Philips Unveils Next-Generation Single-Panel LCoS Solution

27-Oct-03

Royal Philips Electronics (AEX: PHI, NYSE: PHG) unveiled the latest addition to its single-panel Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCoS) technology portfolio, the DD1080. This new LCoS microdisplay delivers a resolution of 1920 x 1080 and is designed for rear-projection high-definition TVs (HDTVs). Since the DD1080 has the same size diagonal (1.15 inches) as Philips' existing DD720 LCoS panel, OEMs can use current 1280 x 720 line projector designs for 1920 x 1080 models with little reconfiguration.""The introduction of the DD1080 to our existing LCoS single-panel portfolio allows both our internal and OEM customers to reap the cost, size and resolution benefits afforded by this revolutionary display technology. As this technology continues to gain increasing confidence among additional OEMs, consumers will likewise benefit, as high-volume demand and availability will drive more affordable price points,"" noted Wald Siskens, Vice President and General Manager for Philips LCoS Microdisplay Systems (LMS).According to Chris Chinnock, President of market research firm Insight Media, the commercialization of LCoS technology is finally beginning to impact TV manufacturers. Some OEMs are developing HDTVs with 1920 x 1080 resolution, and others worldwide are building 1280 x 720 HDTVs. ""Considered to be the most viable solution for rear-projection HDTV systems, LCoS is expected to capture a respectable share of the overall microdisplay market. Philips' LCoS technology portfolio has demonstrated the potential for providing TV makers with high image quality and resolution, in high volumes at a low cost. Adding the DD1080 to this line-up further positions Philips to play a leading role in this arena, especially versus digital light projection (DLPô) rear-projection TVs where 1080-pixel solutions are not even on the horizon,"" said Chinnock.The DD1080 is part of Philips' commitment to LCoS technology, which is enabled by the combined strengths of several groups within Philips: Semiconductors (silicon backplane), Research (single-panel scheme), LCoS Microdisplay Systems (panel, ASIC and driver electronics), Creative Display Solutions (LCoS light engine), and Lighting (UHP lamp).Philips' single-panel LCoS technology is claimed to provide an advantage over the three-panel LCoS display systems currently available, which requires one panel for each color (red/green/blue), making the TV set both heavier and costlier, with inherent convergence problems. The DD1080 is based on very fast pixel electronics and, therefore, works with Philips' patented scrolling color technology, resulting in a sequential projection of these three colors onto one panel. By addressing the limitations and challenges that three-panel designs can impose, the DD1080 is said to deliver significant cost, size and performance advantages for OEMs looking to commercialize LCoS-powered rear-projection TVs delivering a 1920 x 1080 resolution.The DD1080 offers a high contrast ratio, a two-million pixel count, and 540 Hz color field rate. Contributing to its low-cost advantage is the potential to scale with technology, because Philips' LCoS structures can be scaled with silicon feature size reductions. A response time of 0.9 ms is claimed for the DD1080. The company's LCoS panels are said to address the image quality, resolution, viewing angle, dithering, motion artifacts, and cost concerns that can be associated with competing HDTV solutions, such as plasma and liquid crystal displays (LCDs).Samples of the DD1080 are now available, and the panel is slated for mass production in early 2004. This new panel will be produced in Philips LMS' new LCoS fab in B?blingen, Germany, a manufacturing facility for the volume production of single-panel LCoS solutions for the worldwide microdisplay market. The DD1080 was demonstrated for the first time on September 26, at the facility-opening event in B?blingen, Germany, and made its debut in Chiba, Japan, October 7.For more information about Royal Philips Electronics, visit www.philips.com.

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