Displaytech Introduces Single-Panel Microdisplay Technology For Projection Applications

LONG BEACH, Calif., May 16 /PRNewswire/ -- At this year's Society for Information Display (SID) Symposium 2000, Longmont, Colo.-based Displaytech Inc., a leader in the design, development, manufacturing and marketing of ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) microdisplays, announced that its LightCaster(R) single-panel projection technology has achieved market readiness. This projection solution promises to greatly simplify the design and manufacture of projection systems while providing OEMs greater freedom of product innovation and dramatically reducing production costs.

Displaytech's single-panel projector technology was developed as part of the company's ongoing microdisplay applications development programs. Active programs include field sequential color drive algorithms and building projection display prototype and demonstration platforms, while also monitoring key component developments in screen technology, optical elements and illumination systems.

This single-panel projection program, pursued by Displaytech over a period of years, has achieved steady improvements in projection system performance. Special engineering focus on projector system brightness, contrast ratio and color depth ensure that key features approach commercial product standards. Faster display panel frame rates, along with improvements in display drive algorithms, have matched color depth improvements with artifact reduction.

"Getting our LightCaster single-panel projection technology ready for developers is a significant milestone for both Displaytech and the industry. It's revolutionary for consumer product developers," said Haviland Wright, CEO of Displaytech. "Traditionally, projection devices have relied on bulky CRT technology, sluggish LCDs, or three-panel systems which use separate panels for red, green and blue fields. Our single-panel technology utilizes field sequential color, so one thin panel will be able to do it all. Plus, these microdisplays are the size of postage stamps. This projection solution is an all-around winner -- great looking displays at lower cost."

Displaytech's single-panel projection technology offers sizeable benefits to projector manufacturers. Since a single panel will be able to do what it took three panels to do previously, there are great savings in manufacturing costs. Engineers and product designers now have more freedom of design and can produce thinner, smaller and lighter projection TVs, computer monitors, video-ready front projectors for business, home theater and video conferencing equipment.

Based on the LightCaster family of products, Displaytech's FLC single-panel technology enables switching speeds up to 1000 times faster than conventional liquid crystal systems. Single-panel projector designs avoid costly and difficult color registration requirements, further simplifying projector design and manufacturing while preventing difficult field maintenance problems. Plus, field sequential color technology allows each pixel on the display to flash red, green and blue light, thus eliminating the need for the color triads found in CRT displays.

"Single-panel projection is groundbreaking technology," said Anthony Artigliere, senior director of Field Operations at Displaytech. "A single-panel design is simply cheaper -- equivalent performance with fewer components in a simpler system, allowing OEMs to create thinner, lighter, less expensive projection devices. This, in turn, will enable consumers to buy affordable, cutting-edge projection products. Nothing this exciting has happened in the display industry since the advent of liquid crystal technology."

Displaytech will announce a single-panel projector developer program that includes microdisplay panel components, active developer support and required electrical interface componentry during calendar year 2000. A white paper on Displaytech's single-panel projection system technology will be available soon on the company's Web site. Interested parties can see a full color, full motion demonstration of the single-panel projection system in Displaytech's private suite at the Hyatt Regency at SID 2000. Contact Displaytech regarding developer program pricing and availability.

About Displaytech

Displaytech Inc., based in Longmont, Colo., develops and manufactures microdisplays for a range of applications, including televisions, computer monitors, digital cameras, video camcorders, projectors and wearable displays. The company's flagship product, LightCaster, is a revolutionary new microdisplay solution that has demonstrated improved image quality in current display applications and enables new applications for both direct view and projection display products. Privately held, Displaytech provides LightCaster microdisplays to a number of industry leading consumer-electronics companies. For more information about Displaytech, visit the company's Web site at http://www.displaytech.com.

LightCaster is a U.S. registered trademark of Displaytech Inc.