news archive
Toshiba Introduces World's Largest Mass-produced Low-temperature Polysilicon TFT-LCDs to Date
Irvine, California, October 8 -Toshiba America Electronic Components (TAEC) with its parent company, Toshiba Corporation (Toshiba), today announced a series of 14.1-inch XGA
low-temperature polysilicon (LTPS) TFT-LCD modules. Targeted for the mainstream notebook PC market, the displays are the largest LTPS TFT-LCDs in mass production today.
"Toshiba's LTPS display strategy focuses on expanding our market leadership in large-size displays by broadening our product line for a wider range of market applications; by increasing our production capacities to reduce costs and meet our growing demands; and by continuously improving our LTPS technology to strive for the implementation of system-on-glass display solutions," said Steve Vrablik, business development director for LCDs in the Display Device and Components Business Unit at TAEC.
The new 14.1-inch XGA series of LTPS TFT-LCDs is designed to provide system designers with easy integration into existing systems. The electrical interface and mechanical dimensions of the various models are compatible with industry-standard or commonly used 14.1-inch displays. Luminance is 120 to 150 cd/m2. Toshiba will utilize a line at its Fukaya Operations facility to produce these devices. Capacity will be further boosted in 2002 when AFPD, Pte., Ltd., a joint venture with Matsushita, comes on line in Singapore.
Samples of Toshiba's new 14.1-inch XGA displays are now available, with mass production slated for the end of the month. Sample pricing is approximately $650.
Information: http://chips.toshiba.com,
Tech.Questions@taec.toshiba.com.
Wearable Computer System Using MicroOptical Display Now Available from Applied Data Systems
Columbia, Maryland, October 1 - Applied Data Systems (ADS) of Columbia, Maryland is developing a low-power, wearable computer system. The system - which is based on the Applied Data Systems Bitsy™ single-board computer (SBC) and uses the MicroOptical Clip-On Eyeglass Display - is an application-ready development platform for the OEM or volume enterprise user planning deployment of wearable systems. The system consumes less than 20 watts of power in full operation.
The Bitsy employs a direct interface from the StrongARM environment to the display imaging chip to bypass the energy-inefficient analog VGA circuits that have prevented wearable computers from entering the low-power, extended-use realm. In addition, the Bitsy is equipped with a companion board that includes a charger and protection circuit for Lithium-Ion batteries, allowing the unit to be charged from a normal 12-volt auto power supply. Targeted as a development platform, the system is configured with USB Master, Slave, Ethernet, multiple serial ports, stereo audio, PCMCIA, CF card, and a "smart" I/O subsystem for analog and digital inputs and outputs, which can be used for connecting sensors. The system is also fast enough to take direct input from a magnetic card reader. The clip-on Eyeglass Display features a high-brightness mode that allows the display to be used in full sunlight. The display is available in VGA and QVGA pixel formats, and 16-bit and 24-bit color depths. A lower-cost monochrome version is also available.
The "Bitsy-Borg," which was introduced at the Embedded Systems Conference in Boston last month, is immediately available with both WindowsCE and Linux. Third-party software and equipment is also available for the Bitsy-Borg for wireless networking, GPS, voice recognition, card readers, barcode readers, RF badges, video in, biometrics, and other technologies required to support the mobile worker. The software is seamless and application-ready. Applications can be developed with Microsoft Visual Studio or various Linux Tool Chains. Once a customer has an application running, Applied Data and MicroOptical will optimize a de-populated configuration and provide OEM pricing.
Information: Tel: (301) 490-4007, www.applieddata.net.
