Sharp was highlighting its technology in IGZO backplanes and its touch integration at the SID.
IGZO will be important, Sharp believes, because it meets the needs that are developing in IT and PCs. The trends are to high resolution and faster switching. Technologies such as Nvidia’s G-Sync variable frame rate need better processing. The other big trend is to slimmer bezels and Sharp has seen its notebook bezels over 18 months from 2.85mm to 2mm and then down to 1.25mm by the end of 2016 or early 2017. The technology also allows the development of free-form displays, which were a big highlight from Sharp last year.
We had a look at a 15.6″ panel with 100% of AdobeRGB coverage, which is achieved using new phosphors and LEDs, with optimised filters, rather than QDs.
Sharp is having success with its MemoryLCD technology for wearables and low power applications, but there was no news at SID.
In the automotive world, Sharp is developing a range of products. Displays for this application have to meet tough regulations in the US. If the display fails, the device has to act correctly as a mirror and has to have enough reflectivity for this (apparently, the regulations in Europe do not mandate this). The company had a nice demonstration of the free-form, touch on the edge, display that we featured last year, along with the mirror display and a circular display used as part of a control.
IGZO was being used to control a 2.84″ IGZO LCD with 1920 x 2160 (16:18) display which featured not only 1008ppi, but also 200cd/m² of brighness and 120Hz frame rate. The display was being shown in a dual lens ‘VR headset’ configuration.
Sharp was also highlighting that the developments with PCap touch partners that we have been reporting for the last couple of years are now coming to fruition with finished products arriving. We video’d Sharp’s Dave Hagan talking about this (and the slim bezel work )Sharp Explains its Developments in PCap Touch and IGZO)
