30.00 for dice assembled on TCP, with a standard lead time of two weeks after receipt of order.
Information: www.clare.com.
Optrex Debuts Automotive OLED Prototype
Detroit, Michigan, March 8 - Optrex introduced a prototype of a small OLED for automotive applications this week at the SAE 2001 World Congress held in Detroit's Cobo Center. The display uses small-molecule organic electroluminescent materials in a in a simple passive-matrix structure. The display has separate blue and red areas, with 150x50 pixels in the blue area and a blue luminance of 50
cd/m². Expected operating temperature range is -30 to +85°C; expected storage temperature range is -40 to +95°C. Mass production is planned for 2003. The prototype will be shown in booth 902 at SID 2001 from June 5 to 7 in San Jose, California.
Information: John Cramer, Marketing & Business Development Manager.
Tel: (734) 416-8500, jcramer@optrexusa.com.
Japanese TFT Makers Must Cut Component Costs to 30% of Total Cost
Tokyo, Japan, February, 2001 - In announcing the April release of the English-language version of its latest report, Global LCD Components Supply/Demand 2001, Tokyo's Infinite Technologies, Inc., revealed some of the report's findings. Among them is that Japanese TFT makers must cut component costs to 30% of overall costs by 2005 to
secure profitability.
Among some of the other findings are:
- The market for the 28 major LCD components in 2000 was valued at JPY770 billion ($6.7 billion). In 2005, this value will grow to around JPY1 trillion ($8.7
billion).
- The overall components market size was 40% that of the LCD industry in 2000. In 2005, it will be an estimated 30%.
- Average component prices will fall by 10% per annum. Cost-cutting at LCD makers and the nature of the components industry mean component price drops will be faster that LCD price drops.
- There may be a shortage of glass substrates and driver ICs of about 10% in
2005
- Components expected to fall in price are CFs, BLs, liquid crystals, photoresists, and polarizing sheets.
- Huge investments in driver IC plants by leading players and the entry of Taiwanese players will stabilize the supply/demand equation.
Reports are supplied in .pdf format via email or CD-ROM. The 110-page report is priced at US$7,500.
Information: Asia Info Tsushinsha Pte. Ltd., Singapore.
Tel: 65-226-0912, Fax 65-226-3269, email: ai-comm@excite.co.jp.
NEC Offers Affordable Digital Cinema Projector
Itasca, Illinois, February 21 - NEC Technologies today announced its new SX6000-DC HD Cinema Projector, the first compact SXGA High Light Output (HLO) cinema projection system to feature
exclusive TriDigital Image Processing film decoding technology. At a fraction of the cost of the traditional projectors currently available, the SX6000-DC is also the first HD Cinema projector to provide an affordable alternative to traditional film projection.
The new projector is designed for small- to medium-size theater venues, as well as for post-production applications. It joins the XT5000-DC in NEC Technologies' line of HD Cinema Projectors, and will be publicly demonstrated for the first time at ShoWest 2001 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
"One obstacle to implementation of electronic and digital cinema up until this point has been cost," said Steve Jackson, director of product development for the Visual Systems Division at NEC Technologies. "The SX6000-DC's TriDigital Image Processing Technology allows NEC Technologies to offer remarkable image quality, recreating the look and feel of film at a fraction of the price of the digital cinema systems currently available."
At one-fifth the volume and one-third the weight of currently-available SXGA high-light-output projection systems, the SX6000-DC provides operational simplicity, reliability and a long service life. The projection system utilizes 0.9-inch, 3-chip DLP™ mirror technology from Texas Instruments to produce bright, evenly illuminated images.
The SX6000-DC's input flexibility guarantees compatibility with virtually
every type of signal source. It and the XT5000-DC are also the first HLO
projection systems to feature the PanelLink™ digital connection, as well as the
SDI-serial digital interface. As a result, everything from video, component
video, and satellite to the highest-resolution digital, computer, and HDTV
sources are easily displayed on the SX6000-DC in the way the content
creator, cinematographer, and the post artist intended.
The concept behind the TriDigital Image Processing's display of film transfer material for large venue exhibition is exclusive to NEC Technologies. As the name implies, TriDigital Image Processing entails three key steps to optimally decode film transfer material for digital projection. First, the ColorBit™ pre-processor decodes incoming signals to satisfy the unique requirements for film-based materials as opposed to a conventional video processor. Then, the Deep BlackBit™ decoder extracts the maximum dynamic range of the original filmed image to produce deep, dark blacks that exhibit the contrast and detail of the original film material. This is achieved without increasing the noise level or producing detail contours, which is inherent in conventional electronic projector systems that attempt to deliver dark-area detail. Lastly, the Wide ColorBit™ post-processor manufactures an image that overcomes the RGB characteristics of the projector - characteristics that would otherwise make the image appear like video. This element of the process is crucial because film is not an RGB medium, but is instead composed of dye particulates suspended in an emulsion that interact with the light from a traditional mechanical projector. "This is the essence of the look and feel of film," explained Jackson, who added that the TriDigital Image Processing technology strives to duplicate the "age-old" mechanical and optical/light interaction of film within the "new-age" digital domain.
The SX6000-DC projector will begin shipping directly through NEC
Technologies in early summer 2001.
