Canon wins SED lawsuit, can produce SED displays again

It's been a while since we've heard about Canon's legal troubles with SED, but it sounds like things are taking a turn for the better -- the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled last week that Canon had not broken its contract with Nano-Proprietary (now called Applied Nanotech Holdings) since Canon is now the sole owner of its previous joint venture with Toshiba, SED Inc. The court also reinstated Canon's license to the SED tech, but since Canon stopped working on the tech last year, it'll probably be a while before we see any SED displays actually show up. We'll see how it goes down -- hopefully those rumors of a skunkworks SED project inside Canon will make this all seem like a bad dream someday.

[Thanks, Alex]

[Dragod @ Aug 6th 2008 10:11PM]

What exactly is a SED TV, and why should I want one?

[Miguel @ Aug 6th 2008 10:34PM]

Per Wikipedia:

"The surface conduction emitter emits electrons that excite a phosphor coating on the display panel, the same basic concept found in traditional cathode ray tube (CRT) televisions. This means that SEDs use tiny cathode ray tubes behind every single pixel (instead of one tube for the whole display) and can combine the slim form factor of LCDs and plasma displays with the superior viewing angles, contrast, black levels, color definition and pixel response time of CRTs."

Sweet. I have a Samsung HD CRT, and I actually like it...but it's heavy and has a pretty huge footprint.

[Josh @ Aug 6th 2008 10:37PM]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surface-conduction_Electron-emitter_Display

Or you could click SED and get...

http://www.engadget.com/tag/sed/

where i am sure you will find some answers. Don't be so lazy.

[CanisMinor @ Aug 6th 2008 11:39PM]

You should want one so you can park your lazy ass on the couch, and google "SED" quicker than it takes you to write an Engadget comment

[kjb434 @ Aug 7th 2008 9:00AM]

SED gives you the thin TV of LCD and Plasma but the much better color quality of CRT without the weight!

I'm glad it's back on track.

[nDee @ Aug 7th 2008 9:10AM]

I think it's the next Plasma
It's the best, but no one buys.

[Game_playa @ Aug 6th 2008 10:25PM]

But will it blend?

[Isaac @ Aug 6th 2008 10:52PM]

it ALWAYS blends.

[sfditty @ Aug 6th 2008 10:56PM]

HHHahahahhehehehhahaha!!!!

Oh no you didn't!!!

Phew, gotta take a breather now!

[Vernon de Thierry @ Aug 6th 2008 10:34PM]

Go on Canon you tell 'em "THAT'S WHAT I SED" - and you will feel much better.

[AJ in the East Bay @ Aug 6th 2008 10:39PM]

It's ALIVE!!!

[Cal @ Aug 6th 2008 10:45PM]

ewww sumo

[Dan @ Aug 6th 2008 11:01PM]

Suing other companies is a good way for Nano-Proprietary (now called Applied Nanotech Holdings) to not make money on SED, idiots!

[Huy @ Aug 6th 2008 11:47PM]

If Canon can make a debut into retail establishments by 3rd or 4th quarter of 2010, I think they might still stand a chance. My current HDTV, the Sony KDL46XBR4 is great, but if SED technology has anything to say about it, I'm going to bet that those with already into high definition can make the argument to upgrade their tech.

[cesium @ Aug 7th 2008 12:17AM]

Seems like a pointless technology now, as LCD and plasmas are now (to me) blacker and more colorful than any CRT I've ever laid my eyes on. And honestly I don't need to view my tv at more than 180 degrees, so the viewing angle point seems moot too. Pixel response... pssh I've never experience ghosting on my tv either.

[distantbody @ Aug 7th 2008 12:46AM]

So, it may be pointless to YOU, but can definitely tell you that, as someone who has both a top-end 1yr old lcd and a 6yr old crt sitting in front of me for professional work, the humble crt STILL produces the far superior image.

[neofolklore @ Aug 7th 2008 7:44AM]

I for one remember how my Geforce 2 and older CRT could do 2000x1500 (or something larger) resolution. And in the ensuing years, we went backwards.

[ShadowKain @ Aug 7th 2008 9:04AM]

@distantbody

Better image, on a crt? Are really serious...look everyone! distantbody thinks CRT is better than a 1080p high res. picture! XD ...where did you go to school at ? HAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.....hold on.....wait.....HAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHA...

