Toshiba Matsushita Display Technology (TMD) has developed a new circular design LCD intended for installation in instrument panels for automotive applications, the company has announced.
The newly developed product features a 75mm outer diameter circular form, including the driving circuit, and is based on TMD's proprietary low temperature polysilicon (LTPS) technology. The compact design is beneficial in the tightly confined space typically found in a motor vehicle instrument panel, TMD pointed out.
Historically, TFT LCDs have been designed in a rectangular format, due to the electronic connections and configuration needed to externally control the pixels at the intersections of electrodes arranged in horizontal and vertical directions. In the newly developed display, the peripheral driving circuit is integrated on to the glass, using TMD's proprietary LTPS technology, which enables a drastic reduction in the number of external points required for electrical connection. The result is a display module that is round for approximately three-quarters of its circumference.
By achieving an effective viewing display area of 62mm and a thickness of 11mm or less, including the backlight and LCD driving circuit, this prototype may fit well within the typical speedometer or tachometer gauge found in automotive applications, said TMD.
The newly developed display will be exhibited in TMD's booth # 561 at the FPD International 2007 in Yokohama Japan, from October 24 to 26, 2007.
| Major specifications of TMD newly developed display | |
| Item | Details |
| Screen size | 62mm circular design |
| Number of pixels | 240 (H)×RGB×240 (V) [at the center vertical and horizontal lines] |
| Pixel pitch | 0.258mm (W)×0.258mm (H) |
| Pixel array | RGB horizontal stripe array |
| Frontal luminance | 500 cd/m2 |
| Viewing angle direction | Viewing angle at 12 o'clock (at the highest contrast) |
| Contrast | 600:1 |
| Number of colors | 260,000 colors |
| Outline dimensions (Max.) | Circular section: 75mm. Thickness: 11mm or less |
Source: Company, compiled by Digitimes, October 2007
TMD new circular LTPS panel
Photo: Company