VVDS 48 December 2010

7/29/2019 VVDS 48 December 2010

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/vvds-48-december-2010 1/66

Table of Contents

Sim4tec, p27 MIT, p48 Toshiba, p42

Letter from the publisher: Anti Sherman…by Mark Fihn

Display-related standards news IMI Europe Digital Printing Week, October 25-29, 2010, Lisbon, Portugal 2

SID Vehic les and Photons, October 21-22, 2010, Dearborn, Michigan 2

Plastic Electron ics Conference & Exhibition, October 19-21, 2010, Dresden, Germany 2

OLEDs World Summit, September 27-29, 2010, San Francisco, California 3

IFA DisplaySearch Business Conference, September 3, 2010, Berlin, Germany 3

SID Display Week, May 25-28, 2010, Seattle, Washington 3

Green electronics round-up compiled by Keith Baker with additional material byPhillip Hill 4

Display metrology news compiled by Phillip Hill 4New consumer, new tools , equals new normal by Andy Marken 5

Why existing brightness controls and light sensors are effectively useless 5

Wasting lots of energy and battery power, reducing screen readability, and causing eyestrain by Raymond Soneira

The Last Word: Au ld Lang Syne Farewell to VGA…by Fluppeteer 6

Calendar of events 6

The Display Standard is focused on bringing news and commentary about display-related standards an

regulations. The Display Standard is published electronically 10 times annually by Veritas et Visus, 3305 Chelse

Place, Temple, Texas, USA, 76502. Phone: +1 254 791 0603. http://www.veritasetvisus.com

Publisher & Editor-in-Chief Mark Fihn [email protected] Managing Editor Phillip Hill [email protected] Contributors Keith Baker, Fluppeteer, Andy Marken, and Raymond Soneira

Subscription rate: US$47.99 annually. Single issues: US$7.99 each. Hard copy subscriptions are available uprequest, at a rate based on location and mailing method. Copyright 2010 by Veritas et Visus. All rights reserveVeritas et Visus disclaims any proprietary interest in the marks or names of others.

Display Standard Veritas et Visus December 2010 Vol 5 No 8

7/29/2019 VVDS 48 December 2010


Veritas et Visus Display Standard December 201

2

Anti Sherman…by Mark Fihn

The Sherman Antitrust Act was implemented in 1890 in the United States as a way for the Federal government

better control monopolistic tendencies in some industries so that no one company could create an anti-competitienvironment.

Section 1: “Every contract, combination in the form of trust or otherwise, or conspiracy, in restraint of trade or commerce among the several States, or with foreign nations, is declared to be illegal.”

Section 2: “Every person who shall monopolize, or attempt to monopolize, or combine or conspire withany other person or persons, to monopolize any part of the trade or commerce among the several States,or with foreign nations, shall be deemed guilty of a felony”.

It’s from these short lines that the US Treasury Department over the past year has fined various LCD makers mothan $890 million in total, and sentenced no less than 20 executives from LCD companies to serve time in prison. recent Justice Department paper summarized:

“The Division…has an ongoing investigation into price fixing in the LCD industry TFT-LCD panels areused in computer monitors and notebooks, televisions, mobile phones and other electronic devices.Companies directly affected by the LCD price-fixing conspiracy are some of the largest computer and television manufacturers in the world, including Apple, Dell and Hewlett Packard. As a result of the Division’s ongoing enforcement investigation, more than $890 million in criminal fines have been obtained to date and 19 executives and seven companies have been charged”.

The reference to Apple, Dell, and HP (and note that Motorola was one of the original plaintiffs) is important for thTreasury Department claim, as the Federal jurisdiction of the Sherman Anti-trust Act is based on Constitutiongrounds related to Interstate commerce. If the LCD makers were conspiring to fix prices against Japanecompanies or European companies, and not against American companies, then there would be no basis for th

Treasury Department to make claims based on the Sherman Antitrust Act. Since Apple, Dell, HP, and Motorodon’t actually build any of these products themselves, employing 3rd party companies to manufacture the produc – 100% of them manufactured by non-US companies in factories located primarily in China and Taiwan – I suspethe Treasury Department attorneys wished that US commerce had been a bit more directly impinged. Even t procurement process of the LCDs in question, for the most part, were transacted by 3rd party companies, such thactual price paid by Apple, Dell, HP, and Motorola for the LCDs was unlikely to be the actual transaction pric between the LCD maker and the OEM manufacturer.

In any case, the Justice Department attorneys figured out how to assert jurisdiction, and proceeded with investigation against several LCD manufacturers, including LG Display, Hitachi, Sharp, Epson, AUO, CPHannstar, and ChiMei, and the companies have variously agreed to pay fines and support prison sentences for somof their executives. The trial summaries are interesting reading, and include references to clandestine “CrystMeetings” and conspiratorial exchanges of information about pricing, leading to price-fixing agreements. Fromrecent trial summary, http://www.justice.gov/atr/cases/f259800/259889.htm:

During the period covered by this Indictment, participants in the Crystal Meetings regularly exchanged production, shipping, supply, demand, and pricing information with each other at the meetings for the purpose of agreeing to fix the price of TFT-LCD, as well as implementing, monitoring, and enforcing adherence to the fixed prices. Up until 2003, the participants in the Crystal Meetings reached priceagreements on certain sized TFT-LCD used in computer notebooks and monitors. Beginning in 2003,the price agreements reached at the Crystal Meetings also included certain sized TFT-LCD used in flat- screen televisions.

7/29/2019 VVDS 48 December 2010



3

The participants in the conspiracy issued price quotations in accordance with the price agreements and accepted payment for the supply of TFT-LCDs sold at collusive, noncompetitive prices to customers inthe United States and elsewhere.

AUO: While all of the other defendants reached some sort of settlement agreement with the Justice DepartmenAU Optronics has consistently insisted on proving its innocence through the legal system. During a recent visit the US to defend themselves against conspiracy price-fixing charges, C.L. Chen, CEO and President of AUO, H.Chen, AUO Vice-Chairman, and Hui Hsiung, AUO Board member and President of Qisda, were prohibited froleaving the US without the court’s permission. AU Optronics said its executives went to attend those pre-trihearings voluntarily and had hired legal counsel to help resolve the case.

Where’s Samsung? Notable among the list of LCD makers that is NOT included in the Justice Departmeactions is Samsung. When word of the Justice Department activities came out, the first question that came up fro people familiar with the market dynamics, was when Samsung would be implicated, as any such “CrysMeetings” and conspiratorial pricing could only have been successful with Samsung’s participation, in fact, almorequiring Samsung’s active leadership and support. So I’ve been waiting to read about what I expected to be tJustice Department’s biggest case, wondering what the fines and prison terms would be for Samsung.

Until I read about the Justice Department’s “Leniency Program”…

“Criminal enforcement at the Division relies heavily on its Leniency Program, which is the Division’s most important investigative tool for detecting cartel activity. Through this Leniency Program, a corporation canavoid criminal conviction and fines, and individuals can avoid criminal conviction, prison terms, and fines,by being the first to confess participation in a criminal antitrust violation, fully cooperating with the Division, and meeting other specified conditions.29 In order to take advantage of the Leniency Program, weencourage businesses to establish and maintain effective compliance programs through which employersrigorously instruct their employees about the requirements of the antitrust laws and set up internal controlsto protect against cartel activity. Similar to our other enforcement policies, the Division provides numerous policy statements to assist companies set up such programs and to take advantage of the Leniency

Program”. http://www.justice.gov/atr/public/speeches/264301.htm

In other words, it appears that Samsung escaped prosecution from the Justice Department because they snitched otheir co-conspirators. I’m betting that the folks that are serving prison sentences are not particularly amused Samsung’s cooperation with the Justice Department attorneys. I’m also not quite sure how Samsung“confession”, without repercussion, really serves the interests of justice… I guess, you can get away with cheatinso long as you’re the snitch who is first to tattle on your friends. As the biggest beneficiary of any price fixinactions, it doesn’t seem quite appropriate that Samsung walks away without consequence. But be certain to knothat just because Samsung was not included in the penalties doled out to LCD makers, this does not impinnocence; it only means that Samsung got away with cheating by implicating others.

Apple, Dell, HP, and Motorola: As someone who worked in procurement of LCDs for Dell, it’s curious to m

that the Justice Department was successful in getting Apple, Dell, HP, and Motorola to go along with this legaction. Taking legal action against your key suppliers is hardly a recipe for procurement success.

Although my tenure at Dell pre-dated the claims made by the Justice Department, it was well understood that LCsuppliers occasionally got together to discuss pricing. As a buyer, it was my job to identify creative ways to heensure that Dell enjoyed competitive advantages – and as such I always tried to avoid making procuremedecisions based solely on pricing, as a focus on pricing is almost certainly a losing tactic over the long term. M bosses at Dell always demanded lower pricing, to be sure, to which I promised that I could guarantee the loweLCD prices in the industry – I just needed my bosses to tell me what they wanted to give up in terms of qualitschedule, payment terms, delivery terms, warranty terms, service terms, etc., etc.

7/29/2019 VVDS 48 December 2010



4

As such, I personally think that if the Justice Department brought an antitrust case against LCD makers based oinputs from Apple, Dell, HP, and Motorola, that this really means that the procurement folks at Apple, Dell, Hand Motorola were simply not creative enough to divert the discussion away from pricing, towards strategic factothat are true differentiators. (Pricing is NOT a differentiator – nor is pricing strategic in nature – it’s puretactical). In other words, the real culprits in this case, in my opinion, are not the LCD makers and their so-call

price-fixing, but the buyers at Apple, Dell, HP, and Motorola who failed to creatively and constructively alter tnegotiations to their favor.

I don’t know that it’s happened, but as soon as Apple, Dell, HP, and Motorola agreed to work with the JustiDepartment on this price-fixing investigation, it’s almost certain that the responsible procurement people at each these companies was fired or transferred. There’s just no way these executives can achieve positive results in asort of supplier negotiations with any LCD maker in the future. You simply can’t work effectively with suppliewhile you’re simultaneously sending their executives to prison.

Dell sues LCD makers: Maybe there are some ways that Apple, Dell, HP, and Motorola can mend fences wiLCD makers after cooperating with the Justice Department, but last March Dell took the added step of suing fiLCD makers separate from the Justice Department investigation. Dell filed a complaint against Hitachi, Shar

Toshiba, HannStar, and Seiko Epson in US District Court in San Francisco. Not much additional information available regarding Dell’s claims, although it is important to note that these five suppliers were all relatively minsuppliers to Dell.

Apparently, Dell’s legal team decided that in the face of such high financial stakes emanating from the JustiDepartment case that the company could also enjoy some financial benefits. My personal belief is that even if Dintends to never do business with any of the named companies, that Dell made a horrible mistake. Delwillingness to sue a supplier not only destroys any advantaged relationship with that supplier, but it identifies to aother suppliers, (even non-LCD suppliers), that there is an additional cost of doing business with Dell. In othwords, to cover the risk of being sued, every single supplier to Dell is going to directly, or at least indirectlincorporate a price factor to account for this added risk. The overall pricing penalty to Dell is almost certain to far higher than any possible benefits they might get from pursuing this legal action. Dell also has effectivelimited it’s supply base – destroying the sort of competitive activity that antitrust action seeks to assure…

Note: Nokia and ATT have also sued LCD suppliers for pricing fixing. Last November, Nokia filed simultaneousin both the US and England alleging that AUO, Hitachi, LG Display, Samsung, Seiko Epson, Sharp, Toshiba anothers willingly conspired to “artificially inflated the price of liquid crystal displays ultimately incorporated inLCD products purchased by Nokia, causing Nokia to pay higher prices.” And earlier in 2009, AT&T startedsimilar lawsuit related to mobile phone displays. So far none of these companies have made any specific claims fdamages and none of the accused companies have offered a public comment. As with Dell’s claim, I personathink these claims are likely to only keep attorneys employed without providing any strategic benefit to tcompanies long term market position or balance sheet.

US States want a piece of the action: One of the unintended consequences resulting from the Justice Departmeinvestigation and subsequent pleas by LCD makers agreeing to pay financial penalties and sacrifice companexecutives to prison is that several US States have now filed similar anti-trust suits. New York, Illinois, FloridOregon, Washington, Arkansas, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Missouri, and perhaps others have now filed antitrulawsuits against major LCD panel makers over alleged price-fixing. Notably, Samsung did not avoid these stat based lawsuits as they did the federal charges.

In these state lawsuits, brought on by each state’s Attorney General, charges have been filed seeking to award damages the overcharges paid on the purchase of these items within each of the states. The suits also seek ci penalties, fees, and costs.

7/29/2019 VVDS 48 December 2010



5

In his $100 million lawsuit, Oregon Attorney General John Kroger charges that top executives of thefirms held special meetings and used a telephone hotline in order to share pricing information and production volumes and agreed to inflated prices resulting in artificially high prices to Oregon purchasers of LCD panels and products. “This important lawsuit will help ensure a fair marketplace and protect Oregon consumers,” Kroger said. Prior to filing the lawsuit Kroger and other state attorneys

general obtained a settlement with Chunghwa Picture Tubes, the terms of which require the company tocooperate with the states' lawsuits and pay $486,000.

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan stated: “These companies conspired to illegally fix the prices for LCD screens. This lawsuit seeks to recover the money that Illinois residents and the State paid becauseof the price-fixing conspiracy.”

New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo claimed that “Our investigation shows that an illegal carteleliminated competition in the marketplace for LCD screens, made its own secret decisions to boost prices, and then took steps to make those high prices stick. As a result, hard-pressed New York cities,towns, schools, and hospitals spent hundreds of millions of dollars on LCD screens affected by theillegal conspiracy. My office is bringing this case to get those illegal overcharges back.”

Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum said “This massive conspiracy allegedly resulted in artificially

and illegally inflated prices of certain LCD panels and the products that contain them at the expense of Floridians and governmental entities”. The Florida attorney general's lawsuit argues the companiesviolated the Florida Antitrust Act, the Sherman Act, and the Florida Deceptive and Unfair TradePractices Act. The state's antitrust laws allow fines of $1 million per corporate violation. The antitrustlaws further provide for damages up to three times the amount lost due to the unlawful conduct.

The Attorney Generals of Arkansas, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Missouri jointly filed a lawsuitagainst major TFT-LCD panel makers for alleged price fixing.

Unlike the Justice Department investigation, which was targeted at the mother companies, the state filings includ both the mother companies and US-subsidiaries. The defendants named in the actions are AU OptroniCorporation; AU Optronics Corporation America, Inc.; Chi Mei Innolux Corporation; Chi Mei OptoelectroniCorp. USA, Inc.; CMO Japan Co., Ltd.; Epson Imaging Devices Corp.; Epson Electronics America, Inc.; Hitach

Ltd.; Hitachi Displays, Ltd.; Hitachi America, Ltd.; Hitachi Electronic Devices (USA), Inc.; LG Display Co., LtdLG Display America, Inc.; Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.; Samsung Semiconductor, Inc.; Samsung ElectroniAmerica, Inc.; Sharp Corporation; Sharp Electronics Corporation; Toshiba Corporation; Toshiba AmeriElectronic Components, Inc.; Toshiba Mobile Display Co., Ltd.; and Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc.

