E-signage in a new dimension

Hamburg, March 18 2008 – The electronic poster is now a reality. At the EuroShop, Sharp presented its larger-than-life product representing the world's largest liquid crystal display. With a screen diagonal size of 2.75 metres (108 inches), the Japanese displays specialist has now overtaken the dimensional range of current citylight posters. Full HD resolution and its static contrast of 1200:1 also ensure brilliant image reproduction from all sides. As thanks to Sharp's own in-house developed Advanced Super View (ASV) technology, these 108-inch displays offer an extremely wide viewing angle of 176° in all directions. The backlight unit offers a long service life and is particularly easy to replace, thus keeping both system and maintenance costs low.

With the introduction of the 108-inch screen, Sharp is further extending its strong position in the rapidly growing e-signage market. The product portfolio now includes displays with 46-, 52-, 65- and 108-inch screen diagonals, with full HD resolution. As a developer and manufacturer of system solutions, Sharp offers all e-signage displays, from the simple LCD panel through to the finished monitor. As installing conventional landscape liquid crystal screens larger than 60 inches in portrait mode nor-mally results in a severe reduction in service life, for its 65-inch displays Sharp provides a separate portrait model with a background lighting unit specially designed for vertical installation. Portrait models are already under development for other display sizes as well. In addition, 65-inch monitors are also available with a touchscreen for interactive signage applications.

Sharp's comprehensive e-signage portfolio offers many opportunities for system integrators and users such as shop and restaurant chains, airports and department stores to integrate information screens into their individual interior designs. The differing vertical ranges of manufacture of the products from the simple LCD panel through to the complete monitor provide additional scope for the creation of user-specific e-signage solutions.

As part of a comprehensive system solution, an integral component of the e-signage product portfolio is easy-to-use content-management software provided by software partners, which allows the various monitors on a digital signage system to be individually controlled and programmed. Split-screen tools also make it possible to define individual areas on the monitor and to fill these with a variety of contents, for example films, flowing text strips and animated graphic images and photos.

Large-format e-signage monitors, with this applying above all for 108-inch screens, naturally impose entirely new require-ments in terms of logistics. To ensure ease of handling for its partners, Sharp offers numerous services. The range of these includes accessories such as protective glass and wall mounting brackets, logistics, installation, network integration and maintenance. In this way Sharp provides systematic support for the implementation and operation of e-signage systems, thus allowing users to devote their entire concentration to their core business.

Availability

108-inch monitors are scheduled to go into series production in Q3 2008. All other e-signage displays are already available in Europe from Sharp sales offices and distribution partners.

Please visit us at the
Digital Signage Expo (Essen (Germany), 6-8 May 2008)
Stand 12B.50

Contact:

Sharp Microelectronics Europe
Service-Hotline: +49 (0)180 507 35 07
Service Email: e-signage@seeg.sharp-eu.com

Note: The availability of the products and components mentioned in this press release is restricted to the European markets. For availability of these products and  

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 shaping the next generation of electronic ap-plications and products. With a portfolio of more than 2,000 components in the ranges of TFT LCDs in screen sizes up to 108 inches, high brightness white and colour LEDs, optoelectronics, CCD and CMOS camera sensors, RF-, IC- und LSI-components as well as advanced pack-aging and integration skills Sharp Microelectronics Europe offers groundbreaking solutions in particular for applications in automotive elec-tronics, mobile / communications technology, industrial automation, consumer electronics, e-signage and LED based lighting technology. We are dedicated to the improvement of people’s lives and environmental protection through the use of advanced technologies. Technology and product development at Sharp is strongly determined by innovation, quality, usability and saving of resources.

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For further information and illustration material see: www.sharpsme.com

e-Signage Line-up

Monitors  

Panels

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