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TMD develops new circular LTPS panel for in-vehicle applications

Press release, October 18; Emily Chuang, DIGITIMES Asia

Toshiba Matsushita Display Technology (TMD) has developed a new circular design LCD intended for installation in instrument panels for automotive applications, the company has announced.

The newly developed product features a 75mm outer diameter circular form, including the driving circuit, and is based on TMD's proprietary low temperature polysilicon (LTPS) technology. The compact design is beneficial in the tightly confined space typically found in a motor vehicle instrument panel, TMD pointed out.

Historically, TFT LCDs have been designed in a rectangular format, due to the electronic connections and configuration needed to externally control the pixels at the intersections of electrodes arranged in horizontal and vertical directions. In the newly developed display, the peripheral driving circuit is integrated on to the glass, using TMD's proprietary LTPS technology, which enables a drastic reduction in the number of external points required for electrical connection. The result is a display module that is round for approximately three-quarters of its circumference.

By achieving an effective viewing display area of 62mm and a thickness of 11mm or less, including the backlight and LCD driving circuit, this prototype may fit well within the typical speedometer or tachometer gauge found in automotive applications, said TMD.

The newly developed display will be exhibited in TMD's booth # 561 at the FPD International 2007 in Yokohama Japan, from October 24 to 26, 2007.

Major specifications of TMD newly developed display

Item

Details

Screen size

62mm circular design

Number of pixels

240 (H)×RGB×240 (V) [at the center vertical and horizontal lines]

Pixel pitch

0.258mm (W)×0.258mm (H)

Pixel array

RGB horizontal stripe array

Frontal luminance

500 cd/m2

Viewing angle direction

Viewing angle at 12 o'clock (at the highest contrast)

Contrast

600:1

Number of colors

260,000 colors

Outline dimensions (Max.)

Circular section: 75mm. Thickness: 11mm or less

Source: Company, compiled by Digitimes, October 2007

TMD

TMD new circular LTPS panel
Photo: Company