Collective action: In addition to claims made by the US Justice Department, various State Attorney Generalindividual companies like Dell and Nokia, the LCD makers may also face a collective action lawsuit from direand indirect buyers of products with LCDs. US District Judge Susan Y. Illston in San Francisco certified a claaction on behalf of direct purchasers of liquid-crystal displays or goods containing them from 1999 to 2006. Shalso certified a nationwide class of indirect buyers who purchased TVs and computers from 1996. The class actiincludes Samsung, who avoided claims in the Justice Department investigation.

Categorizing lawsuits into collective class-action cases can help plaintiffs reduce legal fees and negotiasettlements, while raising the cost for defendants. Class certification can expand suits and bring hundreds thousands of people who bought goods into a collective group.

CPT has already agreed to pay $10 million to settle direct purchaser claims in the civil flat-panel suit,according to court filings. Joel Sanders, Chunghwa’s attorney, confirmed the settlement and declined tocomment further.

Epson Imaging, a division of Seiko Epson Corp., a Nagano, Japan-based company, has also agreed tosettle direct purchaser claims in the civil case. The settlement terms weren’t disclosed.

7/29/2019 VVDS 48 December 2010



6

EU enters claims frenzy: In early December 2010, LG Display, AU Optronics, ChiMei Innolux, ChunghwPicture Tubes, and HannStar Display were fined nearly 649 million Euros (about $856 million) by the EuropeCommission, the EU's enforcement arm, for what it determined to be price fixing on LCD panels between Octob2001 and February 2006. Samsung was also cited, but was immune from fines due to the company being “the firto provide information about the cartel.” ChiMei Innolux received the largest fine, totaling 300 million Euros. L

Display was fined 215 million Euros. According to the European Commission, over a four-year period, “tcompanies agreed prices, including price ranges and minimum prices.” In addition, the Commission said that thcompanies “exchanged information” on production and other important aspects of creating LCD panels, and ththe companies met approximately 60 times to discuss the panel business, dubbing their conferences “the CrystMeetings.” CMI was fined EUR300 million, followed by LG Display at EUR215 million, AUO atEUR$1million, CPT at EUR9, and HannStar at EUR8.1. Samsung was implicated but was not fined.

Although most of the illegal activity took place in Taiwan, the Brussels regulator said European action wnecessary because the activities of the companies raised prices on goods sold to European consumers. “Foreigcompanies, like European ones, have an obligation to respect competition rules when they do business in Europethe European competition commissioner, Joaquín Almunia, told a news conference. “The fact that the cartmeetings took place outside the E.U. is no excuse.”

Terry Gou speaks out against Samsung: Hon Hai chairman Terry Gou denounced Samsung as a “fink” fleading price fixing in the region yet escaping an EU fine. Gou railed against the decision by the EU to impose300 million euro (US$398 million) fine Hon Hai subsidiary ChiMei Innolux Corporation. While protesting at thEuropean Economic and Trade Office in Taipei, Gou said that Samsung Electronics is the real culprit behind primanipulation. Samsung was also implicated as one of a cartel which colluded to fix prices but escaped withoutfine after providing evidence about its collaborators to investigators.

“Think!” Gou said, “How could Taiwan companies possibly set the prices with the Korean big bosses behind thscene?” “I totally agree that the international community should take measures against unfair competition cartels,” said Gou, adding that Samsung has an infamous record of being fined by the EU for manipulating DRA prices, and on this occasion enjoys impunity just because it disclosed the business secrets of others to the EU.

“We, the Taiwan's companies, are fined but the fink with a bad record (Samsung) dodges the bullet by turning itsein. Is this fair?” Gou asked the press. During the protest, Gou questioned the EU's treatment of the ChiMei Innolucase, arguing that the timing of the charges, the calculation basis, the legal procedure for investigation and thdecision on the amount of the fine are all problematic. In response, the European Economic and Trade Office sathe EU would inquire further to understand the disputed case.

AUO and LG Display have also expressed concern over the EU fines, suggesting the companies may appeal. LDisplay, AUO and CPT all saw reduced fines from the EU due to their cooperation with the probe.

Commentary: The US Justice Department, and I suppose teams of attorneys representing various US statenational judiciaries, multi-national corporations, and class action litigation, all seem to take pride in their activitito denounce the anti-competitive activities of LCD manufacturers who unfairly colluded to fix prices. Sorry, bI’m just not very impressed.

Yes, I do agree that LCD makers are culpable – they should have known better than to collude on pricing and there should be appropriate penalties. After all, the law is quite easy to understand. Butrather than enormous financial penalties and prison sentences for executives, the Justice Departmentwould have served the nation much better had it insisted on assuring that LCD fabrication and assemblystarted to take place in the US, rather than continuously expanding production in China and other Asiancountries. The penalties handed out by the Justice Department only serve to assure that LCD makerswill shy away from litigious nations like the US when making decisions about future manufacturing

7/29/2019 VVDS 48 December 2010



7

decisions. This also assures that LCD customers, including major US-based customers like Apple, Dell,HP, and Motorola, will increasingly shift their procurement and production operations to Asia, and salesefforts and staffing by LCD makers will also move out of the US. Penalties like this are bad news for US efforts in the display industry.

Prison sentences for executives? Over the years, I’ve come to know many of the LCD executives

sentenced to prison personally and I regard them not only as friends, but as decent and hard-workinggentlemen that are responsible for contributing significantly to improved display-related devices enjoyed by all Americans. Imprisoning these folks might make a point, but in the end will serve to alienateAsian LCD manufacturers from their US-based customers. And the result of such alienation is almostcertain to be that Americans will pay higher prices for LCDs in the future.

Justice is not served with an endless retinue of claimants. Suing companies at a Federal level should notopen up follow-on suits from individual companies, state justice departments, and class action suits.The cost of such endless litigation is not only enormous, and will serve to directly increase LCD prices just to cover the out-of-pocket fines and fees, but will also indirectly increase not only LCD prices, but prices for all electronic components to counteract the perceived litigation risks associated with doing business with American companies. This is NOT to the benefit of the US consumer.

American claimants, such as Apple, Dell, HP, and Motorola are almost certain to see higher prices as aresult of their claims. As a consumer, this tells me that I should be able to buy electronic productsmanufactured by Asian companies, such as Acer and Lenovo, at a lower price than I could by the samedevice from an American company. Result – the action by the US Justice Department will almostcertainly help to reduce market share for American companies, to the benefit of their Asian competitors.

The Justice Department could not have made their case without the support of American companies likeApple, Dell, HP, and Motorola. It’s a sad state of affairs, in my opinion, when big companies like theseare so focused on the acquisition price that they are unable to find competitive advantage from non-pricefactors. Pricing is truly only a minor factor in terms of creating successful products. By continuing tofocus on pricing, based on legal action, these big companies have damaged themselves and their futurecompetiveness far more than they can ever benefit.

If the LCD industry had seen a period of price increases in recent years, one might question the cartel-like activities of the LCD makers. The fact is, however, LCD prices have dropped dramatically over the period in question. Not only that, but LCDs themselves face competitive pressures from other technologies, (such as PDP, OLED, and projection devices), that assure competition in the overalldisplay industry. When people hear the word “cartel”, they think OPEC – and assume that there is someincredible profit-taking going on. In the LCD industry, this is just not the case.

I very much dislike a “justice” system that excludes the biggest beneficiary of any price-fixing that wenton – namely Samsung. While I suppose there is some nobility associated with Samsung’s cooperationwith the Justice Department, I don’t think there’s much nobility in actively participating in wrong-doing, perhaps even instigating it, only to be exonerated for implicating others.

I do not think that justice has been accomplished here. I think that there will be some happy and wealthy attorneyand perhaps a few state governments who will see an unexpected financial windfall, but overall, Americconsumers (and European consumers if the EU also moves forward), will end up paying more for LCDs for yeainto the future than they would have otherwise.

While price-fixing is wrong and should be addressed, there were much more creative options available to tJustice Department that would have served to truly benefit American industry, while putting a stop to any pricfixing activities in the LCD industry.

7/29/2019 VVDS 48 December 2010



8

Display-related standards newscompiled by Phillip Hill and Mark Fih

Hardware group make pact to end support for analog displaysAMD, Dell, Intel, Lenovo, Samsung Electronics LCD Business, and LG Display today announced intentions accelerate adoption of scalable and lower power digital interfaces such as DisplayPort and High-DefinitioMultimedia Interface (HDMI) into the PC. Intel and AMD expect that analog display outputs such as VidGraphics Array (VGA) and the low voltage differential signaling technology (LVDS) panel interface would longer be supported in their product lines by 2015. HDMI has increasingly been included in new PCs for eaconnection to consumer electronics devices. HDMI allows for slimmer laptop designs, and support highresolutions with deeper color than VGA – a technology which is more than 20 years old. Additionally, as laptoget smaller and their embedded flat panel resolutions increase for more immersive experiences, the powadvantages, bi-directional communications, and design efficiency benefits of DisplayPort make it a superior choiover LVDS, according to the companies related to this announcement.

Intel plans to end support of LVDS in 2013 and VGA in 2015 in its PC client processors and chipsets. “Mode

digital display interfaces like DisplayPort and HDMI enhance the consumer visual PC experience by immersinthem with higher resolutions and deeper colors -- all at lower power -- to enhance battery life for laptops,” said ErMentzer, Intel’s vice president of Strategy, Planning and Operations for the Visual and Parallel Computing Grou“By moving to these new interfaces, Intel is able to focus investment on new innovations to enhance the Pexperience rather than having to solve challenges of supporting legacy analog interfaces on our latest silico process technology and products.”

AMD plans to begin phasing out legacy interfaces, starting with the removal of native LVDS output from mo products in 2013. The company also plans to remove native VGA output starting in 2013, with expansion to AMD products by 2015. This would mean DVI-I support will be eliminated in the same timeframe.

While the large installed base of existing VGA monitors and projectors will likely keep VGA on PC back pane beyond 2015, Dell and Lenovo have also expressed support for this transition. http://newsroom.intel.com

Publisher’s note: This announcement is interesting but is not particularly meaningful, at least at themoment, since no companies have actually committed to removing support for VGA or LVDS. Intel and AMD have expressed product plans for 2-4 years into the future, but those plans can still be easily changed. Perhaps the most notable thing about this announcement is the long list of companies that are not included. From the graphics side, Nvidia is not included; from the PC side, getting the #4 and #6 notebook PC brands(Dell and Lenovo, respectively), is hardly impressive. Where’s HP, Acer, Toshiba, Apple?... As for Samsung and LG Display, it’s unlikely they will stop supporting interfaces so long as they continue to get orders from their customers. And while the announcement refers to consumer electronics and the popularityof HDMI, there is not a single consumer electronics company listed as supporting this – perhaps because HDMI has pretty much already succeeded in displacing analog interfaces in most consumer applications.

The press release seems mostly to hype DisplayPort, although it does site HDMI as gaining substantial ground in the PC space. While LVDS certainly needs a refresh, it still is substantially less expensive than DisplayPort, and will be difficult to displace until iDP price points start to come down. One also wonders if THine’s V-by-One may gain ground as a credible high-performance alternative to LVDS. Theannouncement also fails to mention other digital interface initiatives that have recently emerged, including DiiVA, HDBaseT, and various wireless interface solutions.

I am not certain why there still are a handful of PC companies insisting on a need for an external DisplayPort connection. Do we really benefit from a DisplayPort connector and its associated dongles? Isn’t HDMI adequate for PCs?

7/29/2019 VVDS 48 December 2010



9

THine releases V-by-One HS Standard version 1.3THine Electronics release the V-by-One HS Standard version 1.3 in order to contribute cost down of 3D televisionand support the resolution of Cinema Full HD of the 21:9 aspect ratio, in accordance with the new trends viewing 3D televisions and internet televisions. The V-by-One HS Standard is developed to provide solutions develop better picture qualities and reduce total costs of television sets. In 2007 the brief specification of V-by-O

HS Standard is disclosed by THine, in 2008 the full specification version is disclosed, and until today it is wideevaluated or selected in television markets and document processing markets. For example, while 3D televisionwith 240 Hz frame rate panels requires 48 LVDS cable pairs, they need only 8 pairs if they use V-by-One Hinterface. V-by-One HS achieves the high-speed transmitter/receiver of 3.75Gbps per pair cable. This featuresults in improving signal quality, reducing EMI, lowering energy consumption, and decreasing total cosincluding cables and connectors. THine has delivered V-by-One HS Standard to almost one hundred companies anhas granted royalty free specification rights to V-by-One HS partners. V-by-One HS Standard has been penetratwidely in major suppliers of televisions and document processing equipments. http://www.thine.co.jp The majfeatures of V-by-One HS Standard version1.3 are the following two points:

3D frame identification. Since 3D televisions have identification on every frame, method to label 3Dinformation on frame are described in V-by-One HS Standard version1.3. This definition enables the

television sets to identify right views and left views smoothly in 3D televisions and reduce engineeringhours and adjusting activities in developing new 3D models.

Data lane of Cinema Full HD, including 2560x1080p. In addition, V-by-One HS Standard version1.3defines the number of data lanes for Cinema Full HD of the 21:9 aspect ratio, including 2560x1080presolution. In fact, V-by-One HS Standard version1.3 requires the industry-fewest 4 data lanes for the120Hz refresh rate or the pixel clock of 370MHz. Thus, the new version can support the increase of 3Dtelevisions as well as internet televisions.

