At the currently ongoing FPD International show in Japan, Sharp demonstrated a 14.1-inch monochrome LCD panel with 1030x606 resolution that has the ability to "remember" the image displayed even after power has been cut off. In this fashion, it is similar to e-paper displays. Sharp also had other sizes on display, including 6.1-, 2.4- and 1.7-inch black and white LCDs, along with 14.1- and 6.1-inch eight-color displays. While specific information on the technology behind the display was not revealed, it is known to use a cholesteric LCD design and that power consumption for saving the image is relatively large. The company is utilizing the technology in a supermarket as a price tag that can change to promote limited-time sales, for example. For this application, a 1.7-inch black and white LCD is combined with a wireless LAN function and a control circuit to allow many tags to be changed at the same time from a remote location. The company envisions the technology for use as restaurant menus, and public signage.
A Sharp representative at FPD did say the new LCD uses components not usually found in conventional LCDs, adding to the cost, but can reduce it thanks to economies of scale and by using its older manufacturing lines for production, putting costs in line with modern LCD panels. There is no word on whether or when the technology will come to market. [viaTech-On]
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