June 2006

news archive

TPO Launches Breakthrough Chip for Enhanced Video Quality in Mobile Displays

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. - Newly formed TPO Displays Corp., the result of a recent merger between Toppoly Optoelectronics and Philips Mobile Displays, launched a new chip for mobile displays at SID 2006 in early June. Dubbed ChampionChip, TPO claims its breakthrough bridge chip solution will enhance video and image applications to home-display quality on mobile devices such as cell phones, personal media players and portable gaming devices.

The chip is embedded in a low-power hardware solution that improves video and color performance while increasing the number of video channels delivered over a fixed bandwidth, according to a statement released by TPO.

"ChampionChip positions TPO as the strategic partner for early-stage development of new products and product architectures," TPO CEO Ray Chen said in the press release. "It encompasses the latest generation of image-quality enhancements, functionalities and features with new video stream enhancement for an ultimate multimedia performance."

Features include smart color mapping, dynamic backlight control and contrast boosting, advanced frame mixing enabling 24 bits and 16.7 million color capability with an 18-bit driver, Mobile Pixel Plus for video sharpening and scaling, and mobile natural motion for advanced frame rate up-conversion.

"Even with smaller bandwidth and lower video resolution, the consumer will now experience high-fidelity display performance optimized for mobile devices," Chen added.

ChampionChip will be available in the USA, Europe, APAC and Japan.

Gamma Scientific Unveils New Robotic Display-Measurement System at SID '06

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. - Gamma Scientific unveiled a new robotic display-measurement system at the 2006 SID Exhibition in June that allows a large-area cathode-ray-tube (CRT), plasma, or liquid-crystal display (LCD) to be measured while remaining stationary, replicating real-world applications and allowing for fast, accurate and repeatable measurements.

The GS-940-7X uses a 6-axis robotic arm/detector assembly with a full reach of up to 1.2 meters that scans the display from virtually any angle the user specifies, enabling measurements with 70-µm accuracy.

"The era of the large display has arrived, and it's demanding a fresh approach to angular measurement," explained Eric Nelson, senior physicist and sales manager for Gamma Scientific, in a company statement. "It is not practical to rotate a gigantic display on a goniometric measurement assembly-it's cumbersome, hard to set up, doesn't replicate reality and, ultimately, yields less accurate results. In contrast, the GS-940-7X provides a convenient, one-size-fits-all solution-the instrument readily accommodates any display size, shape and technology."

Gamma Scientific also claims its newest measurement system is a more cost-effective alternative to traditional goniometric measurement systems because it requires less time and human resources to operate, and has a lower price tag.

GE Develops New Plastic Substrate System for Flexible OLEDs

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. - GE Global Research announced at the SID 2006 Exhibition in June its development of a plastic substrate system intended as a substitute for the glass substrates used in flexible organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). According to a company statement, GE developed the substrate with joint funding from the United States Display Consortium (USDC) in order to address the need for substrates that can enable cost-effective, lightweight, flexible organic displays.

The new system, which uses a developmental high-temperature Lexan™ polycarbonate film from GE Plastics and a transparent, ultra-high barrier coating to help protect the device from oxygen, moisture, chemicals and electrical activity, is currently being produced in batch mode. Eventually a roll-to-roll manufacturing process will be used to improve cost efficiency.

GE says the high-temperature resistance and high clarity of transparent Lexan™ film enables the 125-micron-thick substrate to withstand the heat involved in OLED fabrication and allows optimal light transmission from the device.

In a statement released by GE, the company cited plastic substrates' ruggedness, lighter weight, ease of transportation, and ability to be mass-produced at potentially lower system costs as advantages of the material over traditional glass.

"GE's development of a flexible plastic replacement for the glass substrates used in OLEDs opens the door to exciting new applications such as portable, ruggedized, and eventually roll-up displays," GE Plastics Global Industry Manager for Displays Hiro Ezawa said in a company statement.

In 2006, again with funding from USDC, GE will focus on optimizing roll-to-roll barrier coating processes and evaluate the economic feasibility of its coated plastic substrate system in a wide variety of display applications, according to the statement.

A 15-cm-square flexible OLED for use in display and lighting applications.

California Micro Devices Increases Efficiency, Lowers Cost of WLED Drivers

MILPITAS, Calif. - California Micro Devices (CMD), a supplier of analog semiconductor products for the mobile handset, personal computer and digital consumer electronics markets, introduced a new line of white light-emitting-diode (WLED) drivers utilizing a breakthrough technology the company claims can increase efficiency and lower cost in products using LED backlights.

CMD's proprietary FlexBoost™ technology can drive multiple asymmetrical WLED strings in display backlight up to 40% more efficiently by supplying the appropriate voltage to each string instead of the highest voltage to all strings, according to the company. In addition, CMD claims the technology has a lower bill-of-materials cost and a smaller footprint than other WLED driver solutions. FlexBoost™ can also be used to drive an organic LED (OLED) display,

The line-up of FlexBoost™ products includes four products (CM9330, CM 9321, CM9320 and CM9311) with driving capabilities ranging from one to three strings of LEDs using a single inductor. Each of the products can operate with input voltages ranging from 2.7V to 6V, and current can be set independently for each output.