Gefen introduces ultra-long distance (20-kilometer) fiber optics 3G SDI extenderThe new GefenPRO 3G SDI Fiber Optics Extender offers a long-range method of extending any 3G SDI source, fexceeding previous distance limitations. This sender/receiver system is packaged in a small dongle format, offerin

a rugged construction with a small footprint that can be installed anywhere in true plug and play fashion. Sendand receiver units are connected to the 3G SDI source and the remote destination up to 20 kilometers (12.4 mileaway. A single-mode fiber optics cable terminated in ST connections links the source (sender) to the destinatio(receiver), offering a clear video signal transmission for a stellar performance. All standard and high definition SDformats are supported including the newest 3G SDI format. Supported resolutions include 1080p, 1920x1200 an2k. http://forum.gefen.com/linda/GefenPro3GSDI.jpg

Intertek ramps up 18 energy efficiency labs for new ENERGY STAR proceduresIntertek announced that it is deploying 18 energy efficiency testing labs across North America, Europe, and Asand one global certification body in preparation for the December 31, 2010 effective date of the ENERGY STAenhanced testing and verification procedures. The new ENERGY STAR procedures will require manufactureseeking use of the ENERGY STAR label to submit products for testing in EPA-recognized laboratories an

certification from EPA-recognized certification bodies. Intertek is actively working with EPA, and has enlisted niaccreditation bodies to gain the necessary scope accreditations across its energy efficiency test labs and certificati body. Intertek is dedicating 18 of its energy efficiency labs – nearly 30% of its commercial and electrical laglobally – specifically for ENERGY STAR. These Energy Efficiency Centers of Excellence will work together meet the testing capacity needs for manufacturers across all regions and ENERGY STAR product categorieincluding appliances, home electronics, home and building envelope products, HVAC, information technologlighting, and commercial food service equipment. Intertek will provide 24-hour ENERGY STAR certification, aftrequired testing parameters are met, to ensure time-to-market demands are met for manufacturers seekinENERGY STAR approvals. http://www.intertek.com/energystar

7/29/2019 VVDS 48 December 2010



10

TCL to adopt DiiVA across smart TV product lineupThe Digital Interactive Interface for Video & Audio (DiiVA) consortium announced that global TV manufacturTCL has decided to broadly deploy DiiVA technology across its 2011 smart TV product lineup. DiiVA is a newestablished technology standard that is supporting the next-generation home entertainment architecture. Throughunique combination of uncompressed digital video and audio, high-speed data, power, networking, devi

addressability, command and control protocol, and middleware and application layers, DiiVA provides a ne personalized home entertainment experience enabling consumers to easily find content and enjoy it on any displthroughout the home – freeing them from having to remember what content resides on what source device, and hothat source device is connected to the TV. http://www.diiva.org

SMART joins IMS Global L earning ConsortiumSMART Technologies announced that the company has joined the IMS Global Learning Consortium, a leadinnonprofit organization for the advancement of educational technology adoption and interoperability standards support and enhance K–12, higher education and corporate education worldwide. As a contributing membeSMART will work with IMS GLC to advance global interoperability standards for interactive whiteboards aninteractive response systems for classroom, school, district and online learning systems. As SMART Boainteractive whiteboards and SMART Response interactive response systems continue to become more widely us

in K–12 and higher education classrooms, interoperability with existing systems becomes increasingly importaand offers significant benefits to educators and students alike.

Educators around the world continue to adopt interactive technology products into their classrooms, lecture haland meeting spaces. Interoperability with back-office systems, such as school information systems (SIS) anlearning management systems (LMS), provides teachers and administrators greater flexibility to track, monitor anassess student learning. Seamless integration between products ensures that student learning results are quickly aneasily consolidated into SIS and LMS, enabling teachers, administrators and parents to develop a longitudinassessment of student learning. Collaborating with IMS GLC members, SMART will work toward the developmeand proliferation of global interoperability standards to benefit interactive whiteboard and interactive responsystem adopters around the world. http://smarttech.com

Foxconn showcases connectors for DiiVAHon Hai Precision (Foxconn) has exhibited connectors for DiiVA, an interface standard for audio-visual deviceThe company showcased standard connectors targeted at stationary devices and mini connectors designed fmobile devices. DiiVA, like HDMI, can transmit uncompressed HD video and has a network function for sharincontents among multiple devices. It transmits uncompressed HD video via multiple devices connected to a networIts maximum transmission range is as long as 25m. Like the USB interface,it can feed power to a connected device. Though there currently is no product that supports DiiVA, a DiiVA-compatible product is expected to be released in 2011 at the earliest. Hon Hai is reported to be involved in thedevelopment of the specifications of the connector for Intel Corp’s “LightPeak” optical interface technology. http://www.foxconn.com

Connectors and mini connectors for DiiVA

CableLabs issues first “TV everywhere” specificationCableLabs published its first specification for “TV everywhere” services, developed with Comcast and TimWarner Cable, which is designed to provide common authentication and authorization methods for online videThe consortium's Online Content Access (OLCA) project is intended to provide the technical requirements anarchitecture for the delivery of video to pay-TV customers from different online sources using existing Wstandards “to the extent possible”. The 69-page document detailing the Authentication and Authorization Interfa1.0 specification, published Oct 29: http://www.cablelabs.com/specifications/CL-SP-AUTH1.0-I01-101029.pdf .

7/29/2019 VVDS 48 December 2010


7/29/2019 VVDS 48 December 2010



12

Russia to introduce TV power regulationsFrom January 1, 2011, the energy efficiency class will have to be marked on certain household electrical goods anTV sets by manufacturers and importers of these products to Russia. This follows the introduction of a new energsaving and energy efficiency law on November 27, 2009, and the Russian government’s approval of these laws December 31, 2009. Manufacturers and importers are being advised to include the energy efficiency data on labe

and technical documentation and the same requirement will apply to computers and office equipment from the staof 2012. Importers failing to show the labels could be fined up to 150,000 rubles ($5,000).

However, there still remains some uncertainty over the label types and how they will be defined. Digital Europe, advocacy group of the European digital economy, which acts on the behalf of various companies including ApplSamsung, HP and IBM, contacted the Russian authorities in Brussels, Belgium, to claim that the changes could bdifficult for TV manufacturers importing products to Russia. Digital Europe also highlighted that clear descriptioof “TV set” and “combined television equipment” are missing and that, without such descriptions, IT products another professional displays (such as monitors or multi-functional monitors) could also come to be confused with Tsets. However, as of October 2010, there is still no official mechanism in place to check the conformity of TV seimported or manufactured in Russia. Digital Europe went on to suggest that the European Community’s E642/2009 TV definition could be used as a reference for TVs in Russia and it also listed a lack of test methodolog

design or specification of the label as issues that need to be overcome. The group also said that Russia needs offer manufacturers and importers enough time to implement the changes. http://www.digital-eu.org

CEA and CEDIA issue home theater design guidelinesThe CEA and CEDIA R10 Residential Systems committee have announced the publication of CEA/CEDIACEB23: Home Theater Design. This industry bulletin provides guidelines to accurately calculate screen size andesign systems for video devices, including HDTVs and 3DTVs. Following this bulletin will allow manufactureand electronic systems contractors (ESCs) to precisely measure screen size and design systems, maximizing thhome theater viewing experience for consumers. CEA projects more than 31 million HDTV sets and more thanmillion 3DTVs will be sold in 2010. This bulletin, in addition to future documents CEA and CEDIA are working create, provides information to assist ESCs in preparing for certification exams and will help to furth

advancement in home theater design. http://www.CEDIA.org/marketplace

Silicon Image introduces mobile high-definition linkSilicon Image announced the availability of intellectual property (IP) cores that support the MHL (Mobile HigDefinition Link) standard. This announcement follows the company’s recent introduction of its first MHL-enablesemiconductor products. MHL is a new mobile HD interface standard optimized for connecting mobile phones another portable devices directly to HDTVs and displays, while enabling power from the display to charge mobidevice batteries over a single cable. With Silicon Image’s new MHL IP cores, mobile and CE semiconductmanufacturers can quickly integrate MHL-enabled IP into their next-generation system-on-chip (SoC) devicehelping to accelerate the time-to-market of MHL-enabled products.

The MHL specification, introduced in June 2010, is an HD video and digital audio interface optimized f

connecting mobile phones and portable devices to HDTVs, displays and other home entertainment products. MHtechnology features a single cable with a 5-pin interface able to support up to 1080p HD video and digital audwhile simultaneously providing power to the mobile device, and utilizing established connectors. MHL, LLC is thagent for overseeing and administering the drafting, adoption, licensing, and promotion of the MHL SpecificatioThe MHL Specification was developed by Nokia Corporation, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Silicon Image, InSony Corporation, and Toshiba Corporation as a standard for mobile wired connectivity, to enable the developmeof standard-compliant mobile and display products across a broad connectivity ecosystem. MHL, LLC is a wholowned subsidiary of Silicon Image. http://www.mhlconsortium.org

7/29/2019 VVDS 48 December 2010



13

Silicon Image introduces RGB-to-MHL transmitterSilicon Image announced the availability of the SiI9232 RGB-to-MHL (mobile high-definition link) transmittdesigned for power-sensitive mobile devices such as mobile phones, digital cameras, portable media playertablets, and HD camcorders. The SiI9232 MHL transmitter delivers a cost-effective, low-pin-count Hconnectivity solution over an existing mobile device connector. The SiI9232 MHL-enabled transmitter also delive

the following features: multiple RGB input formats; MHL-compliant output up to 1080p@24/30Hz; HDCP 1support; and pin-compatible, non-HDCP version available (SiI9236). The MHL specification, introduced in Ju2010, is an HD video and digital audio interface optimized for connecting mobile phones and portable devices HDTVs, displays and other home entertainment products. MHL technology features a single cable with a 5-pinterface able to support up to 1080p HD video and digital audio while simultaneously providing power to thmobile device, and utilizing established connectors. MHL, LLC is the agent for overseeing and administering tdrafting, adoption, licensing, and promotion of the MHL specification. The MHL specification was developed b Nokia Corporation, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Silicon Image, Inc., Sony Corporation, and ToshiCorporation as a standard for mobile wired connectivity, to enable the development of standard-compliant mobiand display products across a broad connectivity ecosystem. http://www.siliconimage.com

TV energy regulations drive industry support for 3M dual brightness enhancement films

With increasing pressures from both TV energy regulations and product labels from the EuP, California EnergCommission, Energy Guide, ENERGY STAR, and CNIS in China, the LCD TV supply chain continues to play increasingly critical role in reducing power consumption in LCD TVs. In September of 2010, the EuropeaCommission finalized requirements for a consumer television labeling program, and manufacturers may begin voluntarily label their products as soon as the legislation publishes (target Q1 of 2011). Manufacturers will brequired to label their products one year after the legislation publishes (target Q1 of 2012). This labeling directiv program has been in place for household appliances for a number of years, and European consumers will now able to differentiate TVs based on the amount of energy that they consume. Similarly, the FTC is targeting thlaunch of Energy Guide labels for TVs in the US in the middle of 2011. These labels will provide visibility of T power consumption to consumers in a commonly understood format. With the success of the ENERGY STAR 4Televisions program launched in May of 2010, the EPA is already considering revisions to either the timing

requirements for ENERGY STAR 5.1 Televisions. Regional utility incentive programs in the US are also tightenincompliance thresholds below that of the currently published ENERGY STAR 5.1 requirements. 3M’s du brightness reflective polarizer (D3-340) technology improves the efficiency of LCD TVs by recycling polarizlight. The film allows manufacturers to eliminate light sources and reduce the power infrastructure, making the TVmore energy efficient without sacrificing display performance or picture quality at all viewing angles, unlik prismatic enhancement films. As a result, LCD TV energy consumption is cut by up to 32%, requiring fewer ligsources, eliminating the diffuser sheet and reducing the overall bill of materials. The ultimate result is thinner LCDand LCD TV form factors. http://www.3M.com

WiGig Alliance and VESA collaborate on wireless display standardsThe Wireless Gigabit Alliance (WiGig Alliance) and the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) ha

joined forces to work on the next-generation standard for wireless display technology. The two industry groups wwork to develop multi-gigabit wireless DisplayPort capabilities by sharing technology expertise and specificationIn tandem with developing the wireless standard, a certification program for wireless DisplayPort products will bformed. The goal of the WiGig-VESA partnership is to deliver a wireless display function whose image quality anI/O experience is equal to the one provided by wired interfaces. The development of a new ecosystem that consisof interoperable wireless display products that provide a wireless alternative to cables, docking stations, anadapters will be forged by the agreement. In related news, the WiGig version 1.0 A/V and I/O protocol adaptiolayer (PAL) specifications have been completed, and will be published in early 2011. Specific system interfacwill benefit from the new application specifications, including extensions for PC peripherals and display interfacfor HDTVs, monitors, and projectors. http://wirelessgigabitalliance.org

7/29/2019 VVDS 48 December 2010



14

Newport Media achieves milestone of 10 million mobile TV ICs shipped worldwide Newport Media announced it has reached a key milestone in company history with cumulative shipments of mothan 10 million 65nm SoCs that address multiple global standards for broadcast mobile TV. With the industry broadest portfolio of Mobile TV SoCs, Newport Media is experiencing rapid growth in demand for its 65nsolutions. The company’s offering includes products that support analog TV, the ISDB-T standard in Japan an

Latin America, and CMMB Mobile DTV standards in China. http://www.newportmediainc.com

Horowitz Associates says younger generation leading Web TV growthBroadband users are increasingly turning to the Internet and mobile devices to watch their favorite televisishows, a study released today by Horowitz Associates claims. According to the research firm, 39% of all broadbausers watch television on the Web or via their mobile devices, up from 34% of respondents who said they did so 2009. 25% percent of broadband users watch television content “daily or almost daily”. That figure is even highamong 18-34-year-olds, with 37% of people in that group watching television online every day or nearly every daAbout 44% of those between the ages of 15 and 17 years old watch television on alternative devices almost eveday. Even though people are seeking shows in alternative places, overall viewership away from the TV set remailow. Horowitz Associates said that just 3% of users’ total viewership is done online or with a mobile device. Th

rest of their viewing is done on their TVs. However, that figure could change drastically in the coming year. Thresearchers found that 7% of people between the ages of 18 and 34 are “considering canceling their TV service”.more of their favorite shows become available online, an additional 19% in that group said that they would considcanceling their service. http://www.horowitzassociates.com

Quixel Research says 32-inch models are driving volume for LCD TV category in Q3Halting the quarterly march to larger screen size LCD TV sales, the 32-inch segment topped all other size segmenin Q3, posting the largest unit and value increases for the quarter. Quixel Research’s recently published LCD TMarket Review revealed that fromQ2 2010 to Q3 2010, 32-inch unitand value shipments increased 35%and 23% respectively. Revenues for the 32-inch segment rose to almost$1.1B from Q2 2010 to Q3 2010 andwere down 3% from Q3 2009 to Q32010. Overall shipment volume for the LCD TV category increased 9%from Q2 2010 to Q3 2010 and wasup 6% from Q3 2009 to Q3 2010.Year-to-date, the overall LCD TVcategory is down 3% in unitscompared to year-to-date 2009.Falling ASPs in all screen sizesnegatively affected revenue resultsin Q3, with overall LCD TVrevenues down 4% from Q2 2010 toQ3 2010 and down 6% from Q32009 to Q3 2010. In Q3, LEDvolume accounted for 5% of theoverall LCD TV market but lost oneshare point from Q2’10 to Q3’10.http://www.quixelresearch.com

7/29/2019 VVDS 48 December 2010



15

Gartner reports worldwide PC shipments up 7.6% in Q3Worldwide PC shipments outstripped 88.3 million units in the third quarter of 2010, a 7.6% year-on-year (Y/Yincrease, but lower than Gartner Inc`s original expectation of 12.7%, according to preliminary results from GartneGartner pointed out that the major growth inhibitor in the third quarter of 2010 was softness in consumer Pdemand in the US and Western Europe. The third quarter historically is a strong consumer quarter, led by back-t

school sales. Consumer mobile PC demand, driven by low-priced notebooks, including mini-notebooks, sloweafter very strong growth in the past two years. Media tablet devices, such as the iPad, has also affected consumnotebook growth by delaying some PC purchases, especially in the US consumer market. Media tablets do nreplace primary PCs, but theyaffect PC purchases in manyways, Gartner says. HPremained in the lead worldwide, but experienced a slight declinein shipments in the quarter. HPexperienced a 20% decline inshipments in Asia/Pacific as the

company put a higher priorityon profits in the region, withweak consumer growthimpacting its Americansegment. Taiwan-based Acer experienced a shipment declineof 1.7% in the third quarter. Dell showed solid growth across most regions. Overall, Dell benefited from th professional PC market refresh, but North America showed disappointing results. Lenovo showed the strongegrowth among the top five vendors worldwide. The professional PC market helped boost Lenovo`s growth in tUS and Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region. http://www.gartner.com

