NEC LCD Technologies to Launch New TFT LCD Module Suitable for Portable Information Devices.

Tokyo, Japan, Apr 5, 2006 - (JCN Newswire) - NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd. (NEC LCD Technologies) today announced that it will begin shipping samples of its new 3.5-inch (8.9-centimeters-diagonal) amorphous silicon thin-film-transistor (TFT) liquid crystal display (LCD), part number NL2432HC22-40A, in the beginning of June. The new LCD is extremely suitable for installation in various portable devices such as personal digital assistants (PDAs) and portable GPS terminals as it can reproduce colors clearly and vividly even in indoor/outdoor environments with high ambient light.

By optimization of its optical design, the new LCD achieves the highest level of luminance and reflective ratio in the category of semi-transmissive LCDs with a high luminance of 220cd/m2 and a high reflective ratio of 15%.

The main characteristics of the new model are as follows:

1. Simultaneous pursuit of high luminance and high reflective ratio

Further optimization of optical design based on NEC LCD Technologies' own unique super-reflective natural light TFT (SR-NLT) technology realizes both high luminance of 220cd/m2 (equivalent to approximately 2.3 times that of the conventional product NL2432HC22-22A) and a high reflective ratio of 15% (equivalent to approximately 2.1 times that of the conventional product), while maintaining backlight power consumption equivalent to that of conventional products. In addition, this new product achieves a high contrast ratio of 150:1 (conventional product = 90:1). All of the above contribute to the achievement of bright and clear display in any kind of ambient light environment.

2. Installation of both timing controller and DC-DC converter

For the first time, NEC LCD Technologies has installed both a timing controller and a DC-DC converter in one of its LCD products. Consequently, this new LCD offers a range of benefits to manufacturers of portable devices in terms of development cost, lead time, as well as miniaturization of portable devices.

3. Reduction in weight by optimization of total module design

The optimization of the total module design achieves a reduction in weight by approximately 10% for conventional products, despite the installation of both a timing controller and a DC-DC converter. Their installation also contributes to a reduction in weight of portable devices as conventionally a timing controller and a DC-DC converter needed to be installed externally.

Recently a variety of portable devices have been appearing on the market due to the emergence of a networked information society. Some of these devices are equipped with semi-transmissive LCD modules as their display. Semi-transmissive LCDs give customers a choice of two operating modes depending on the ambient light environment; one is the transmissive mode that uses a backlight system as a spectral source and the other is a reflective mode that uses an ambient light as a spectral source. However, conventional semi-transmissive LCD modules have long been faced with the dilemma of how to balance brightness of the transmissive mode and the reflective ratio of the reflective mode, primarily due to the need for each pixel of semi-transmissive LCDs to be divided by transmissive construction area and reflective construction area.

"Through a combination of several of our core technologies, SR-NLT technology and adoptive design technology, NEC LCD Technologies has solved the long-time dilemma of how to achieve simultaneous high brightness and high reflective ratio of semi-transmissive LCDs," said Hidetoshi Usui, department manager in charge of product planning and marketing, NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd. "This breakthrough will offer a multitude of benefits to manufacturers of portable information devices, such as shortened lead time, as well as reduced cost and weight. We remain committed to the development of LCDs that meet all of our customers needs in a variety of industries."

NEC LCD Technologies will continue to commercialize products boasting high added-value such as those with high picture performance and high specifications, even in the field of small LCD modules for portable devices, aiming to contribute to the achievement of a user-friendly networked information society in the near future.

NEC LCD Technologies' new model will be displayed at Display 2006, which is being held in Tokyo Big Sight , Japan, from April 19 - 21.

About NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd.

NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd. is one of the world's leading providers of high-quality, innovative, active-matrix liquid crystal display (AM-LCDs) modules for the industrial and high-end monitor markets. The company focuses its development on three core technology areas: ultra-wide viewing angle SFT technology, with high luminance and fast response; transflective NLT technology; and adaptive design technology that meet a variety of specialized needs for the flat panel display markets. NEC LCD Technologies' worldwide support includes sales and marketing affiliates NEC Electronics America, Inc. (www.necelam.com) and NEC Electronics Europe (www.nec.de) that offer specialized display solutions to their respective markets. NEC LCD Technologies employs approximately 1,200 people worldwide and offers one of the broadest product portfolios for the medical, factory automation, test and measurement, entertainment, kiosk, POS and ATM markets.

Source: NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd.

Contact:

Diane Foley
For: NEC LCD Technologies
[e-mail]
[phone]

Copyright [c] 2006 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. A division of Japan Corporate News Network K.K.