Toshiba Introduces Six New Thin-Film Transistor (TFT) LCD Panels for Industrial Use


New Display Panels Meet the Needs of Various Environments and Applications

TOKYO and IRVINE, Calif., May 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Toshiba Matsushita Display Technology Co., Ltd. (TMD)**, and Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc. (TAEC)*, TMD's sales and marketing representative in the Americas, have expanded their lineup of industrial-use thin-film transistor (TFT) liquid crystal displays (LCD) with six new modules. The new products include a 12.1-inch SVGA (800 x 600) panel with ultra-high brightness of 1,000 candelas/meter sq. (cd/m sq.) for improved viewability for vending machines, ticket dispensers, or other equipment installed outdoors; 3.5- and 5.7-inch QVGA (320 x 240) modules with enhanced resolution and replaceable LED backlights for use in measuring instruments and handheld computing devices; high-brightness 10.4-inch and lightweight 8.4-inch modules to expand TMD's popular SVGA line; and a new 7.0-inch module to expand TMD's WVGA (800 x 480) wide-screen lineup. Each of the new LCD modules has been designed so that it could be equipped with an optional resistive touch panel. The displays are RoHS-Compatible(1), and have been designed to meet the requirements of the European Union's Reduction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive(2).

The newly developed modules will be exhibited in TMD's booth at the 10th Embedded Systems Technology Expo & Conference (ESEC) at Tokyo Big Sight from May 16 through May 18, 2007, and also at the 2007 SID (Society for Information Display) International Symposium, Seminar and Exhibition at Long Beach Convention Center, Long Beach, California, USA from May 22 through May 24, 2007.

12.1-inch Module with Improved Outdoor Viewability

The 12.1-inch SVGA module, LTD121C35S, has been developed for improved viewability in an outdoor environment, which makes it ideal for point-of-sale terminals (POS), ATMs, vending machines, ticket dispensers, and other equipment installed outside. Improved viewability is achieved through ultra-high brightness of 1,000 cd/m2 featuring approximately 80 percent reduction in the surface reflection of natural light, compared to existing models. In addition, the backlight has been optimized for light utilization efficiency and heat dissipation. These improvements have been attained with only a 3mm increase in panel thickness to 14mm, compared to the 11mm of thickness of TMD's conventional 12.1-inch high-brightness industrial modules.

The mechanical mounting and electrical interfaces are compatible with TMD's conventional high-brightness 12.1-inch modules, which makes it possible to easily use the new panel in existing designs, thus enabling customers to efficiently utilize resources.

3.5-inch and 5.7-inch Modules

The new 3.5-inch and 5.7-inch QVGA (320 x 240) modules, designated LTA035A350F and LTA057A340F, respectively, are targeted for use in measuring instruments, mobile or handheld computing devices, scales, rack-mounted servers and other equipment that requires high-definition images for enhanced viewability and legibility.

The newly developed modules incorporate a high-brightness LED backlight, which eliminates the need for inverters, thus reducing electromagnetic noise. The LED backlight also contributes to a thinner and more compact module, with lower power consumption to extend battery life. Furthermore, due to TMD's original mechanical designs, the new modules accommodate side and clip mounting, and the 5.7-inch also supports rear mounting, which offers customers more flexibility for mechanical design. In addition, the newly developed modules are designed with replaceable LED backlights in order to meet the need for long-term use in industrial applications.

10.4-inch and 8.4-inch SVGA Modules

TMD's existing 12.1-inch and 8.4-inch SVGA modules have been well received by customers in the industrial sector, and there has been an increasing demand for an expanded range of SVGA resolution screen sizes. In response, TMD has developed a new high-brightness 10.4-inch SVGA (800 x 600) module, the LTA104D182F, thus expanding TMD's SVGA high-brightness series to include 8.4-inch, 10.4-inch, and 12.1-inch panels sizes, which are most frequently used in industrial applications.

In 8.4-inch size, a new module, the LTA084C191F, has been developed to meet the increasing demand for reduction in both weight and thickness for battery-powered handheld computing devices such as portable test equipment, portable medical diagnostic equipment, and industrial equipment controllers, as well as food and drink ordering terminals. The newly developed 8.4-inch module has attained further reduction in both weight and thickness while retaining the features of TMD's industrial-use LCD panels such as vibration- and impact-resistance and long-life. Compared to TMD's existing high-brightness 8.4-inch SVGA industrial modules, this new module weighs 290g (a 100g reduction) and is 6.5mm thick (a 5mm reduction).

The new 8.4-inch and 10.4-inch SVGA modules utilize TMD's core technology of low-temperature poly-silicon (LTPS), which integrates driver circuits onto the glass, thus significantly decreasing the number of connections between the glass and external circuits, and providing a stronger structure to withstand mechanical stress.