In-Stat predicts global mobile TV tuner market to exceed $400 million by 2014

Free broadcast mobile TV is on the rise around the world, according to In-Stat. The market for mobile TV tunchips, both analog and digital, is projected to hit $400 million in four years. “The biggest problem for mobile Tservices is that they are developing on a country-by-country basis,” Ins-Stat’s Gerry Kaufhold said. “Tfragmentation of standards in different regions with different adoption rates, poses a challenge for technolomanufacturers developing unique decoder technologies for each segment. However, the growing revenuopportunity is still appealing.” China and some Latin American countries, for example, use analog transmission fmobile video. In-Stat said growth is “booming” in both regions. Mobile digital TV services are on the rise in Asand getting off the ground in the United States. In-Stat said the US service would “drive solid growth in a few shoyears”. The compound annual growth rate for worldwide value of all mobile TV tuners will be more than 12% fro2009 through 2014, In-Stat says. Unit shipments for digital mobile TV tuners are expected to triple during the sam period, with more of them being integrated into mobile phones, laptops and notebooks, portable media playe

smart phones, portable navigation devices, portable game consoles and automotive TVs. http://www.instat.com

PIRA joins The Smithers GroupThe Smithers Group announced the acquisition of PIRA International. Headquartered in Leatherhead, UK, PIRwas founded in 1930 and most recently was owned by BASF. PIRA employs approximately 120 people at fifacilities in the UK and the US. Through the IntertechPIRA brand, it provides added-value insights to nichemerging and high growth industries including lighting and displays, clean energy, home and personal carindustrial biotechnology, performance materials and chemicals. Headquartered in Akron, Ohio, The SmitheGroup provides technology-based services focused on a defined market. As a group the diversity of market sectoand technologies provides stability and a platform for long term growth. www.pira-international.com

7/29/2019 VVDS 48 December 2010



16

IHS to acquire iSuppli CorporationIHS Inc., a global source of information in areas including energy, economics, geopolitical risk, sustainability, ansupply chain management, announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire iSuppli Corporation,global player in technology value chain research and advisory services. “This acquisition is an excellecomplement to the existing IHS product design and supply chain business, and further builds our position as a ke

information provider in the electronics, manufacturing, and supply chain markets,” said IHS chairman and CEJerre Stead. “Combined with the IHS electronic components information business, and our global commodity aneconomic outlooks, customers will have access to a full suite of robust information services across the entielectronics value chain.” iSuppli is a leader in electronics technology research and advisory services, serving a wivariety of market segments including computer platforms, automotive, consumer electronics, and both wired anwireless communications. Product offerings range from electronic component research to device-specifapplication market forecasts, from teardown analysis to consumer electronics, and from display device and systemresearch to hardware design forecasting. http://www.ihs.com

DigiTimes Research compiles notebook industry outlook for 2011Global notebook brand vendors have recently finished their order distributions for 2011 with total volumsurpassing 200 million units, while Taiwan-based makers have landed more than 90% of the orders, according

latest DigiTimes report. In addition to Taiwan makers, Singapore-based Flextronics has also received a sma portion of orders for 2011. Korea-based brand vendor Samsung Electronics will have all its notebooks produced house in 2011, while Japan-based Toshiba and Sony will only have a few models made in house. Observing tnotebook industry, there are several interesting coincidences between the vendor and maker sides, while there aalso some changes that are gradually affecting the industry's ecosystem. Both sides’ top-two players are in fiercompetition for the number one spot in 2011 − Hewlett-Packard is expected to ship 50 million units with Acer 4million, while Quanta Computer andCompal Electronics are both aimingto ship 60 million units. In addition, both sides’ top-two players have alarge shipment gap with the third-

largest player. Both sides’ top-four to six players are only seeing a smallshipment gap for 2011 and their rankings could be reshuffled easily − Lenovo, Toshiba and ASUSTeK areaiming to ship 20-24 millionnotebooks next year, while FoxconnElectronics (Hon Hai PrecisionIndustry), Inventec and PegatronTechnology are also expected toship close to 20 million units.

Notebook players are starting to form little groups − HP recently partnered with Quanta, Foxconn and Inventec establish new plants in Chongqing, China and the company has also reduced its outsourcing to other makers f2011. Meanwhile, Acer and Dell are placing more orders with Compal and Wistron, while Dell is even partnerinwith the two makers to establish new plants in Chengdu, China. Acer and Dell’s orders to non-Compal or Wistrocompanies are mostly lower than five million units next year. Foxconn's advance into the notebook manufacturinindustry is creating pressure for the first-tier notebook makers in terms of gross margins since Foxconn competing for orders mainly using a low quote strategy. In response, the first-tier notebook makers are expected speed up their vertical integration over upstream component supply to counter Foxconn, which is currently sttheir major notebook component supplier. http://www.digitimes.com

7/29/2019 VVDS 48 December 2010



17

FTC introduces EnergyGuide labels for TVs next yearThe familiar yellow EnergyGuide labels seen on home appliances will be attached to televisions in stores, givinconsumers a better idea of how TVs stack up on power consumption. The Federal Trade Commission announcthat televisions manufactured after May 10, 2011 will need to have an EnergyGuide label, which are now used fwhite goods such as dishwashers and refrigerators. Consumers will be able to get an estimate of the cost to power

TV for a year and how those costs compare to other TVs of a similar size. The labels must be displayed on the froof the TV. Starting in July next year, websites will need to display an image of the label online.

A sample EnergyGuidelabel for TVs that showsestimated annual energyuse based on five hours

of use a day and thenational average price

for electricity:

Credit: FTC

CEA applauds new FTC TV labeling rules

The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) applauded the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) new TV energlabeling rules. In response to the rules, Douglas Johnson, CEA’s vice president of technology policy, made tfollowing statement: “We applaud the FTC for its rulemaking today. It’s an exciting and important development fconsumers that will provide helpful energy use information for TVs. CEA has long supported efforts to providconsumers with more information about the energy use of the electronics they purchase, and we look forward working with the FTC as it considers similar measures for other product categories. The consumer electroniindustry worked hard to develop standard ways of measuring TV energy use that support such labeling programwhile at the same time dramatically improving the energy efficiency of digital TVs. The average TV today uses leenergy than two 75-watt light bulbs, while providing a rich viewing experience. As the new TV energy use labewill demonstrate, the energy cost of enjoying high-definition digital TV is on average only one or two dollarsweek, even for the largest TVs.” The FTC’s rules, which go into effect in mid-2011, call for the primary disclosu

on the label to be the product’s estimated annual energy cost, with comparative information on similar-sized TVs most cases. http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2010/10/tvlabeling.shtm

Silicon Image and CESI Tech enter long-term partnership to advance technology standardization in ChinSilicon Image, a player in advanced, interoperable HD connectivity solutions for consumer electronics, announcit has entered into a long-term partnership with CESI (China Electronics Standardization Institute) TechnologCompany, Ltd. (CESI Tech) to collaborate on technology standardization requirements for the Chinese consumelectronics market. As part of the agreement, Silicon Image is engaging with CESI Tech to establish an HDMAuthorized Testing Center (ATC) located in Beijing, China during the first half of 2011. CESI Tech is a whollowned subsidiary of the Chinese Electronics Standardization Institute, whose main responsibilities are consumelectronics product testing and the development of industry standards. CESI was founded in 1963 as a profession

institute for standardization work in the field of electronics and information technology under the Ministry Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) in China. CESI Tech plays a significant role in the promotion innovative industry standards through its accredited laboratories and test centers.

Silicon Image, as well as other HDMI consortium founders, has established Authorized Testing Centers (ATCs) that licensed manufacturers can submit their products for HDMI compliance testing. Silicon Image has appointeCESI Tech to operate a new HDMI ATC in Beijing, China, complementing the other HDMI ATCs already operation by Simplay Labs, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Silicon Image responsible for Silicon Image’s HDMATC activities. Simplay Labs will support CESI Tech with ATC test methodologies, test tools, customer serviand training. CESI Tech services include product certification, quality system certification, experiments and tesand measurement and calibration. http://www.adtc.org.cn http://www.simplaylabs.com

7/29/2019 VVDS 48 December 2010



18

FCC votes to change CableCARD rulesThe Federal Communications Commission voted unanimously to promote a competitive market for cable digiset-tops. The commission is making changes to its CableCARD rules in an effort to improve the consumexperience. Those include ensuring that operators support accessing switched digital video by retail device prohibiting box price discrimination; requiring the option of consumer self-installation of the cards; givi

consumers information on the cost of retail vs. leased boxes; making it easier to get retail devices to market bstreamlining the testing and certification; modifying the Firewire interface on leased set-top boxes to permit homnetworking; and allowing cable operators to provide basic HD boxes with integrated security functions. The lachange follows the FCC’s decision to grant a number of waivers for those boxes because they could help drivemarket in HD sets and spur cable’s transition to digital. The FCC established the CableCard regime, which requircable operators to separate the channel surfing and security functions of their set-tops, in order to spur a retamarket in competition to cable’s leasing model. Thus so far it has failed to do so. The agency’s aim is to creategateway device that unites multi-channel video programming with online content.

PriceSCAN reports 3D Blu-ray player prices down 26% since AprilThe average price for a 3D Blu-ray player has fallen 26%since April 2010, according to PriceSCAN. PriceSCAN, a

research company, doesn't report the average price, butinstead converts the wide range of Blu-ray players on themarket into a single proprietary scale that represents theentire category. The report throws a bit of a wet blanketon integrators’ visions that 3D was going revive pricingon video products. For example, PriceSCAN says the price of the Sony BDP-S570 has fallen from $250 to $170since late February. http://www.pricescan.com

Intel pushes Light Peak technologyA technology developed by Intel and backed by Apple is expected to appear earlier than previously thought, pavin

the way for very-high-speed connections on both PCs and Macs. Light Peak is now on track to appear in producin the first half of 2011, according to CNET. Light Peak is significantly faster than USB 3.0, carrying data at 1gigabits per second in both directions simultaneously. USB 3.0 is not supported by Apple and is only supportsporadically by PC makers on certain models because Intel has yet to support USB 3.0 in the chipsets thaccompany its processors. Apple is expected to back Light Peak. An Intel demonstration in 2009 at its developconference used a machine running Apple’s Mac OS X. And Sony has, in the past, endorsed Light Peak also.

Though USB 3.0 has arrived, it hasn't arrived on Apple’s MacBooks nor on most PCs. The current USB 2standard, which is found on virtually all laptops today, has been around a long time. Intel laid the groundwork fwidespread use of USB 2.0 on PCs and devices in spring 2002 when it put the technology in its chipsets. Peripherdevices, like printers, don’t benefit from moving to 3.0. And a number of laptops already ship with the fasteSATA standard or FireWire (in the case of the MacBook), which Intel supports in its mobile chipsets. USB 3.0

now available on laptops from Hewlett-Packard, Dell, Asus, and Toshiba (laptop port replicator, in Toshiba’s cas but only selectively. http://www.intel.com

Wi-Fi Alliance and HomePlug groups collaborate on smart energy gridsThe Wi-Fi Alliance and the HomePlug PowerLine Alliance announced an agreement to collaborate on applicationthat allow smart energy grids to interoperate with connected homes. The two alliances are part of the Smart GrInteroperability Panel, a forum that coordinates smart grid standards. They plan to collaborate on wireless anwired network applications for what the forum calls its Smart Energy 2 Applications Profile. The Wi-Fi Allian believes that working with HomePlug will help mesh Wi-Fi equipment and devices connected to home powerlinetworks. The Wi-Fi Alliance has already certified 8,000 Wi-Fi products, while HomePlug has set specificatio

7/29/2019 VVDS 48 December 2010



19

used in 60 million devices, including HomePlug AV, which enables an adapter to be plugged into a wall powoutlet in a home. The adapter also has an Ethernet port to be connected to a computer. In another room, anothadapter can be plugged into the wall to connect to another computer, allowing powerline networking between thtwo computers at 85Mbit/s. HomePlug is also working on an AV2 broadband specification that is due to completed in early 2011 that will allow 600Mbit/s data transfer capability over home powerlines. The HomePlu

GreenPhy is another specification. It's used for smart meters and small appliances such as thermostats to allow dasharing between a home area network and a utility. http://www.wi-fi.org

Agilent tests chosen by Allion Test Labs for USB 3.0, HDMI 1.4, and DisplayPort compliance testingAgilent Technologies announced that Allion Test Labs of China has selected Agilent’s test solutions for USB 3and DisplayPort compliance and certification testing. Agilent also announced that Allion Test Labs of Taiwupgraded its Agilent HDMI 1.3 test solution to HDMI 1.4 and added the J-BERT N4903B’s new symbol and framerror ratio measurement option to its USB 3.0 test solution. These two announcements demonstrate the continuinlong-term relationship between Agilent and Allion Test Labs, and Agilent’s ability to provide leading-edge test anmeasurement solutions for HDMI, USB, SATA and DisplayPort standards compliance and certification testinWith the increase of high-speed digital interfaces in many electronic devices, test houses and designers need tright tools to ensure their electronic designs comply with the latest industry standards. Allion’s testing labs will u

the following Agilent products: the Infiniium 90000A Series oscilloscopes and compliance testing software; J-Be N4903B high-performance serial BERT; 81134A pulse/pattern generator and N5990A test automation softwa platform. http://www.agilent.com

Qualcomm says complete FLO TV shutdown is an optionQualcomm is looking at the future of its FLO TV network, including a change in FLO TV's wholesale businemodel as well as a complete shutdown of service and sale of the network’s 700MHz spectrum, chairman/CEO PaJacobs said during an analysts’ conference call. In early October, Qualcomm’s FLO TV subsidiary announced plato shut down its consumer-direct service, likely in the spring, because of low adoption and the high cost marketing, customer service, product development, and customer acquisition. No decision, however, has yet beannounced about the future of FLO TV’s white-label service under which cellular carriers Verizon Wireless an

AT&T buy the service on a wholesale basis for resale to consumers who buy select FLO TV-equipped handsetQualcomm has already launched a restructuring plan “under which we expect to exit the current FLO TV servi business”. That plan will incur restructuring charges of $125 million to $175 million in fiscal 2011. In continuing evaluate FLO TV's future, Qualcomm said its options include, but are not limited to, operating the FLO Tnetwork under a new wholesale service; sale to, or joint venture with, a third party; and/or the sale of the spectrulicenses and the discontinuance of the operation of the network. http://www.qualcomm.com

