Products such as handheld PCs could benefit from a new reflective, low-temperature, poly-silicon thin-film-transistor (TFT) liquid crystal display, says Toshiba America Electronic Components Inc., Irvine, Calif.
Described as the first of its kind, the TFT design offers unprecedented low-power consumption, increased mechanical reliability, and high resolution (800 x 600 pixels), the company adds. Compared with typical amorphous-silicon backlit TFT LCDs, the new design consumes one-fourth the power, is a third as thick, and weighs half as much, says Toshiba. Component count also is reduced to less than 200, approximately a 30% decrease, and the number of internal connections is reduced to 200, a 95% decrease. In addition, poly-silicon technology allows a smaller pixel pitch by patterning driver circuitry directly onto the glass to support high-resolution levels. That alleviates many of the physical limitations imposed on LCDs requiring peripheral driver ICs, the company explains. Toshiba plans to start mass production in the first quarter of 1999.
