PassiveMatrix
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Dialog Semiconductor ramps up production of translucent displays for Lenovo S800
We did a double take last fall when we saw Lenovo's S800 phone with a see-through display, and now it seems the futuristic handset is more than just proof of concept. Dialog Semiconductor, the company that makes that passive matrix OLED display, said the S800 will be the first commercial product to incorporate its SmartXtrend translucent screen, which claims superior picture and color quality, viewing angles, and video playback. The company also said the technology is particularly well-suited to displays with QVGA resolution -- a miniscule tidbit about a device that, unlike its screen, leaves a lot to the imagination. Still no word on when it will be available, but at least we can rest assured it's not a fantasy.
TDK flexes its transparent OLED muscles with CEATEC demonstrations
Finally a bit of competition to pep up the transparent OLED market. Samsung and LG seem to have had this party all to themselves until now, but TDK is stepping in with a 2-inch passive matrix screen and a humble QVGA (320 x 240) resolution. Sure, those aren't groundbreaking specs, but a claimed 50 percent transmittance -- meaning that half of what's behind the screen can be seen through it -- beats its Korean competitors rather handily. Another prototype being shown off by the company is a 3.5-inch flexible OLED panel that redefines thinness with a slinky 0.3mm profile. It's made using a resin substrate and covers an unimpressive 256 x 54 pixels at the moment, but again, that's just how good things get started: with small steps of awesome. We'll keep an eye out for both of these as we prowl the halls of CEATEC 2010.
Toppan reveals 5.5-inch active matrix OLED
Having already wowed us twice with its wall-sized e-newspaper and RFID shielding material, Japan's Toppan Printing Company has once again managed to impress with a large OLED display that could find its way into all of those portable devices that we love. At 5.5-inches and 400 x 234 pixels, the screen revealed at San Francisco's Society for Information Display 2006 is one of the larger models of its type, and what's more, sports active matrix technology to improve upon the passive matrix OLEDs of the past. Brighter, sharper displays realized through Toppan's manufacturing process will begin showing up on portable DVD players and the like sometime next year.[Via Akihabara News]