Information: Steven Jackson, director of product
development. Tel: (630) 467-4740, email sjackson@nectech.com,
www.TriDigitalCinema.com.
Sensor Products Introduces a More Accurate Pressure-sensing Film
East Hanover, New Jersey, March 13 - Sensor Products Inc. introduces Super
Pressurex®, a tactile force-indicating sensor film that is now 50% more accurate. This sensor is useful in assessing compression magnitude and distribution between any two mating or impacting surfaces with much greater resolution than standard indicating films.
Applications exist for both manufacturing process control and machine/component inspection and calibration.
Super Pressurex sensor film comes in the form of a large thin sheet. When placed
between interfacial surfaces, the sensor film instantaneously and permanently changes color to reveal minute measurements of dispersion and degrees of pressure. The intensity of this color is proportional to the amount of force applied, allowing the user to actually
quantify the stress characteristics across the surface. Precise determinations of psi (or kg/cm2) can be made by comparing the sensor film to a color calibration chart or by using one of several imaging systems that Sensor Products supplies.
Super Pressurex technology can be a valuable aid in R&D and QC/QA in electronic pack-aging. Determining precise pressure distribution within a laminating press for multilayer printed-circuit boards and accurately revealing uneven pressure distribution across the nip of rollers on a dry film laminator are two of the film's
applications. In addition, TAB uniformity problems are visibly revealed during thermocompression in the TAB process and designing heat sinks
The film has a maximum gauge of 8 mils. Cost is approximately $0.15 USD to $0.45 USD per square inch. Free product samples are available.
Information: Bill Ebner. Tel: (973) 560-9092,
email: bebner@sensorprod.com,
www.sensorprod.com.
Panasonic Introduces First TV/HDR Combination
SECAUCUS, New Jersey, February 14 - Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company (PCEC) today introduced the world's first combination television and hard-disk recorder. The PV-SS2710 combines the company's 27-inch
PanaBlack™ television with its 30-hour hard-disk recorder. Shipping to retailers this month, the product will have a suggested MSRP of $899.95. Free, lifetime subscription to the ReplayTV
Service™ is included in the purchase price.
The PV-SS2710 uses the same video recording technology - an internal hard disk drive and MPEG 2 compression - as the Panasonic
ShowStopper™ hard disk recorder model PV-HS2000 to record up to 30 hours of high-quality video in the extended recording mode. Viewers can record shows in progress and control real-time television with pause, rewind, slow motion, frame advance and 7-second instant replay. The hard disk recorder is compatible with cable, direct satellite and over-the-air broadcasting systems. The hard-disk recorder functions, as well as the TV functions, can be controlled either by remote control or by buttons on the front bezel of the television.
Information: Tel: 800-211-PANA; www.panasonic.com.
Infocus Unveils a Three-Pound
DLP Digital Projector with Smallest Footprint Ever
WILSONVILLE, Oregon, Feb. 15 - InFocus Corporation today announced its LP130 three-pound, DLP-based, digital projector, which is 40 percent smaller than the company's LP330/335, last year's top-selling microportable. The new projector features 1100 lumens output, multimedia functionality, and XGA resolution. This projector, which incorporates integrated video and digital connectivity, measures 6.7 x 8.6 x 2 inches
The unit features HDTV compatibility and the standard M1-DA connector that incorporates Digital Visual Interface (DVI) digital, analog, and USB connectivity.
According to Eric Haruki, research manager with IDC, the microportable projector
category is expected to more than double in 2001, with approximately 335,000
units expected to sell worldwide this year
The LP130 is available at an estimated street price of US $4,999.
Information: Tel: (800) 294-6400 (U.S. only) or
(503) 685-8888, www.infocus.com.
Optrex
Offers 256x64 Color LCD Module with Wide Temperature Range
Plymouth,
Michigan - Optrex has introduced the F-51136 NCWHU-FW-AA
4.2-inch STN 256 x 64 LCD, a full-color (red, green, and
blue) transmissive graphic display offering a wide viewing
angle. An on-board 12-volt heater and integrated
temperature-compensation circuit enable a wide operating
temperature range of -30°C to +85°C and maintain optimum
contrast across this temperature range. Optrex's double-cell
STN color technology ensures storage temperatures of -40°C
to +90°C and provides a contrast ratio of 70:1. The unit
meets application requirements in automotive, navigation and
avionics, and in other areas where demanding operating
environments exist.
The module has an on-board controller and a DC-DC converter
to regulate driving voltage for proper display contrast. The
single-CCFL backlight provides luminance levels to 150 cd/m2
(typical) and has a 25,000-hour lifetime (typical) to half
brightness. The outline dimensions are 146.2 x 39.3 x 17.0
mm with a viewing area of 106.66 x 27.62 mm. Dot pitch is
0.135 mm horizontally (x 3) x 0.385 mm vertically.
F-51136 features include: data transfer 8-bit parallel,
SED1353F1A controller IC onboard, 256K SRAM onboard, low
voltage operation, low power consumption, light weight, and
compact design. The LCD also provides both graphic figure
and character display capabilities. Pricing begins at
$125.96 in production quantities. Samples are available now
from stock.
Information: John Cramer. Tel: (734) 416-8500, Fax:
(734) 416-8520, email: lcdinfo@optrexusa.com,
website: www.optrex.com.