Hitachi and MaxLinear partner for multi-tuner television applicationsMaxLinear Inc., a provider of integrated radio frequency and mixed-signal, integrated circuits for broadbancommunication applications, announced that its low-power TV tuner ICs have been selected by Hitachi MedElectronics Co. for its line-up of multi-tuner television solutions. Digital TV reception in Japan now exceeds million tuners annually and continues to see rapid adoption across a broad range of appliances from mobile phonand automobile navigation systems to Blu-ray recorders and multi-tuner digital televisions. MaxLinear’s pudigital CMOS implementation enables full scalability in any reception standard and for any number of channelUnlike some competitive products that rely on multi-chip SiP technologies, MaxLinear’s RF systems are based fully monolithic implementations for the highest reliability and lowest cost structure. Multi chip technologies afar less reliable and not scalable at the same level as monolithic solutions. The highly integrated MxL135RF deviis shipping in mass production in million-unit quantities per month. MxL135RF exceeds the exacting requiremenof receiver performance guidelines mandated by ARIB for Japan and ABNT for Brazil. Available in a 5x5m32QFN package, the MxL135RF consumes less than 350mW of power to receive full resolution ISDB-T anSBTVD-T broadcast signals. http://www.maxlinear.com

7/29/2019 VVDS 48 December 2010



20

InFocus wireless adapter turns any projector or flat panel into a wireless and networked displayInFocus Corp. announced the release of the InFocus LiteShow III wireless adapter. LiteShow III works seamlesswith any brand of projector, flat panel or other display with a VGA input to quickly and easily share data, audio anvideo over a secure wireless connections at speeds up to 150Mbps and with a range of 300 feet. For cleaintegration in professional AV installations, new models of InFocus projectors have an onboard power connecti

for LiteShow III that simplifies the installation. LiteShow III is compatible with the latest operating systemincluding Windows 7, Mac, iPhones and Windows Mobile. Now meeting participants can use their smart phone easily share information on the big screen. New collaboration features allow a room full of computers or wireledevices to connect to a single display. Four screens can be shown simultaneously. LiteShow III can be used in thresecure configurations: wireless display only; wireless display and Internet connection; and wireless display, Internand secure network access. When a projector or other display with LiteShow III is connected to a networcomputers on the network can connect to the LiteShow III-enabled display to share visual information just liksending documents to a network printer. In addition, meeting guests can collaborate immediately by using tLiteShow III USB drive to easily make a direct wireless connection to the display without installing software. ThInFocus LiteShow III wireless adapter is available now for $290. http://www.infocus.com

Silicon Image releases enhanced, scalable 4K-3D and multi-channel video decoder IP core

Silicon Image announced its enhanced, scalable “cineramIC” ultra high-definition video decoder. The cineramIC core is now capable of decoding up to 4Kx2K 3D at 60 frames per second including support for multi-channdecoding of up to 16 HD video streams simultaneously. The cineramIC IP core is designed for integration inASIC system-on-chips (SoCs) for next-generation ultra high-definition digital televisions (HDTVs) and set-to boxes (STBs) as well as prosumer and professional camera applications. The cineramIC IP core can satisfy a wirange of high-definition digital imaging applications, while meeting SoC manufacturers’ performance, cost and lo power consumption requirements. The IP core’s unique, scalable design delivers the following features: duastream 4K video decoding (3D at 60 frames per second); support for H.264, MPEG-1/2 and VC-1 decodinstandards; MVC (Multi-view Video Coding), an extension of H.264 that supports multi-view video for 3D moviesports and surveillance applications; fully automatic multi-stream decoding for up to 16 HD streams, with errdetection and concealment with minimal software processing; JPEG decoding of images up to 16Kx8K size at

rate of 9 pictures per second for 32 megapixel (MP) pictures; and up to 8Kx4K digital video decoding at 30 fram per second. http://www.siliconimage.com

Philips launches the “greenest ever television”

Philips launched what it calls Europe’s greenest television. The 42PFL6805H Econova is a 42-inch LED backLCD unit that reduces energy consumption by 60%, while the rest of the TV uses the same technology as its othemore energy-consuming models. The TV will also come with a solar-powered remote. The Philips Econova greetelevision cost £1,200 at its release in November. http://www.philips.com

7/29/2019 VVDS 48 December 2010



21

Sony launches TransferJ et devicesSony’s short-range, high-speed TransferJet wireless data technology counts a lot of big-name companies supporters, but so far its impact in the market has been limited. Sony has now introduced new TransferJet adapteand a new chipset. TransferJet was first introduced by Sony as a concept in 2008. It can realize top speeds around 375Mbps over distances of around 3 centimeters and is designed to replace cables for connecting gadgets.

began appearing in products earlier this year when Sony launched digital cameras with TransferJet suppoBecause the system is new the TransferJet chips are still expensive, so rather than add the chip to all cameras, Sonadded it to a memory stick card. That means only consumers that want the technology would pay for it. It currently supported by several Sony cameras, including the WX5, TX9, HX5V, T99 and T99D. Other cameras nean SD Card adapter, and Toshiba has now developed one. The card is expected to be available next June. The miyear launch gives gadget makers time to build TransferJet support into upcoming products. Also new isTransferJet chipset from Sony that should help speed up data transmission. http://www.sony.com

20 artic les – 55 pages the emergence and future of 3D

http://www.veritasetvisus.com

20 articles – 72 pages of market insights and trends

7/29/2019 VVDS 48 December 2010



22

IM I Europe Digital Printing W eekOctober 25-29, 2010, Lisbon, Portugal

Most of the presentations at this conference have been, or will be, covered in our sister magazine

Flexible Substrate, but Phillip Hill covers part of a presentation here from Integration Technology

Why Has UV LED Technology Gained So Relatively L ittle Market Traction To Date? Adrian Lockwood , Integration Technology Ltd., Oxford, England

ITL is the leading supplier worldwide of UV light engines for the curing of inks in DOD inkjet applicationLockwood first discussed the differences between UV LED inks and normal UV inks before discussing the probleof measuring UV LED output.

He summarized the issues of UV LEDs and radiometry. There is no standard of calibration between different makof radiometer: e.g. an Ushio UVA meter will give only half the reading of an EIT Power puck under identicconditions. Nearly al makes of UV radiometers are only specified to +/-10% accuracy, so there is up to 20 potential variation in comparative readings. Most radiometers are designed for reading an arc lamp’s spectrum ancannot accurately detect UV LED radiation. The measuring sensor in the meter is not necessarily at the sam

distance from the LED array as the ink being cured, anthe internal diffusers and filters may also reduce tavailable light readings subject to the angle of incidence the array optical components. And high frequency pulwidth modulation controllers reduce the instrumentsampling capability. Lockwood said that we nespecialist instrumentation to accurately measure UV LEoutput. UV radiometers are best used for comparatimeasurements once cur parameters are established, bcannot be relied upon in any way to predict cu performance. Measurements need to be at the ink levnot at the array front glass or internal or elsewhere.

Specialist UV LED meter spectral sensitivity

7/29/2019 VVDS 48 December 2010



23

7/29/2019 VVDS 48 December 2010



24

SID Vehicles and PhotonsOctober 21-22, 2010, Dearborn, Michigan

In the first of two reports, Phillip Hill covers presentations from iSuppli, Automotive Embedded

Systems, and University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute

Effects of Luminance and Spectral Power Distribution of Adapting Stimuli on Nighttime Driver Vision Michael J. Flannagan, University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, Ann Arbor, Michigan

The background to this research is that there is an increasing use interior lighting, and there are increased options for light sources wi better distribution and color. What are the relative roles of cones/ro(photopic vs. scotopic vision) in driver vision? How might the color aluminance of an interior light source affect the driver’s ability to detec pedestrian? The method was to use a stationary vehicle on a closed roat nighttime with low beams on, and no other exterior lighting. Tinterior lighting was red, white, and blue, each at four luminance leveA darkly clad “pedestrian” walked toward and away from the vehicThe distance at which the participant could just detect the pedestrian wrecorded, and participants rated the perceived brightness of each interi

light stimulus. When stimuli are equated by photopic photometry, colhas little (if any) effect on pedestrian detection but a major effect o perceived brightness. Cone receptors appear to dominate objective visu performance while rod receptors may dominate subjective impressioof brightness. Although the color of interior lighting probably has littor no effect on drivers’ visual performance, color may play an importarole for subjective impressions and aesthetics.

How the test was conducted

HMI: To Test Or Not To?Shantha Kumari Rajendran, Automotive Embedded Systems, Peachtree City, Georgia

Displays can be huge product differentiators and brand definers. The user can visually see the display, so defecare obviously seen: overlapping text, incorrect graphics, flickers, non-responsive soft buttons, sluggish screchanges. Technical advancements have made vehicle displays bigger, better and a basic necessity. Vacuufluorescent displays (VFDs) are being replaced by larger multicolor high-definition displays. Touch screens in thcar are replacing the center stack of buttons. There is no measuring device available for testing HMI content human vision is required to verify HMI. Automated testing becomes absolutely essential for a display with 50different screens, roughly 20 widgets per screen and 12 languages. For automated testing, data acquisition is bigger challenge. With increasing feature content, display requirements can become complex, and displrequirements keep changing. Every OEM has its own way of giving the requirements: .bmp, .xls, .csv, .xml, .do

7/29/2019 VVDS 48 December 2010



25

Visio, Flash Videos, models, sample ECU, Photoshop, or none at all. A standard requirement format is essential fautomated testing. With dynamic data test issues, there are a lot of dynamic data displayed in vehicles – cloctemperature data, etc. Verifying such parameters requires verification of accuracy of the displayed data, apart frotheir visual appearance. The dynamic nature and complexity of the displayed data increases verification time. Wicolor test issues, OEMs specify the exact shade of color they want. Manually testing the RGB value pixel by pix

is not possible, and color gradients cannot be easily verified. Transparency in graphics is very much desireBitmaps have transparent corners so that they look like curved edges. Popups have translucent backgrounds. Sueffects are not possible to verify with the human eye. To verify with eyes whether a popup is 90% transparent (an

not 75%) is not possible. Shadow and other special effects are required for fanlooking vehicle displays. These effects are difficult to verify manually. Preprocessinon the image done before automated testing could wipe out these effects.

Vacuum fluorescent display

As a solution, OEMs mostly do Photoshop rendering. Photoshop files can be a good requirement format to use.the customer does not provide the requirements in a standard format then the systems team or test team shoutranslate customer requirements to a test tool usable format. XML will be a good format to use for storing tscreen details because of its size, performance and compatibility with other software development tools. Automat

testing is required because of the complexities/advancements in automotive HMI. Testing a screen manually takesminute; automated testing takes 1 second per screen. Dynamic data testing is difficult to automate. Well-plannesimulation and testing based on the simulated data can make the display data predictable. Optical charactrecognition (OCR) can be used for automated dynamic text testing. Color recognition algorithms present automated test engines could be used to verify color. Data acquisition methods and image processing can lead color loss. However measuring RGB values of each pixel will not help. Transparency is achieved through coloand mixing colors so achieving color testing is sufficient to test transparency. Pixel by pixel verification is essentifor measuring special effects in graphics. HMI software testing is important and a lot of research and effort required in order to make the process easier and effective.

Seven segment LCD display; color touch screen display

Display Usability in the Connected Car Mark C. Boyadjis, iSuppli, El Segundo, California

Boyadjis first discussed connected car trends. The connected car is telematics and connectivity; navigation anrouting; entertainment and premium audio; and location-based content. OEMs and suppliers are continualreinventing features, functions, and connectivity. Buyers continue to increase demand, breeding infotainmesolutions and telematics systems in non-traditional directions: off-board, and smart-phone integration (appdocking stations, wireless). Among volume markets, average navigation screen size is finally beginning to trendown. The 2009 average was at 7.0 inches diagonally. The 2011 average should be less than 7.0 inches diagonalldue to the influx of low-cost navigation. One issue is the location of the display – center stack, top dash, ICDHUD, etc. Top dash is increasingly common when the design allows for it. Location of displays in the vehicle haslot of effect on usability. As an illustration, Boyadjis compared the 2011 Honda Odyssey versus the 2011 ToyoSienna, and the 2011 Dodge Journey versus the 2011 Mercedes-Benz R-Class ( see photos).

7/29/2019 VVDS 48 December 2010



26

What is the perfect screen size for an infotainment system? What is the perfect screen size for a standard head uniIt depends on the features, organization, cost, and whether there is touch. Displays are one of the highecomponent costs in high-end navigation systems. An example is the iPad display, which is large and very advanceand the display is approximately 75% of the cost of the device according to an iSuppli teardown. This cost figure likely a reason why luxury navigation options remain in the $2500+ range. He gave an example of the 2011 BM

5 Series 3D navigation system ( see photo), which has a 10.25-inch LCD with 1280x480 pixel resolution, and tuned and calibrated for automotive specifications. iSuppli estimates the unit cost for this display to be over $250.

When is a display showing too much information for its own good? He gave a possible example of the 2010 ForFusion Hybrid and the SmartGauge with EcoGuide ( see photo) – supplier: Johnson Controls; display supplierOptrex; graphics IC supplier: Fujitsu Microelectronics. On the pro side, the user can configure exactly what level hybrid efficiency information they receive. Against is that the user will end up staring at it too much, leading distraction, and users cannot select to turn off the display if desired. On the pro side it basically underwrote thwhole new displays integration strategy from Ford and its new MyFord platform. This strategy is an overa positive in reducing driver distraction while adding functionality and information redundancy.

The 2011 Honda Odyssey; the 2011 Toyota Sienna

The 2011 Dodge Journey; the 2011 Mercedes-Benz R-Class

The 2011 BMW 5 Series 3D navigation system; the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid and the SmartGauge with EcoGuide

7/29/2019 VVDS 48 December 2010



27

Plastic Electronics Conference & ExhibitionOctober 19-21, 2010, Dresden, Germany

Phillip Hill covers presentations fromSOPRALAB/Karlsruhe Institute of Technology,Acuity Brands Lighting, Osram OLED, and

sim4tec GmbH

Predictive OLED Simulation: J ust a Dream? Robert Nitsche, sim4tec GmbH, Dresden, Germany

Organic electronics in general is a sequence of functional organic (based on carbon and hydrogen) layers. Examplare OLEDs and organic solar cells. They are produced in cleanrooms, with huge machines for vapor deposition spin coating There is great complexity due to the zoo of organic materials. It is a trial-and-error approach, which cost intensive and time consuming. The company’s technology already calculates key figures of organic devices

the computer: brightness, color, power consumption, efficiencies, etc. This leads to reduced costs since fewexperimental runs are required. Software automatically manages the device complexity. This leads to fastdevelopment cycles by quick calculations (seconds/minutes) as compared to a slow trial-and-error approa

(days/weeks). “SimOLED” can be used to calculaOLED key figures at the computer. Mater parameters can be determined by inverse fitting appropriate experimental data. Arbitrary devices c be optimized by parameter variations. Experimendata of unipolar devices, monochrome and whiOLEDs have been successfully modeled.

The software can easily scan layer thicknesses to get

the optimal OLED configuration. Here: total luminousoutput as a function of Ag and NHT5:NDP2 thickness.

