Product News LCD

Industry First: Sharp Triple Directional Viewing LCD Offers Simultaneous Display of 3 Images

Sharp expands line-up of Controlled Viewing-Angle technologies

Electronica, 14. – 17. November 2006 – Sharp (hall A3, Stand 424) has developed the Triple Directional Viewing LCD, a display that controls the viewing angle so that the display can show different images from the left, right, and center simultaneously. The Triple Directional Viewing LCD takes the proprietary controlled view-ing-angle technology developed by the Sharp Laboratories of Europe a step further. Using a special foil as parallax barrier with newly designed geometry on a standard TFT LCD, the screen splits light in three direc-tions - left, right, and center - and displays three separate images on the same screen at the same time. How-ever, the Triple Directional Viewing LCDs can also be used as perfectly normal displays with a wide viewing angle, despite the static aperture grille. The trick here is to feed in the same visual content for all viewing an-gles.

Areas of applications would be similar to the ones for the Dual Directional Viewing LCD. Taking the automotive industry as example: The Triple Directional Viewing LCD would allow the driver to use a car navigation system screen, while the person in the passenger seat checks out tourist sites and restaurants, and the person in the back seat enjoys a movie on DVD, all in full-screen view, all at the same time. But also for the growing e-signage market Sharp Triple Directional Viewing LCDs bear an interesting potential for new products, such as multipurpose signs in public: they could display three different ads for stores or restaurants, each aimed at people walking in a certain direction. In addition, ATMs as well as information and banking terminals provide a prospect area of application. When activated, the screen displays individual information to the customer in front, while showing commercials to the left and the right side to ensure privacy to the user. In idle mode, the display can serve as screen for advertising and general information visible from all directions.

The introduction of the Triple Directional Viewing LCD continues Sharp’s history of constantly improving on LCD performance factors like contrast and viewing angle. Its innovative LCD technology has opened up new digital electronics markets for products like TVs, notebook PCs, mobile phones as well as industrial applica-tions. The commercialization of the controlled viewing angle technology started with the introduction of the 2D/3D switchable LCD in 2002. Only last year, the company developed again two world-first products of this kind: the Dual Directional Viewing LCD and the Switchable viewing-angle LCD, which are already in use in products like car navigation systems and mobile phones. With the expansion of the line-up for controlled view-ing-angle LCDs Sharp is meeting consumer needs for display products providing added value and convenient use.

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About Sharp Microelectronics Europe

Sharp Microelectronics Europe, Hamburg, Germany, is a divisional company of Sharp Electronics (Europe) GmbH, which is a subsidiary of Sharp Corporation, Osaka, Japan. Sharp is a worldwide developer of core digital technologies that are playing an integral role in shaping the next generation of electronic products for consumer and business needs. Sharp Mi-croelectronics Europe offers groundbreaking solutions in the areas of memory products, LCD, Opto Components, CCD, RF/IR, microcomputer and system-on-chip components, along with packaging and integration skills that help design engi-neers throughout Europe to bring their ambitious ideas to market. Sharp Microelectronics Europe is dedicated to improv-ing people’s lives through the use of advanced technology and a commitment to innovation, quality, value and design.

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responsible:
Sharp Microelectronics Europe         
Ralf Schäfer
Sonninstraße 3                       
20097 Hamburg                     
Phone: +49 (040)/2376-2487
Fax: +49 (0)40/2376-15-2487
E-mail: ralf.schaefer@seeg.sharp-eu.com