7-inch WVGA Module

The market demand for wide-screen LCD panels is growing in office equipment such as multi-function printers (MFPs), copy machines, and facsimiles, as well as in other applications such as electronic musical instruments, and point-of-sale terminals. Demand for industrial use wide- screen LCD panels is growing. These devices are increasingly required to display more information when space is limited in the vertical direction due to mechanical design. To address this need, TMD has developed a new 7.0-inch WVGA module, complementing its current 8.5-inch WVGA (800 x 480) module for industrial use.

In view of the market need, the new 7.0-inch module, the LTA070A320F, is designed with a narrow bezel and extended lamp life (life expectancy: 50,000 hours).

Pricing and availability
The sample price and production availability for each model is as follows.

Screen Size Model Name Sample Price Availability
3.5-inch LTA035A350F $200 Now
5.7-inch LTA057A340F $200 Now
7-inch LTA070A320F $300 Now
8.4-inch LTA084C191F $500 Q3'07
10.4-inch LTA104D182F $500 Now
12.1-inch LTD121C35S $700 Now

Specifications
The product specifications are summarized below for individual modules.

12.1-inch (diagonal 31 cm)
Product - model name LTD121C35S
Intended application POS, ATM, vending machines, ticket
dispensers, etc.
Resolution SVGA (800 x 600)
Backlight 4-lamps cold-cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL)
Operating temperature
range -20 to 70 Degrees C
Outline dimensions
(W x H x D) mm 278.2 x 215.8 x 14.0
Active area (W x H) mm 245.9 x 184.56
Brightness 1,000 cd/m sq.
Contrast ratio 500
Viewing angle
(CR > or = 10) Vertical: 120 Degrees, Horizontal: 140 Degrees

3.5-inch (diagonal 9 cm)
5.7-inch (diagonal 14 cm)
Product-model name LTA035A350F LTA057A340F
Intended application Portable handheld computing equipment,
measuring instruments, panel computers
Resolution QVGA (320 x 240)
Backlight Replaceable LED type
(life expectancy of 20,000 hours)
Operating temperature range -20 to 70 Degrees C
Outline dimensions
(W x H x D) mm 90.0 x 72.0 x 7.0 144.0 x 104.6 x 8.3
Active area (W x H) mm 71.04 x 53.28 115.2 x 86.4
Brightness 350 cd/m sq. 350 cd/m sq.
Contrast ratio 350 500
Viewing angle
(CR > or = 10) Vertical: 120 Degrees, Vertical: 120 Degrees,
Horizontal: 140 Degrees Horizontal: 140 Degrees

10.4-inch (diagonal 26 cm)
Product - model name LTA104D182F
Intended application POS, factory automation, test equipment
Resolution SVGA (800 x 600)
Backlight 2-lamps cold-cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL)
Operating temperature
range -20 to 70 Degrees C
Outline dimensions
(W x H x D) mm 242.0 x 178.45 x 13.2
Active area (W x H) mm 211.2 x 158.4
Brightness 400 cd/m sq.
Contrast ratio 450
Viewing angle
(CR > or = 10) Vertical: 100 Degrees, Horizontal: 120 Degrees

8.4-inch (diagonal 21 cm)
Product - model name LTA084C191F
Intended application Handheld computing devices
Resolution SVGA (800 x 600)
Backlight Single-lamp cold-cathode fluorescent
lamp (CCFL)
Operating temperature
range -20 to 70 Degrees C
Outline dimensions
(W x H x D) mm 203.0 x 143.5 x 6.5
Active area (W x H) mm 170.4 x 127.8
Brightness 250 cd/m sq.
Contrast ratio 400
Viewing angle
(CR > or = 10) Vertical: 100 Degrees, Horizontal: 120 Degrees

7-inch (diagonal 18 cm)
Product - model name LTA070A320F
Intended application Multifunction printers, electronic musical
instruments, point of sale terminals, etc.
Resolution WVGA (800 x 480)
Backlight Single-lamp cold-cathode fluorescent lamp
(CCFL)
Operating temperature
range -20 to 70 Degrees C
Outline dimensions
(W x H x D) mm 170.8 x 110.0 x 8.7
Active area (W x H) mm 152.4 x 91.44
Brightness 350 cd/m sq.
Contrast ratio 450
Viewing angle (CR>=10) Vertical: 110 Degrees, Horizontal: 120 Degrees

RoHS-Compatible Displays

The RoHS Directive restricts the use of cadmium, hexavalent chromium, lead, mercury, polybrominated biphenyl (PBB), and polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) in a wide range of electrical and electronic products as of July 2006, in the European Union. In addition, China, California, and several other U.S. states have passed regulations with similar phase-outs of these substances in certain electrical and electronic products. Initially, LCDs with cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) backlight systems must contain less than 5mg of mercury per lamp, under one of the exemptions listed in the Annex to the RoHS Directive(2). TMD is committed to offering a broad selection of RoHS-Compatible displays, and will continue to develop products intended to meet various global environmental regulations. During a transition period, TMD will supply its original non-RoHS-Compatible modules to existing customers as demand warrants.