Real Time Spectroscopic Ellipsometry for Controlling the Drying Process of Organic Blend FilmsC. Walsh, J.-Ph. Piel, X. Schimowski, and C. Defranoux, SOPRALAB, Courbevoie, France B. Schmidt-Hansberg , Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany

The SEMILAB group is a company in solar cell metrology dedicated to semiconductor, and solar cell optical aelectrical metrology. The presentation firstly outlined the advantages of organic materials for solar cells. A widrange of optical and electronic properties can be obtained thanks to the infinite variety of organic molecules thcan be designed and synthesized. The processes imply low production cost and high throughput manufacturintechniques for polymer materials. This aspect of polymer-based devices is particularly interesting to the field

photovoltaics, where inexpensive fabrication of large area devices is critical. Wet-processing techniques can used on conjugated polymers (P3HT, PCBM, MEH-PPV, OC1C10-PPV, etc.) using their solubility properties common organic solvents. These are ambient temperature and pressure processes, with scalability to large areaand low material loss. The technique is applicable to flexible substrate requirements such as roll-to-roll coaterThese techniques represent an enormously attractive route for producing large-area PV cells cheaply. Ellipsometis an optical technique to measure the thickness and optical properties of thin film layers on a flat substrate. It non-destructive, non-invasive, non-contact, and uses fast measurements with high precision. Using the measurTan Psi and Cos Delta Ellipsometric parameters, the following data can be extracted using the software: refractiindex and extinction coefficients (absorption, transmission, and reflectivity); electronic properties (sheet resistanc

7/29/2019 VVDS 48 December 2010



28

free carrier mobility, and conductivity); and material properties (dopant concentration, material composition, ancrystallinity). Spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) is a non-destructive optical technique that is able to measure optic properties and thickness of single and multi layers without any contact in a fraction of a second. Roll-to-rmetrology systems are orientated towards the study of range of surface sizes deposited by either dry techniqu(PECVD, sputtering, etc.) or by wet techniques (sol gel, spin coating, EISA, spray coating, doctor blade, etc.). Th

can be mounted on vacuum or directly on the drum.Device properties improvements can be achieved by post treatment like temperature or solvent annealing, anoptimization of the drying process to control and to adapt the film morphology. It is highly important to understanand to control the mechanisms and dynamics of the film formation during drying. The drying kinetics of the film strongly connected to the kinetics of the self-assembly processes. Accurate determination of the transition betwedense wet film to its crystalline formation is by observation of the crystalline peak in the UV range. It is possible detect nanometric film shrinkage (<8nm) during the final drying stages and the time required before the filstabilizes. These factors are critical (drying time, blend ratios) for process to upscale the laboratory fabrication roll-to-roll deposition lines. Ellipsometer next improvements will be a fastest RTSE of 10 measurements aanalysis per second with a duty cycle of 50%.

The present and future of flexible organic large area electronics

Flat Light Sources – Attributes of Different Technology Approaches

Karsten Heuser , Osram OLED, Munich, Germany

LEDs and OLEDs have the potential to outperform all other light sources. They have energy saving potential, amercury-free, have long lifetimes, and give new freedom in design. Two-dimensional area OLEDs cannot compared with point source LEDs. In embedded flat light technologies, we need to compare both technologies onsystem level. Embedded flat lights could be realized by edge lit LEDs and OLEDs. OLEDs have certain advantagin terms of system efficiency and quality of light. The appearance in the off-state is a decisive argument for taesthetic of a luminaire. There is much more freedom of design with OLEDs in terms of form and function. OLEDare “puristic” and do not need any heat sink. OLEDs can be touched. OLED is perceived as new lighting materthat can be incorporated further in architecture, furniture, etc.,with a huge freedom of design. OLEDs long term offer any

shape lighting areas with flexible substrates. LED flat lightsare advanced in the performance criteria like shelf life or lumen maintenance today. Costs and overall performance willshape the transition from the functional phase toward professional lighting. LED flat lights and OLEDs arecomplementary. After 2015 OLED have the potential tooutperform LED flat lights, but the long-term market penetration in professional lighting relies on competitive costs.

LED flat light application: transparent decorative

lighting in Vienna

7/29/2019 VVDS 48 December 2010



29

Accelerating OLED L ighting Manufacturing Min-Hao Michael Lu, and Peter Y Ngai, Acuity Brands Lighting, Edison, New Jersey

There is an expectation that OLEDs will transform current lighting practice. The nature of OLED and characteristics will compel architects and designers to rethink their approach to lighting designs. The possibilities integrating lighting into ceilings and walls, even windows, or free-form luminous objects in space using th

aesthetic and emotional effects offered by the potential richness of colors and color dynamics. Discussing OLEefficacy requirements, the work surface illuminance required is 500 lux. Average maintained illuminance isfunction of room geometry (RCR), wall reflectance, luminaire photometry (CU), thermal factor, driver factor, anlamp burn-out factor. RCR = 2.5x perimeter of room x workplane-to-luminaire height/area. Powconsumption/unit area (LPD) = 10W/m

2. An optimistic scenario is 63lm/W required.

LEDs are leading the charge in solid-state lighting and are improving fast. They are making inroads into outdolighting and the replacement market. LEDs can make flat light sources similar to an LCD backlight. Flat andiffuse lighting is not exclusive to OLEDs. Can OLEDs compete? The rest of this presentation addressed thquestion in some detail by comparing the projected LED and OLED luminaire performances from now to 201There is a 2-year catch-up period for OLEDs in terms of luminaire efficiency. OLEDs are expected to achiev

parity or better after 2013. OLED lifetime will lag LED until 2015 but can be compensated with control. TOLED product roadmap needs to be accelerated in response to challenges from LED flat panels and progress OLEDs. The simplicity of OLEluminaires offsets the higher cost OLED panels. OLEDs representlarger portion of the luminaire cothan other lighting technologiewhich should justify moinvestment into OLEmanufacturing. There are maapplications where OLEDs are bett

than any other light sources. Tremaining challenge is panel volum production and cost reduction.

The potential possibilities for OLED

lighting

Temperature increase vs. efficacy. WPE (wall plug efficiency =

optical watt/electrical watt) = efficacy/LER. LER (luminous

efficacy of radiation) is solely determined by the spectrum and

assumed to be 330lm/W in this calculation. Heat is calculated for

a panel with luminous exitance of 6000lm/m2. ΔT is for the center

of a vertical, free-standing 15x15cm2 panel. It is similar in a

horizontal panel but may be exacerbated in certain luminairedesigns. Efficacy >60lm/W is needed for an acceptable ΔT.

7/29/2019 VVDS 48 December 2010



30

OLEDs World SummitSeptember 27-29, 2010, San Francisco, California

Phillip Hill covers presentations from Plextronics, LG Display, and Universal Display Corporation

Addressing Commercialization Hurdles for OLED L ighting and Displays Andrew W. Hannah, Plextronics, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

OLED and LED will compete in the lighting market. Low cost will be a key driver. How does OLED competWill standardization and/or consolidation be required for WOLED leadership in SSL? LED is in transition frostandardization to proliferation. Market dynamics are driving LED’s pathway to proliferation. For general lightinBOM is the basis of competition. Will OLED panel cost compete with LED chips? Will cost reductions come froluminaire innovation? Industry must address low-cost manufacturing to compete. Collaboration is required address low-cost manufacturing with high yield, high material utilization, high throughput, and low capinvestment. Hannah turned to Plextronics’ approach to the OLED lighting market. Plextronics is partnering acrotoday’s de-facto standards: vacuum thermal evaporation (VTE) manufacturing; hybrid VTE manufacturing; ansolution manufacturing. With material technology, the company is working with four major emitter suppliers

customize the hole injection layer (HIL) fstack technology. On the process technoloside, the company is conducting in-house sldie coating trials for three panel manufactureOn panel manufacturing, it is supplyincustomized inks to more than 20 OLElighting customers. And Plextronics partnering to develop new anode-sitechnology. OLED lighting is in the early staof market maturity. Low cost will be a basis competition for OLED lighting versus LECollaboration will drive early standards hybrid devices will be the first winner.

The OLED lighting market is still emerging Opportunities and Challenges for OLED TV James (Jueng-Gil) Lee, LG Display, Seoul, South Korea

LGD has been developing OLED technology towards larger size OLED TVs step by step. The value creation in thTV market is continuing through LCD, FHD, LED and 3D. OLED TV is expected to penetrate the value creatioTV market. Soluble technology has the potential to reduce manufacturing cost over fine metal mask (FMM because of simple device structure. Soluble OLED patterning technology will be selected based on scalability (G8), material usage (>80%) and technology maturity. The bottleneck of soluble technology for OLED Tcommercialization is material development.

7/29/2019 VVDS 48 December 2010



31

The year 2010 is the first year when high-end mobile applications such as smart phones start adoption of OLEtechnology. The OLED technology can expand its business to TV applications. OLED technology has the perfefit for the requirement of the premium TV market, especially 3D TV. LG expects the OLED TV market will gro

substantially from 2015 once the target of coinnovation is achieved. Gen 8 manufacturing technolog

should be established for OLED TV using TF backplanes (high performance and low cost technologyand OLED patterning using FMM-free technology. order to be the dominant technology for premium Tmarkets, a close business collaboration is cruc between the three parties (device/material/equipmemaker) to have cost competitiveness over LCD that hhuge infrastructure. OLED technology that is “poLCD” will continue to grow with design flexibility andifferentiation of product performance such as curvand transparent displays.

TV product trend ( ≥ 30 inches in millions of units)

Phosphorescent Technology and Materials Enabling Performance Advances in Displays and Lighting Janice K. Mahon, Universal Display Corporation, Ewing, New Jersey

OLEDs are used in displays because of their outstanding image quality, they are power efficient, have faresponse, wide viewing angles, and ultra-slim form factors. These intrinsic features make OLEDs extremeattractive. Phosphorescence makes them energy efficient. OLEDs can be used in lighting because of uniform, brigdiffuse emission, power efficiency, tunable colors, and novel form factors. In phosphorescent OLEDs, radiation from triplet excitons, i.e., 4 of 4 spin states or ~100% IQE. Fluorescent OLEDs emit through singlets, limiting IQto ~25%. Phosphorescents minimize the required drive current giving reduced power consumption, less hegeneration, longer lifetime, and lower costs. Today, deep blue (FL-OLED or PHOLED) is the least efficient an

shortest lived sub-pixel in an AMOLED panel. But deep blue is not needed for the majority of images. Deep blue used only 2% of the time. Light blue has a significantly longer lifetime and higher luminous efficiency than de blue. Adding a light blue sub-pixel can satisfy a significant portion of the blue-emission requirement, and lessen tstress on the deep-blue sub-pixel. An RGB1B2 design significantly extends operational lifetime, and reducdisplay power consumption by as much as 33%. A simple all-phosphorescent device architecture uses 6-7 organlayers. It is an extremely energy efficient and long-lived device. In terms of chromaticity, there is a wide range warm white colors (CCT of 2700-4000K) with efficient emission possible from a single material set. CRIs are >8within the Plankian locus. They have exceptional color stability and spatial uniformity, and use low comanufacturing.

PHOLED lighting can be rugged, flexible and rollable

7/29/2019 VVDS 48 December 2010



32

7/29/2019 VVDS 48 December 2010



33

IFA DisplaySearch Business ConferenceSeptember 3, 2010, Berlin, Germany

Phillip Hill covers presentations from DisplaySearch (x2), IBM Global Business Services, Elcoteq

SE, and Institut für Rundfunktechnik

TV Market Outlook for Europe and the World Paul Gray, DisplaySearch, Santa Clara, California

The European market is driven by the global supply trends for LCD panels and also unique local factors. Panel supply anddemand affects costs and favored sizes and formats, with afurther factor from exchange rates between European currenciesand panels priced in dollars. 2010 appears to be seeing a repeatof the over-exuberance of 2008, and inventory corrections willdramatically affect the second half of the year. Europe’s uniquestrength of free-to-air broadcasting is driving new changes:2010 is the year of HD in Europe with services launching in 10countries on the heels of the switch-off of analog broadcasting.In turn, these capabilities pioneered in Europe are drivingchanges in TV around the world. Uniquely in Western Europe,a large number of monitors shipped can receive TV. This is in part a consequence of the EU monitor duty saga. Initially it wasSamsung and LGE, but most monitor brands now. Screen sizesare getting larger, functionally identical to TVs: DVB-Tdecoders, remote controls. WTO duty rulings may further affectthis market with monitors back to 0% duty.

MFM vs. TV

LCD TV Panel Supply and OEM/ODM Relationship David Hsieh, DisplaySearch, Santa Clara, California

The LCD TV panel business model is changing. Vertical integration is everywhere. Vertical integration happening in component makers, especially backlight makers, panel makers, TV brands and subcontramanufacturers. This means more cell business for TFT LCD makers, especially for LCD TV. The panel sourcinstrategy of TV brands will not change a lot in 2010-2011: strategic main Supplier (mainly in-house) plus ssupplier. Brands will outsource more LCD TV manufacturing. The competition of panel makers will change froLCD to business models. Hsieh looked at value chain integration: LCD TV panel module and LCD TV set. Th benefits of integration are slimness by integrate front cover, bezel, Al back cover and set rear cover to reduthickness; lightweight by reducing the mechanical and electrical components usage; and economical by cost savinon assembly, testing, transportation and packaging. Most LCD TV OEM companies are targeting at big growth f

7/29/2019 VVDS 48 December 2010



34

2010. TPV maintains the leading position in LCD TV OEM and ChiMei Innolux+Foxconn is growing fast. LCTV OEM/ODM shipments still concentrate on small sizes. Entry to middle-level models (including fighter modelremain the majority of LCD TV outsourcing. TV brands cannot generate profits from these products manufacturing costs are not competitive, so they choose to outsource. TV brands aim to optimize internal resourcand add value to larger screen high-end models.

TFT makers’ capacity competition and turning points

Why Contract Manufacturing Works in Television? Lessons from Other High Volume Markets Petra Ebner , Elcoteq SE, Luxembourg, Luxembourg

Supplying consumer electronic products like TVs to the global market is a complex task. The usage of contra

manufacturers simplifies this task and can release valuable management time to focus on core competences li product innovation and sales. The service offering of contract manufacturers (CMs) has continuously developtowards full turnkey life cycle service offering. Meaning a CM is not only doing PCB assembly, but also box buiafter market service, design and fulfillment services. The electronic manufacturing service (EMS) industry serv

in 2009 an estimated $160 billion CM outsourcing markThe computer and wireless industry have been driving tgrowth rates during the last years but other markets afollowing rapidly. Major obstacles have been removand the flexibility and total cost of ownership leverealized by outsourcing to EMS providers can in mancases not be anymore reached with in-hou

manufacturing. The EMS market overall is already larin size and thus big growth rates, which have beexperienced in past years, are not feasible anymorOriginal design manufacturers (ODMs) will have bettsituation in the future as they are able to maintain strong profit margins compared to contract manufacturers.

