2005/09/13
Hitachi Displays and NTT IT Develop 9-inch High-definition 3D TFT LCD Viewable Without Special Glasses
Hitachi Displays, Ltd. and NTT IT Corporation today announced development of a new-format 3D display that uses new 3D image display principles (Depth Fused-3D (DFD)) developed by NTT Cyber Space Laboratories to eliminate the need for special viewing glasses.
The display, consisting of two LCD panels positioned to the front and rear, produces three-dimensional images by altering the difference in the luminance between the two panels. Conventional 3D displays produce separate images for the right and left eye, which causes eye fatigue. The new display, however, produces 3D images that cause minimal visual fatigue because the point of convergence of both eyes and the point of accommodation to the picture on the screen are almost the same. Plans call for the start of volume production in the year ending March 2007, with subsequent increases in production.
The new display will be exhibited at FPD International 2005, which is being staged at Pacifico Yohohama from October 19 to 21.
Principles of the New 3D Display Format (DFD)
By using two TFT LCDs front and rear that are separated by a suitable gap, images of differing illumination are displayed so as to overlap in the front and rear displays. The images appear as a single three-dimensional picture to the human eye. Using this characteristic, and by changing the luminance ratio of the two overlaid images, it is possible to create a continuous sense of depth between the two panels. Because this format displays natural 3D images, there is almost no eye fatigue even for extended viewing periods.
The new display employs an RGBZ format, whereby a depth signal Z is added to conventional digital RGB signals for all pictures as the interface signal input to the front and rear TFT LCDs. Brightness is distributed to the front and rear TFT LCDs based on the input RGB and Z (depth) signals.
Future Product Development
The qualities of the new display make it ideally suited for amusement and automotive applications. A lineup of products will be assembled for these and other applications. For amusement applications, R&D will initially focus on a 9-inch display, and then move on to developing 10-inch to 15-inch displays. For automotive applications, a lineup of products ranging from 3.5 inches to 9 inches is envisaged. In the future, it is expected that these displays will be used in cell phones, portable video game devices, TVs and medical applications. Hitachi Displays and NTT IT Corp. are determined to create a market for 3D displays that are kind on people and their eyes, and that overturn conventional wisdom on the unaided viewing of 3D images.
Main Specifications(9-inch (23cm) wide high-definition VGA/3D TFT LCD)
| Effective display size (H/V) |
196.8 x 118.1mm |
| Dimensions (H/V/t) |
236.8 x 157.6 x 36mm |
| No. of display pixels (H RGB/V) |
800 x 480 |
| Pixel pitch (H/V) |
0.08 x 0.25mm |
| No. of colors |
260,000 |
| Luminance |
200cd/m2 |
| Business |
Manufacture,
design, sales and related maintenance and services of
amorphous TFT LCD panels |
| Color reproductivity |
45% (NTSC) |
| |
C-MOS digital interface |
|
| (Paragraphs marked *1 and *2 and Items 4. and below in
the above outline are based on the prior news release issued
on August 31, 2004, titled "Hitachi, Toshiba and Matsushita
Agree to Establish a TV LCD Panel Joint Venture.") |
About Hitachi, Ltd.
Hitachi, Ltd.(TSE:6501/NYSE:HIT), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a leading global electronics company, with approximately 326,000 employees worldwide. Fiscal 2003 (ended March 31, 2004), consolidated sales totaled 8,632.4 billion yen (U.S.$81.4 billion). The company offers a wide range of systems, products and services in market sectors, including information systems, electronic devices, power and industrial systems, consumer products, materials and financial services. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company's Web site at http://www.hitachi.com.
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