High Contrast LCDs Highlight FPD International

By Charles Annis – Vice President, Manufacturing Research, DisplaySearch

At FPD International 2009 in Yokohama this past week, visitors were overwhelmed by 3D demonstrations. But 3D was certainly not the only new impressive panel technology being displayed at the show. AUO, Sharp and Samsung all showed technologies highlighting contrast improvements through side-by-side comparisons to conventional panels.

My blurry photos do not do any of the panels below justice, but even so, the black level comparisons are obvious.

Figure1 AUO’s 55″ Full HD AMVA-5 LCD

The panel above will be mass produced from 2H’10. The super high contrast ratio was achieved by optimizing PSA pixel electrodes and LC alignment with the color filter materials and improving the polarizer to reduce de-polarization.

Samsung’s side-by-side demonstration also looked great. Interestingly, the company did not offer any contrast values. When I asked one of the staff members what the contrast value is, all he would say is “high,” and that he could not tell me the actual number.

Figure2 Samsung S-PVA Comparison to Conventional VA and IPS Panels

Sharp proudly showed off its UV²A optical alignment technology. It had multiple side-by-side comparisons highlighting both contrast and power consumption improvements.

Figure3 Sharp UV²A vs. Conventional ASV LCD

The UV²A panel above has a contrast ratio of 5000:1 and a brightness of 500 cd/m². It was made on Sharp’s Kameyama 2 line.

Optical Alignment, PSA and other high contrast, high transmission technologies will offer LCD TV panel makers that are able to mass produce them a clear competitive advantage. Going forward, we expect to see a lot more high static contrast panels at trade shows and a leap in image quality on TV sets available at retail stores.

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