Planar Adds U.S. Facility to Supply Optical Bonding Services
Custom Bonding Helps Improve Clarity and Performance of TFT Displays
BEAVERTON, Ore.---Feb. 12, 2008--Planar Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:PLNR), a worldwide leader in specialty display systems, today announced a new in-house facility to provide optical bonding of TFT displays. In addition to providing optical bonding services, Planar is enhancing many of its specialized monitors requiring data legibility in bright ambient environments, including products for the marine market such as the LX Mariner touch monitors, to include this feature. Building on Planar's continued strategic investment to deliver high value-added display solutions in custom specialty display markets, these offerings are particularly beneficial for transportation and outdoor kiosk applications that use TFT displays in high ambient conditions.
"For touch applications, TFT LCDs benefit from optical bonding for many reasons. For example, because this technology allows more light to pass through than conventional overlays, the backlight does not have to be improved to compensate for the loss of brightness," said John Jacobs, Director of Notebook Market Research, DisplaySearch. "Planar's optical bonding may save TFT LCD manufacturing costs, or offer more brightness with the same costs."
Improved Clarity, Efficiency and Reduced Power Consumption
TFT displays are traditionally mounted with protective cover glass or touch screens, adding layers to the optical path which can create reflections, glare and image distortion. This also requires the display to have a more powerful backlight in order to compensate for decreased readability in bright environments. Optical bonding uses a silicone or urethane adhesive instead to add the cover glass or touch screen, which ultimately increases display contrast and also seals and protects the display. Utilizing TFT panels from its supply chain partners, Planar's optical bonding process provides additional benefits of increased display rigidity.
From a safety perspective, optically-bonded displays improve efficiency by decreasing the amount of time necessary for a soldier, EMT, pilot or law enforcement officer to read information on a display while in control of a moving vehicle, boat or aircraft. Optically-bonded displays also require less backlight wattage, which decreases heat, improves product reliability and lessens energy consumption. Finally, for battery-powered products, decreasing the power required to illuminate the backlight helps avoid excessive battery drain.
Differentiated Custom Bonding Services
Planar has a long history of optically bonding displays for extreme applications. The company's electroluminescent manufacturing facility has been bonding over 100,000 pieces of display glass annually for 25 years. Planar also has years of experience in optical bonding for demanding applications such as passive LCDs in gas pumps and avionics AMLCD cockpit displays. The company's ISO 9001-quality systems, MIL-spec and FDA-level standards, extensive in-house optical test verification capabilities and strong relationships within the global display industry offer additional quality controls and systems not readily available to smaller firms.
"With nearly 25 years of experience manufacturing high performance flat panel solutions and along with its new state-of-the-art capability and 2,500-square foot clean room facility, Planar is uniquely positioned to supply custom bonding services that are differentiated from the small, boutique vendors," said Doug Barnes, vice president and general manager of Planar's Industrial Business Unit. "Planar's extensive capabilities make us the ideal provider of these types of solutions, which ultimately improve the performance of our OEM customers' displays."
Samples of Planar's optically-bonded displays are available upon request, and all products are backed by Planar's industry-leading customer service warranty. Contact details for global channel partners may be found on at www.planarembedded.com or by contacting a Planar marketing representative. For more information, please visit www.planarembedded.com/optical-bonding.
About Planar
Planar Systems, Inc (NASDAQ:PLNR) is a global leader of specialty display technology providing hardware and software solutions for the world's most demanding environments. Hospitals, space and military programs, utility and transportation hubs, shopping centers, banks, government agencies, businesses, and home theater enthusiasts all depend on Planar to provide superior performance when image experience is of the highest importance. Founded in 1983, Planar is headquartered in Oregon, USA, with offices, manufacturing partners, and customers worldwide. For more information, visit www.planar.com.
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SOURCE: Planar Systems, Inc.