*About TAEC

Combining quality and flexibility with design engineering expertise, TAEC brings a breadth of advanced, next-generation technologies to its customers. This broad offering includes semiconductors, flash memory-based storage solutions, and displays for the computing, wireless, networking, automotive and digital consumer markets.

TAEC is an independent operating company owned by Toshiba America, Inc., a subsidiary of Toshiba Corp. (Toshiba), Japan's second largest semiconductor manufacturer and the world's ninth largest integrated manufacturer of electric and electronic equipment. In more than 130 years of operation, Toshiba has recorded numerous firsts and made many valuable contributions to technology and society. For additional company and product information, please visit TAEC's website at chips.toshiba.com. For technical inquiries, please e-mail Tech.Questions@taec.toshiba.com. Photo available for download at http://www.toshiba.com/taec/news/press_releases/2007/lcdb_07_472.jsp

**About Toshiba Matsushita Display Technology Co., Ltd

In April 2002, Toshiba Corporation and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. merged their LCD businesses into a new joint venture company, Toshiba Matsushita Display Technology Co., Ltd, now known as TMDisplay. The new company brings together each company's strengths and capabilities in LCD technology to satisfy a broad range of customer requirements and market segments. Today, Toshiba Matsushita Display Technology Co., Ltd. is a worldwide leader in the field of TFT LCD modules for mobile use. For further information, please visit the TMD home page at http://tmdisplay.com/tm_dsp/index.htm.

Information in this press release, including product pricing and specifications, content of services and contact information, is current on the date of the announcement, but is subject to change without prior notice. Technical and application information contained here is subject to the most recent applicable TMD LCD product specifications. In developing designs, please ensure that TMD LCD products are used within specified operating ranges as set forth in the most recent TMD product specifications. This information is available from TAEC or from your TAEC representative.

All trademarks and tradenames held within are the properties of their respective holders.

(1) RoHS-Compatible -- Toshiba Matsushita Display Technology Co. Ltd.
defines "RoHS-Compatible" LCD products as products that either (i)
contain no more than a maximum concentration value of 0.1% by weight
in Homogeneous Materials(3) for lead, mercury, hexavalent chromium,
polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers
(PBDEs) and no more than 0.01% by weight in Homogeneous Materials for
cadmium, or (ii) fall within one of the stated exemptions set forth
in the Annex to the RoHS Directive.

(2) RoHS Directive -- Toshiba Matsushita Display Technology Co. Ltd.
defines the "RoHS Directive" as the Directive 2002/95/EC of the
European Parliament and of the Council of 27 January 2003 on the
restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical
and electronic equipment.

(3) Homogeneous Materials -- Toshiba Matsushita Display Technology Co.
Ltd. defines "Homogeneous Materials" to mean a material that cannot
be mechanically disjointed into different materials. The term
"homogeneous" is understood as "of uniform composition throughout,"
so examples of "Homogeneous Materials" would be individual types of
plastics, ceramics, glass, metals, alloys, paper, board, resins and
coatings. Toshiba Matsushita Display Technology Co., Ltd. defines
the term "mechanically disjointed" to mean that the materials can, in
principle, be separated by mechanical actions such as unscrewing,
cutting, crushing, grinding or abrasive processes.

Legal Note. These definitions are not intended to interpret the RoHS Directive and/or any other applicable law or regulation and do not constitute legal advice. The RoHS Directive itself and/or any other applicable law or regulation should always be read and understood (as they constitute the law), in contrast with the information contained herein, which is intended to be informative but has no legal authority. You should refer to the RoHS Directive itself and/or any other applicable law or regulation for a full statement of the legal requirements and in the case of any doubt take independent advice, including your own legal advice. The RoHS Directive itself and/or any other applicable law or regulation may be revised from time to time, so users should take care to keep themselves informed.

Source: Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc.

CONTACT: Jan Johnson of MultiPath Communications, +1-714-633-4008,
jan@multipathcom.com, for Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc.; or Poloi Lin of Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc., +1-949-623-3098, poloi.lin@taec.toshiba.com

Web site: http://chips.toshiba.com/

NOTE TO EDITORS: Reader inquiries please publish: Tech.Questions@taec.toshiba.com.

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