The updated name for Sony’s CLEDIS display is Crystal LED or CLED. At I/ITSEC 2017, the company showed a curved version of this LED screen for the first time in the Immersive Display Solutions booth.
The curvature was modest with a radius of 4.5 meters and it was shrouded to obtain a dark environment. Resolution was stated as 4096 x 1496, so not full 4K, but enough to offer acuity of 1 arcminute per optical line pair at the 4.5 m eye point viewing distance, we were told. At this location, the display offers a 60º horizontal by 20º vertical FOV.
Content was running at 60 fps, but that was an IG limitation as the display can be driven at 120 fps.
One very obvious problem was the level of reflections on the front of the display. It was very easy to see the segments are they were positioned in the curve. New A/R coatings will be needed to minimize this.
Over the next year, Sony also hopes to create a display with a radius of 2.5 meters. Apparently, this is mostly a matter of developing the structural support system. Curves in only one direction will be supported.
Sony does not expect to see this system getting into the training and simulation market because of the reflections and high cost (about $80K for 1m2 or $800K for the display as shown), so it was promoted as a ‘tech demo’ only. However, the thin form factor (<6” (15cm) thick panels) and high contrast are very attractive for this market. It seems likely that LEDs will make an entry when the price/performance gets a bit better.
Sony was also highlighting a size and lumen-reduced model in its VPL-GTZ series of 4K laser projector for simulation and training. For example, the GTZ280 model offers 5,000 lumens model and operates at 120 Hz to allow 4K in 3D mode. The new model (we did not get the model number) is half the weight of the 280 and offers 2000 lumens. Interestingly, it only offers HDMI input in a market where DisplayPort dominates. Expect this one to be available next summer at a price to be announced.
Analyst Comment
We recently heard that although Sony can get a peak brightness of 1,000 cd/m² from this display, this is achieved at a very high colour temperature, to take advantage of the relatively high efficiency of the blue LEDs. We have heard estimates that, calibrated to Rec. 709 or similar, the brightness would be radically lower. (BR)
