INDUSTRY NEWS
Samples of a new 21.3-in. amorphous-silicon thin-film transistor LCD module with UXGA resolution began shipping at the end of October, announced NEC LCD Technologies (Düsseldorf, Germany). The product’s high-luminance, high-contrast, and ultra-wide viewing angle will drive demand for its use in medical diagnostic imaging applications, according to the firm.
The colour TFT LCD, which achieves 900 cd/m2 luminance, may be adapted for medical x-ray image diagnosis through a combination of the firm’s proprietary ultra-advanced, super-fine TFT (UA-SFT) and a high-intensity direct backlight system. Enhanced panel and backlight optimization allows information to be viewed more easily and accurately from a variety of standpoints. The new model also features a high contrast ratio of 1100:1 and significantly improved brightness, compared with previous versions, when observing the display from an angle.
Enhancements to the panel and backlight design, including adoption of UA-SFT technology, prevent light leakage from the LCD panel, thereby improving the visibility of black images. As a result, the product achieves the aforementioned 1100:1 contrast ratio, a 20% improvement over conventional models. Moreover, optimization of the optical design inhibits a “washed-out black” effect that occurs when the viewing angle is enlarged with in-plane switching-type LCDs.
UA-SFT technology also enables an ultra-wide viewing angle of 176° by reducing colour shift.
Demand for high-luminance colour LCDs for patient diagnostics using monochrome, x-ray and/or colour images such as 3D-CT and Fusion will continue to grow, according to NEC LCD. “Our new module makes it possible to display medical images and information from a wide selection of angles, without causing undue strain on the eye,” says Hidetoshi Usui, department manager, product planning and marketing.
For more information, contact NEC Electronics (Europe) GmbH, Arcadiastr. 10, D-40472 Düsseldorf, Germany; phone: +49 211 65030; fax +49 211 6503 1327; Internet: www.eu.necel.com.