Total EMS market (including CM and ODM) will growat CAGR of 8.1% reaching a market worth of $435

billion in 2013

7/29/2019 VVDS 48 December 2010


7/29/2019 VVDS 48 December 2010



36

program. The HbbTV initiative comprises a core group of ANT, APS, Canal+, EBU, France Télévisions, IROpenTV, Philips, Sony, and Samsung. Its goals are the development of a specification for “Hybrid BroadcaBroadband TV” (HbbTV), and support of the market introduction of corresponding devices. HbbTV is an open anavailable ETSI standard. It is not based on the assumption of any gatekeeper position; it allows many differe business models; it is suited for broadcasters and broadcast independent web services; it is supported

broadcasters in Germany and France; it is supported by many device manufacturers (IDTV and STB); and it m prove to be the new standard feature for TVs.

Contributors


7/29/2019 VVDS 48 December 2010



37

SID Display WeekMay 25-28, 2010, Seattle, Washington

Phillip Hill covers presentations from days two and three of the conference. Papers from New

Paltz/Sichuan COC Display Devices Co. Ltd, Hiroshima University, J apan Electronics andInformation Technology Industries Association/Japanese Ergonomics National Committee,

National Taiwan University/National Taiwan University of Science and Technology/AU Optronics Technology Center, Sharp Corporation, Samsung Mobile Display, Toshiba Lighting & Technology

Corp., National Chiao Tung University, and Universal Display Corp./AU Optronics Corporation

Very Sensitive Measurement Method of Plasma-Display Exo-emission Larry F. Weber , New Paltz, New York, New York Qun (Frank) Yan, Sichuan COC Display Devices Co. Ltd, Beijing, China

Very low exo-emission currents are easily measured using an ultra high impedance amplifier that detects thintegrated exo-emission charge collected by a capacitance. The large discharge and displacement currents initiat by the changing sustain waveform, which could overload and saturate the sensitive amplifier, are shorted by a velow impedance switch. The exo-emission of electrons from the MgO cathode surface is a critically importa priming mechanism for plasma displays. There are two fundamental ways to measure exo-emission. The indiremethod measures the statistical delay of an isolated single pixel address discharge with a sensitive photo detectsuch as a photomultiplier. By plotting the Laue diagram of the delay times of hundreds of discharges, the value the statistical delay, ts, can be determined. The exo-emission is inversely proportional to ts and so knowledge of provides good knowledge of the exo-emission. This indirect method is straightforward but it can be quite tediosince hundreds of discharges must be measured and computed in order to obtain the exo-emission at one point time. Usually the time dependence of exo-emission is required so that the measurement of hundreds of dischargmust be repeated for each time dependent exo-emission point. The second fundamental exo-emission measurememethod is the direct method, which measures the actual exo-emission current in the panel. The direct method hthe advantage of quickly providing the detailed time dependence of exo-emission with only a small amount correction calculation. Yan et al presented the results of such a direct measurement method but they did not explathe method of measurement. In this paper they explain the experimental details of how the Yan et al results weobtained.

Exo-electron Measurements in AC-PDPs with Exposed Address-Electrode Structure Noriyuki Awaji, Harm Tolner, Lingguo Zhao, Jue Jiang , and Hiroshi KajiyamaHiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima City, Japan

An uncoated address-electrode structure is adopted for the measurement of exo-electron emission in AC PDPs. this way the surface charging effects of the rear dielectric layer and phosphor layers are eliminated. By applyinwaveforms with a different number of sustaining pulses, the exo-electron emission is measured during a full Tframe. After Fujitsu started to manufacture 42-inch diagonal plasma display TVs in 1995, many companies ha been manufacturing several sizes of plasma display TVs commercially. In order to obtain the same image quality

7/29/2019 VVDS 48 December 2010


7/29/2019 VVDS 48 December 2010



39

Mura Detection Automation in LCD Panels by Thresholding Fused Normalized Gradient Hani Jamleh, Tsung-Yu Li, and Charlie Chung-Ping Chen, National Taiwan University, Taipei, TaiwanShen-Zhi Wang , National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taipei, TaiwanChien-Wen Chen, Chia-Chia Kuo, and Ko-Shun Wang , AU Optronics Technology Center, Hsinchu, Taiwan

An effective general algorithm for Mura defect detection based on the fusion of normalized first and second-ord

derivative responses in four directions is proposed. The experiments applied on various types of pseudo-Mura widifferent shapes shows an efficient detection rate of more than 90%. This paper mainly focuses on the detection Mura defects that exist on the front of screen (FOS) of a LCD panel; these defects could appear with differeshapes, sizes, contrasts, polarities, and types. Thesegmentation of a photographed FOS intends to separatedefects from the background. As a result, this processclassifies each image pixel in a way that it could bedefective (Mura) or intact (background). In this study,the researchers propose an efficient algorithm based onfusion of the first and second-order derivative responsesin four directions in order to detect Mura defects and

alike in a LCD FOS sample. A labeled mask indicatingfor each candidate defect is generated by assigning eachdefect’s location in the image, therefore, this mask is prepared for more evaluative assessments based on somecriteria and standards such as SEMU. The classificationof these defects may be critical for reasons of visionsatisfaction.

System architecture for Mura simulation

Proposal of Evaluation Method for Local-Dimming Backlights Hideki Ichioka, Katsuya Otoi, Kohji Fujiwara, Katsuteru Hashimoto, Hirofumi Murakami, and Tomohiko

Yamamoto, Sharp Corporation, Osaka, Japan

A local-dimming control is one of the advanced ways for backlighting an LCD. It balances less power consumptiwith higher contrast than other ordinary backlighting systems by independently controlling each luminance backlights according to the picture. On the other hand, a new defect arises: that is all the backlight units are ncompletely uniform and luminance of each backlight varies as an input signal changes. Sharp defines this defect “halo”. There have not been presented any particular methods to evaluate halo so far. In this paper, they proposenew method on how to evaluate the halo defect in local-dimming backlight systems and explain the mechaniswhy the halo defect arises. When a luminous area is surrounded by a dark background, tonal uniformity breaks the dark area, especially close to the luminous area. In such case, the broken-up uniformity is perceivable and loolike aura. Halo arises by various factors and has a trade-off relationship with contrast ratio and power consumptio

In order to balance high contrast with low power consumptiwithout halo in local-dimming backlight systems, it is necessary tune several factors: local-dimming control, and LCD and LEcharacteristics. If halo were not taken into account, the system wou be highly evaluated on contrast or power consumption. However, thalo in such cases is not good as a product. Therefore, too highevaluated contrast or power consumption should not be discussed the same table as ones with halo taken into account.

An example of the “halo” defect

7/29/2019 VVDS 48 December 2010



40

Method to Measure Perceptual Resolution of Moving Picture Display Jong-Ho Chong, Sang-Ho Kim, Dong-Wook Choi, Jae-Woo Bae, Seung-Bae Lee, and Sang-Soo KimSamsung Mobile Display, Yongin City, South Korea

A significant discrepancy has been found between the blurred edge time (BET) method to measure motion blur anmoving image quality as perceived by the human visual system. MPPR (moving picture perceptual resolution)

proposed as a measurement method that more closely correlates to human perception of moving image qualitMPPR considers the contrast sensitivity function of human vision, resulting in an index that provides a moobjective evaluation. The measurement system and algorithm are described.

Various attempts have been made to measure and evaluate motion blur. The common metric to characterize motio blur is to estimate the width of the blurred edge in gray-to-gray transitions to quantify information about the blurredge profile reaching the retina. This method, MPRT (moving picture response time), has been widely applied the LCD industry. It is used as a criterion for evaluating LCD technology improvements. But there are limits estimation of motion blur by only using the width of a blurred edge, as perceived blur is affected by edgenhancement functions, driving frame frequency, and various driving methods such as black band cycling. Alsohas been recognized that contrast of the edge affects perception of motion blur. In cases where an OLED, LCD an

PDP display gave the same MPRT score, subjective evaluations of blur of a moving resolution pattern nevertheleshowed different results. These findings suggest that MPRT is not sufficient as an objective measure of motio blur. Tests were conducted using a moving resolution pattern to compare and analyze the relationship betwe perceived motion image resolution and MPRT data according to driving conditions and different display device Figure 1 shows the results. Driving methods have a direct effect on the motion blur width reduction, so that thMPRT score of an LCD drops (gets better) as the driving frequency is increased. However, the highest percepturesolution did not directly track the MPRT scores in the case of characterized LCDs as shown in Figure Moreover, it is possible to infer from Figure 1 that MPRT and perceived moving picture display resolution auncorrelated. The perceptual resolution test uses “lines” (actually line pairs) to quantify measurement results so th

numerical values can be compared regardless of displtype. For example, in Figure 1, although MPRT resu

for the OLED and one of the LCDs was the sam perceived resolution of the OLED was 1.5 times that the LCD. If there were a strong correlation betweMPRT and perceived resolution as measured by tmoving resolution chart, all of the data points wounear a line extending from the upper left to the lowright of this chart.

Figure 1: Result of MPRT vs. perceived resolution of AMOLED, LCD, and PDP

The experiment was conducted with an eye-tracking instrument that measures a set of displays including variotechnologies designed to reduce motion blur (black band cycling, overdrive, 120Hz frame rate, 240Hz frame rat

Various resolution patterns at different gray levels and spatial frequencies were prepared. Scroll speed was fixed 4 seconds per screen, viewing distance was fixed, and a constant scroll distance was used regardless of screen sizFixing these items is important for proper correspondenceto the CSF (contrast sensitivity function). Images of stilland moving patterns were captured and frequency andgray levels were evaluated. Figure 2 shows images of captured still (a) and blurred (b) moving images.

Figure 2: Comparison of captured image depending on scroll speed: (a) still pattern; (b) moving pattern

7/29/2019 VVDS 48 December 2010



41

Phosphor Modeling for Phosphor-converted LEDsChien-Hsiang Hung , and Chung-Hao Tien, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan

This paper presents a precise methodology to completely characterize the optical properties of the phosphor layer phosphor-converted LEDs. As long as the coated phosphor layer is available for measurement, the Monte Car

simulation assisted by the proposed spectrum-related bi-direction

scattering distribution function (BSDF) can predict the pcLE properties with high accuracy. The proposed scheme verified bygeneral pcLED with conformal phosphor coating provides effective way for phosphor characterization. The proposcharacterizing method is based on the bidirectional distributifunctions, which can completely describe the field distribution the outgoing light from a considered thin film or surface with tincidence relations. As the figure shows, the transmitting ligthrough the phosphor layer in a pcLED is composed of thrcomponents. The energy balance equation for a radiating surfacan be illustrated by the three components.

BSDF measurement by the conoscope method

AMLCD and AMOLEDs: How Do They Compare for Green Energy Efficiency? Mike Hack, Michael S. Weaver , and Julie J. Brown, Universal Display Corp., Ewing, New Jersey Lee-Hsun Chang, Chih-Kang Wu, and Yu-Hsin Lin, AU Optronics Corporation, Hsinchu, Taiwan

In this paper the researchers review the power consumption of both AMLCD and AMOLED display technologieoutline roadmaps for future power savings, and discuss the technologies required to implement these savings. Thalso analyze fundamental limits to the power consumption of these flat panel displays.The paper compares the power consumption roadmaps of AMLCD and AMOLEDs for both mobile and Tapplications. Both have aggressive power reduction roadmaps, AMLCDs through the use of improved LE

backlights, enhanced optical stacks and backlight dimming, and AMOLEDs through the use of phosphorescenand optimized stack design. While AMLCD technology is more mature based on its huge market presence, OLEdisplay products are now becoming a very attractive platform based on their visual performance, thin form factoand lower power capability. For mobile displays the researchers expect AMOLEDs to have 40% less powconsumption than AMLCDs with the same perceived brightness. Considering 32-inch displays for TV applicationwe can expect AMOLEDs to consume less than half the power of equivalent AMLCDs. AMLCDs have undergontremendous improvements in performance over the last decade, particularly power consumption, response time anviewing angle. Nevertheless, there is considerable effort being applied to further reduce power consumption in tyears ahead, and this will come from four key areas. The figure shows the four AMLCD components that will bimproved to reduce display power consumption: LED backlight technology, optical film technology, liquid crystcell technology and backlight dimming technology. LED light sources are now becoming the dominant backlig

technology for AMLCDs. Current displays use LED sources around 100lm/W and it is expected that this efficienwill increase by approximately 10% per year for the next few years. Another area for the rapid improvement AMLCD efficiency is in the increase in cell transmittance. This is projected to more than double over the next foyears through the adoption of improved liquid crystal technology, the use of RGBW architecture, and the patterninof the color filters and black matrix directly on the active array. High polarization efficiency optical films cimprove the transmission and alignment of the light passing through the LCD optical stack. Finally approximate50% of the backlight power can be saved for TV applications by applying local backlight dimming technologwhere areas of the backlight are dimmed if they correspond to an area on the rendered image where there are n bright pixels. In the case of smaller mobile displays, adaptive global dimming technology can be used to saapproximately 30% of the backlight power.

7/29/2019 VVDS 48 December 2010


7/29/2019 VVDS 48 December 2010



43

Twenty Interviews Volume5

Interviews from Veritas et Visus newsletters – Volume 5

+ Applied Materials, Tom Edman, VP and GM, Bus Dev+ DiiVA Consortium, Brett Gaines, President+ Emerson & Cuming, Jeff Parker, Sr. Technical Engineer + ESAC, Nicole Helsberg, Director of Public Relations+FlatFrog, Ola Wassvik, Co-founder & VP of Engineering+ HDMI Licensing, Steve Venuti, President+ Jon Peddie Research, Jon Peddie, Owner + Meant To Be Seen, Neil Schneider, President & CEO+ Meko, Bob Raikes, Founder + Nano EPrint, Aimin Song, CTO

82 pages, only $12.99


+ NextWindow, Al Monro, CEO+ NOVA Chemicals, Chad Tarkany, Dir. of Mktg & Sales+ N-trig, Rick Seger, President, North America Operations+ PolyIC, Wolfgang Mildner, Managing Director + Rallypoint, Jeff Allen, CEO+ Uni-pixel, Jim Tassone, CFO+ Verbatim America, Randy Queen, President+ VISSUMO, Garrick Infanger, President+ VIZIO, William Wang, Founder, CEO, and CTO+ Westinghouse, Rey Roque, VP of Marketing

7/29/2019 VVDS 48 December 2010


7/29/2019 VVDS 48 December 2010



45

Use a low power CPU; have a removable CPU.

Have a low power wireless card with a hard-off wireless switch.

Have sufficient additional USB interfaces (the newly proposed European Ecolabel criteria recommend the presence of at least three USB interfaces as well as a connection for an external monitor).

Contain (internal or external) expansion card slots to allow adding and removing functionality.

Have an external monitor port (VGA or DVI), audio in/out, Ethernet and S-video ports. Have a keyboard designed for ease of maintainability - e.g. the keys must be easy to clean.

Use an 80 plus gold certified external power supply.

Beat the Typical Energy Consumption (TEC) requirement specified by Energy Star 5.0 by 20%, in order tomeet the newly proposed Eco-label criteria.

Power management settings to be enacted in accordance with Energy Star 5.0.

Packaging and user instructions to be developed under the proposed requirement specification for the newEuropean Eco-label for portable computers.

