Toshiba Develops World's First 15-inch Low-Temperature Polysilicon TFT LCD with UXGA Resolution

4 October, 1999


Tokyo--Toshiba Corporation today announced the world's first 15-inch, low-temperature polysilicon TFT LCD. The new display brings stunning, photo-quality UXGA resolution (1600 x 1200 pixels) to a flat-panel display with a viewable area matching that of a 17-inch CRT monitor. The new display will be introduced at the Japan Electronics Show in Makuhari Messe, Japan, starting on October 5.

Demand for larger, higher resolution TFT displays is increasing at a brisk pace, especially for graphic-intensive applications such as 3-D CAD and DTP. However, manufacturers of displays must overcome three problems: the difficulty of achieving uniform processing across the display; display darkening as pixel pitch is reduced; and increased power consumption as a result of increasing backlight luminance.

Toshiba has drawn on expertise gained as in pioneering low temperature polysilicon TFT LCD, including development of 4-inch, 8.4-inch and 10.4-inch displays, to overcome these problems and to develop its large, bright, low-power consumption 15-inch display.

Low temperature polysilicon TFT LCD use crystallized silicon that allows electrons to flow between transistors at a much faster rate than the amorphous (non-crystallized) silicon used in standard amorphous TFT LCDs. The improved performance allows most of the external LCD TAB drivers to be formed within the display itself, minimizing the space required at the periphery of the panel. The number of components and connections in the LCD module is cut by 40% and the number of connections between TAB drivers and electrodes on the panel cut by 95%. This simpler design fosters greater reliability.

Mass production of this product will start in the second half of 2000.

Main features

a) The world's first 15-inch low temperature polysilicon TFT LCD.
b) UXGA output (133ppi), achieving a high-contrast, high-resolution display image.
c) High reliability through reduction of the number of components in the display module
d) Lower power consumption, supporting use in monitors and portable PCs.

Basic Specifications

Pixel count 1600 x 1200 (UXGA)
Pixel pitch 0.1905 x 0.1905mm
Display size 15-inch diagonal
Gradation 256-gray scale, 16.7 million colors
Brightness 150cd/m2
Power consumption 7.9W
Response time ton + toff: 40ms
Contrast ratio 250:1
Dimensions 319(w) x 244(h) x 7.9(d) mm
Weight 800g

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