System-on-Glass Technology |
|
The ACX343, ACX350, and ACX351 are
LCD modules that are implemented using
Sony’s independently developed system-on-glass technology, which makes it possible
to form, as an integral unit, all the
LCD drive circuits on the LCD panel
itself by using Sony’s high-performance/high-reliability low-temperature polycrystalline
silicon TFT technology. This technology
is being deployed for the first time
in a product line for digital still cameras. |
|
Driver IC and COG Free |
|
The serial interface circuit, timing generator,
reference driver, VCOM driver, DD
converter, D/A converter, and other
circuits are all formed directly on the glass
using low-temperature polycrystalline silicon
TFT technology. (See figure 1.) This
means that no driver ICs, and no COG
mounted ICs, are required. This obviates
the need for driver ICs, including COG
mounted ICs, and contributes to improving
reliability by reducing the mounting
surface area and reducing the number of
connections. |
|
Digital Interface Support |
|
Since the interface in these displays has
been made completely digital, there is no
need for D/A converters in the product itself,
and this also results in the advantages
of reduced noise and adjustment-free
manufacturing of the end product. |
|
Low Power |
|
In these displays, Sony located the driver
IC functionality on the LCD glass and
fabricated those devices using optimized
process rules to achieve reduced power
consumption. One of these panels (the
ACX343), for example, achieves an
approximately 34% reduction in power
consumption compared to that of similar
conventional LCD panels when the driver
ICs are included.
Furthermore, the combination of these
high transmittance LCD panels and the
adoption of high-brightness LEDs made
it possible to reduce the number of LEDs
in the ACX343 and ACX351 to one LED,
and to reduce the number of LEDs in the
ACX350 to two LEDs. This contributes
to reducing the module’s total power consumption.
(See table 1.) |
|
Extensive Product Line |
|
While the products in this release form a
product line including 1.8, 2.0, and 2.5-
type panels, Sony is planning on expanding
this lineup even further in the near future. |
|
100% Coverage |
|
When using a digital still camera, it is
necessary to verify all the pixels in the
image, leaving none out. All of these
panels support 100% coverage display of
digital still camera images. |
|
High Color Purity |
|
By optimizing the colors of the color filters,
Sony achieved both high transmittance
(brightness) and high color purity.
(See photograph 1.) |
|
Up/Down and/or Right/Left
Inversion Function |
|
Since there are now digital still cameras
in which the monitor can be rotated and/or flipped, the ability to perform up/down
and/or right/left inversions under serial
signal control provided by these panels
provides a high degree of flexibility in end
product designs. |
System-on-Glass LCD Display for Digital Still Cameras
Vol.44