[ShadowKain @ Aug 7th 2008 9:07AM]

@neofolklore

Bc you know CRT's do great jobs with HDMI and the like, you know making DVD's so much superior on your crt than a Blu Ray on an LCD. Going backwards? If you honestly think the resolution is ALL there is too AV and TV's then you have much to learn...

[cesium @ Aug 7th 2008 11:21PM]

@distantbody

yeah ive never seen a 'professional' crt before so that might be why my opinions swayed. i still find my lcd to be far superior to any crt that i'v eever seen

[distantbody @ Aug 7th 2008 12:37AM]

Well SED production has all but been locked'n'loaded since the completion of the SED factory in Japan in 2007, unfortunately it's just that the stupid f**ks at Nano-Proprietary have put the whole thing back by a few years, so only NOW are they going to start selling SEDs to the professional video industry who will actually be able to afford and justify the early adopter costs in the tens-of thousands. Only three or four years AFTER THAT would they then likely start being viable in the mass retail market.

So anyway, better late than never, but still it will still be very, very later, and that makes me a sad (and slightly angry) panda.

[Crashlander @ Aug 7th 2008 12:41AM]

I'm going to cross my fingers and make a wish upon a star that one day I'll get my SED TV. Miracles do happen, this is no different.

[zerocalories @ Aug 7th 2008 1:18AM]

that's good news, I'm looking forward to more competition to bring down prices!

[AndrewAmazed @ Aug 7th 2008 2:07AM]

wait...Canon produces TVs? when was this...

[Musouka @ Aug 7th 2008 3:17AM]

SED v.s. OLED

Round 1

Fight!

[Jorge @ Aug 7th 2008 9:20AM]

I have seriously been waiting for this! I don't know if any are gamers but I could not play a lot of games on LCDs or Plasmas because of the high response time. I ended up sticking to CRTs.

[Andrew @ Aug 7th 2008 9:28AM]

As a canon employee(though not related to their eletronics division at all) I have to say. YAY!

[Andrew @ Aug 7th 2008 9:30AM]

OLEDs have a finite time of top effeciency. SEDs win.

[fieldcar @ Aug 7th 2008 9:46AM]

I want a front projector based on LaserTV! This is great news though, as it has a good chance of besting the picture quality of all of the current technologies.

[boe @ Aug 7th 2008 11:16AM]

I was really really rooting for SED about 3 or 4 years ago when I first saw it.

However let's say Canon gets a 40" SED out the door within a year. Within a year, I'll be buying a 80" 10G pioneer Kuro.

A 40" might be fine for the bathroom but if I'm looking forward to something to entertain friends and family, I'll be looking for something bigger than what I could have bought a couple of decades ago.

Don't get me wrong the SED I was a few years ago was very nice, but plasmas, leds and others have been improving their technology and making bigger displays and more energy efficient, thinner displays while Canon has been in court.

If Canon can surprise me and release a 60" or bigger by this time next year, I give SED a chance, if not I think the legal battle will have been for naught.

[tatas @ Aug 7th 2008 6:09PM]

Boe- Wow, what are youe compensating for?

[Jay @ Sep 22nd 2008 12:50PM]

I've seen this technology a few years ago at Jacob Javits and I have to say, even then it was far ahead of Plasma & LCD technology. I'm sure Canon has been working to keep the lead and that's why they fought the battle in court. Canon has always been an innovative imaging company and will continue to be so even in the TV industry. Either way competition is good. Just will make Plasma's and LCD's become even cheaper in about a year. I will hold out until then to upgrade.
Those who are heavy into the Video Gaming world, prepare yourselves for something that will make you say WOW!

[GF @ Oct 9th 2008 11:32AM]

>> Better image, on a crt? Are really serious...look everyone! distantbody thinks CRT is better than a 1080p high res. picture!
>> HAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA....

ShadowKain, you shouldn't advertise your total ignorance so publicly.

For your information, CRT is QUITE capable of displaying 1080p. I have a CRT front projector displaying 1080p on a 100" screen, and it looks killer. And my projector is a mid-level model. I know plenty of people with higher-end CRT projectors whose 1080p image would pop your eyeballs out. You can't *believe* how sharp and crisp they look, and with black levels no other display technology can TOUCH.

Oh, and I bought my projector used for $700, and added an HDMI input for $400. $1100 for a fantastic 100" 1080p picture. Now who's laughing?