But it doesn't end there. MicroPro are also trying to ensure that they get the laptops back when they reach end life. In order to do so they are investigating the potential of using RFID tags to enhance their recover rates an

support a shift to a license-based model of purchasing which, whilst established in business-to-business sales, currently unheard of in the home user market.

Finally, there's one more interesting point in the design details. One aspect of MicroPro's commitment to eco-desiand recycling is to extend the lifetime of its products by making them robust enough to change hands several tim before reaching EOL, but its backlights may live on longest. By designing them to be replaceable without damagithe backlight itself MicroPro aims to exploit recoverable backlights by selling them on for use in architecturlighting applications.

The new laptop is still under development, but in the meantime those of you looking for new equipment that is both

eco-friendly and makes a real design statement should check out http://www.iaemco.com. We've included a few

images here to tempt you (and the mouse would make a great Christmas present for a certain e-waste columnist).

Greenpeace Greener Electronics Guide – Sony Ericsson gets top marks but misses top spotThis month saw the new Greenpeace Guide to Greener Electronics published, but whilst some publications pickthe obvious story (more on Apple in a bit), this time the interesting news is on the seemingly unassailable top spot Nokia and Sony Ericsson have dominated the top places since the guide began, but in the new edition SE ha become the first to be awarded full marks in the chemicals criteria, including a commendation for proactilobbying for further restrictions under the new RoHS Directive. Despite this, a few low scores in relation to ta back and recycling, and a few more marginally lower scores elsewhere, leave it over half a point behind top-plac Nokia.

7/29/2019 VVDS 48 December 2010


7/29/2019 VVDS 48 December 2010



47

Stena develops LCD recycling processStena Metall of Sweden said that it has developed an LCD recycling system. The company’s Griag Glasrecyclinarm has developed an automated process to separate iron, metals, plastics and circuit boards as well as glass wiliquid crystal. The closed process is important, not least when it comes to the handling of all the mercury lamps thare a part of an LCD screen. “It is easy for mercury lamps to break during manual handling; this gives rise to heal

risks for those carrying out the dismantling. With our sealed and automated process, this risk can be avoided”, saSnorre Kolseth, manager of the R&D department within WEEE in Stena Metall. http://www.stenametall.com

Trees treated with glowing nanoparticles could replace streetlightsTaiwanese researchers from the National Cheng Kung Universityhave come up with the idea of replacing streetlights with trees, by implanting their leaves with gold nanoparticles. This causesthe leaves to give off a red glow, lighting the road for passersbywithout the need for lighting. The researchers were trying tocreate lighting as efficient as LEDs without using the toxic,expensive phosphor powder that LEDs rely on. The goldnanoparticles put into the leaves of Bacopa caroliniana plants

cause chlorophyll to produce the reddish luminescence. Theluminescence will also cause the leaves’ chloroplasts to photosynthesize, which will result in more carbon being capturedfrom the air while the streets are lit. The next steps are toimprove the efficiency of the bioluminescence and apply thetechnology to other biomolecules. http://english.web.ncku.edu.tw

E-waste export bill introduced to stop global E-waste dumpingU.S. Representatives Gene Green and Mike Thompson recently introduced new landmark legislation – H.R. 625The Responsible Electronics Recycling Act of 2010 – to stop U.S. “recyclers” from dumping electronic waste odeveloping countries. The bill is supported by environmental groups as well as electronic manufacturers Appl

Dell, and Samsung, all of which already have policies that prohibit the export of e-waste to developing nations. Th bill addresses the horrific dumping and primitive recycling operations which have the subject of recent medexposés, and a scathing report by the U.S. Governmental Accountability Office (GAO).

The bill adds a new section to the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) laws establishingnew category of “restricted electronic waste” which cannot be exported from the U.S. to developing nations. Nohazardous or tested and working electronic products or parts are not restricted. Other exemptions from trestrictions are:

products under warranty being returned to the manufacturing facility that made them;

products or parts being recalled; and

crushed cathode ray tube (CRT) glass cullet that is cleaned and fully prepared as feedstock into CRT

glass manufacturing facilitiesCurrently, electronic waste is exported to developing countries by the majority of US companies that claim to recyclers, to be bashed, burned, flushed with acids, and melted down in unsafe conditions in developing countriesuch as China, India, Nigeria and Ghana. Eighty percent of children in Guiyu, China, a region where ma“recycled” electronics wind up, have elevated levels of lead in their blood, due to the toxins in those electronicmuch of which originates in the U.S. The plastics in the imported electronics are typically burned outdoors, whican emit deadly dioxin or furans, which are breathed in by workers and nearby residents. Twenty three states hav passed e-waste recycling legislation, but these laws do not ban e-waste exports, which is an international traissue, and not the constitutional jurisdiction of the states. Only Congress has the authority to legislate this muneeded restriction.

7/29/2019 VVDS 48 December 2010


7/29/2019 VVDS 48 December 2010



49

Display metrology newscompiled by Phillip Hill

Atlona Technologies announces 7.0-inch testing monitor with HDMI, VGA and component inputsAtlona Technologies announced the AT-DIS7-PROHD, a 7.0-inch HD testing monitor designed to test cabling ancomponent installations, where displays are remote or not yet present. Unlike many other monitors available, thDIS7-PROHD does not limit its potential by segregating its testing uses to one specific format. While previounits, similar to it, have only HDMI or DVI to test recent additions to existing installation projects, Atlona has realized that there are many more applications integrators andinstallers face other than digital formats. As a result, the DIS7-PROHD can test all digitalformats such as DVI and HDMI, as well as VGA, component, and RGB-HV. Anadditional function allows users the ability to view signal information for the DisplayData Channel (DDC) such as HDCP compliance, resolution and frequency, digitalformat, and audio information. Not only can video be viewed in exact representation, but built in speakers have been added for audio as well. To meet the ever-growing trend, 3Dcapability will also be available for those who need it. http://www.atlona.com

Canvys releases calibration software for medical LCDsCanvys announced the release of the Image Systems CFS WebSuite calibration feedback system and smart phoutility. The CFS WebSuite enables remote monitoring and quality control of medical displays via a web browsand/or handheld device-which is particularly important for today’s mobile workforce. It is comprised of three w based modules: CFS Local/Web included with every image systems display bundle; CFS WebManager enabliremote monitoring access to enterprise wide displays via a web browser; and CFS MobileManager enablinadministrators access to their deployed displays via Blackberry, iPhone, and iPad. An administrator will see thstatus of all deployed displays, be alerted to out-of-tolerance displays, and be able to re-calibrate those displays the DICOM standard from their handheld device. http://www.canvys.com/cfswebsuite.html

Konica-Minolta launches display color analyzerKonica-Minolta launched a high-speed, high-accuracy instrument that provides even higher accuracy for measurinLED-backlit LCD TVs by reducing errors due to variations in the peak wavelength of LED backlights. Building othe benefits offered by the display color analyzer CA-210, the CA-310 offers even higher accuracy when measurin

the LED-backlit LCD TVs that are becoming more and more populAlthough conventional backlights such as fluorescent lamps provirelatively uniform light, the spectral emission distribution of LEDs varislightly with each unit. The CA-310 overcomes this problem with colsensors that more closely match the CIE 1931 color-matching functionoffering higher measurement accuracy while providing high measuremespeed even at low luminance. http://www.konicaminolta.com

Spectrum analyzer from Sunrise Telecom automates digital video testingSunrise Telecom Incorporated announced it has enhanced the AT2500 spectrum analyzer with automated digit proof of performance test capabilities, answering cable operators’ need for a solution that assesses the quality their rapidly expanding digital video services. Cable operators are replacing analog signals with bandwidth-saviQAM signals as they expand their all-digital video programming slate, delivering linear digital channels as well video-on-demand, HDTV and digital video advancements such as 3DTV. Sunrise Telecom’s AT2500 spectruanalyzer ensures delivery of quality digital video feeds and troubleshoots issues that impact QAM-supported digitvideo offerings, allowing them to catch impairments before they escalate into a major service interruption. Tfeature increases productivity by making it easy and efficient for the technician to run digital proof of performan

7/29/2019 VVDS 48 December 2010



50

tests. With a push of a button, the user is able to test all QAM channels to a pre-set threshold, making sure each teis completed consistently and accurately. The digital proof of performance enhancement is a new feature that is paof the WebRemote option for the AT2500 Sunrise Telecom introduced in May. http://www.sunrisetelecom.com

Pantone introduces CAPSURE to match the color of any surfacePantone LLC announced CAPSURE, a compact, handheld device that lets design professionals, contractors, pai

retailers and do-it-yourselfers confidently measure and match color inspiration instantly – from small, patternemulti-colored textures and textiles to walls and carpeting. Created for professionals in fashion, home furnishinginterior, industrial and graphic design, as well as contractors, paint retailers and do-it-yourselfers, CAPSURallows users to accurately identify color inspiration from any surface, material or fabric and match it to a Pantocolor for easy communication. CAPSURE significantly reduces the time it takes to measure or choose a color froa sample or any other form of color inspiration. The device uses powerful tri-directional image capture technologthat eliminates the shadows and interference inherent to patterned and textured materials and surfaces. Billuminating the surface being measured from three different directions while simultaneously recording 27 coloaccurate images in 1.6 seconds, CAPSURE can extract up to four dominant colors from an intricate pattern so tviewer can clearly identify the desired color. CAPSURE’s image capture technology lets professionals previewhat they are measuring on its 1.75-inch color screen, in real time, to affirm image accuracy. Those images are th

stored on the device for later reference. CAPSURE has the ability to record thelast 100 colors measured for later reference. Users can also annotate colorswith a voice recording as well as a time and date stamp. Additionally, thedevice provides harmonious shades and identifies related colors that arelighter, darker or similar in tone to the identified color. CAPSURE comes pre-loaded with all Pantone color libraries allowing users to match more than8,000 colors with a single device. http://www.pantone.com

CAPSURE is a compact, handheld device that lets design professionals,contractors, paint retailers and do-it-yourselfers confidently measure and match

color inspiration instantly - from small, patterned, multi-colored textures and textiles to walls and carpeting

Datacolor targets new color calibrator at photographersDatacolor announced the release of SpyderCheckr, a new color reference tool that allows photographers to colcalibrate their cameras, perform precision in-camera white balance and record known color samples. It features spectrally engineered color patches and user-friendly profiling software to enable photographers to achievconsistent, predictable color control from capture to edit. SyperCheckr is designed to capture accurate color whe

shooting and it then delivers these results to the photographer with RAimport software. Datacolor says that the high-consistency color patches ansimple calibration software make it easier for photographers to creacustom camera profiles and reduce time spent on postproduction.

The SpyderCheckr has a neutral gray target and gray ramp for in-came

white balance and visual neutrality, and extensive skin tone samples for uin fashion and portrait photography. The design also comes with a durabcase, a tripod mount and a built-in fade strip indicator that issues a warninwhen target inserts need replacing. Datacolor says that the SyperCheckr cinteract with Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, Elements and Camera RAW

produce calibration presets that fit directly into a photographer’s digital workflow. Datacolor has also launchSpyderCheckPro, a bundle package which includes SpyderCheckr and SypderCube for capturing custom whi balance, providing neutrality data from various light sources and correcting highlight and shadow details. DatacolSpyderCheckr and SpyderCheckr Pro are now available for £115 and £141 respectively. http://www.datacolor.com

7/29/2019 VVDS 48 December 2010


7/29/2019 VVDS 48 December 2010



52

We’ve discovered that the new “necessities” – smart phone, tablet, apps – can be used interchangeably home/work, so they’re a meaningful investment.

Industry Bright Spot: That’s probabwhy the PC/CE/communications industand retailers are slightly more optimist

For them, there seems to be light at tend of the very long tunnel as consumemove up to the new necessities.

Consumers have cut back their spending

almost across the board over the past two years, but there are glimmers of

optimism that people are opening up tothe new computing, entertainment and

mobile devices. The challenge will be in

making a profit on each sale. At the same time, the growth in the numbers of

shoppers and bargain hunters has madeit difficult for commodity brands toretain customers. They must rewin

them…every day.

Booz & Company

What the heck, if you’re going to go a little overboard to get the necessity, you might as well do it right. The nenecessity has to have those extra factors that make the investment even more “rational” to you.

While retailers – and even some consumers – will tell you that it’s always about price when folks make a purchasit isn’t necessarily so. There’s a growing laundry list of “important” features that men/women/kids take inconsideration when they make their purchases. The key for successful producers and retailers is to tap into as maof these consumer features as possible.

At least you’re not blowing money in a frivolous manner, ya’ know! The fact is, you’re paying closer attention your buying choices and to the companies behind the products. As a leading-edge influence (yes you), Euro ESCWorldwide found that prosumers considered all of the factors when making their purchases:

86 percent shop more carefully, mindfully than they used to

70 percent say that it is more important to them to feel good about the companies with which they do business

77 percent prefer to buy from companies that share their personal values

68 percent of prosumers pay more attention to the environmental and/or social impact of the productsthey buy

79 percent of prosumers believe they have a responsibility to censure unethical companies by avoiding the products

Generation Online: None of this was a surprise to our kids who havelifetime of apps on their smart phones.

Not a Phone – Today’s smart phone is only incidentally used to place/receivecalls. All of the other capabilities, features, apps are used much more often

to keep abreast of the news while on the go, stay in textural touch with

friends/family/coworkers and to get the entertainment people want no matter where they are.

7/29/2019 VVDS 48 December 2010


7/29/2019 VVDS 48 December 2010



54

That’s It: The focused, creative marketers are making it easy for the individual to use his/her smart device in tstore to get all the information he/she wants… BAM! Imagine all that marketing/sales information out there juwaiting to be sent to your smart device to “help” you make an intelligent purchase. Manufacturers and retailers aalso sweetening the pie with their social media/geo-location tools to turn the shopper into a customer…regul

customer. Of course, all of these marvelous soc

media tools can also be used against the manufacturor retailer that intrudes a little too much on the nerelationship. They simply express their displeasuand a whole bunch of relationships tusour…quickly.

The challenge for the online marketer is to reach just

the right balance of delivering timely information,

materials, fun for customers without overreaching,

overstepping. Irritate them and they have a very

public means of striking back with messages across

the Web. Translation…it’s no place for amateurs.

Source – MS&L Group

7/29/2019 VVDS 48 December 2010


7/29/2019 VVDS 48 December 2010



58

iPhone 4 Auto-Brightness: Next, I turned Auto-Brightness On and then measured the screen brightness (whLuminance cd/m

2) that the iPhone 4 produces under a wide range of ambient light levels, from 0 lux (Pitch Blac

up through 100,000 lux (Direct Sunlight). When Auto-Brightness is turned On the Brightness slider adjusts tAuto behavior to allow consumers (in principle) to set their own individual screen brightness preferences fambient light. To evaluate this, I measured 5 different settings of the slider: Maximum, ¾, ½ (center), ¼ an

Minimum. The results are plotted as the colored lines in Figure 1 – the circles are the measured data values. Noof the Auto Brightness settings even remotely approaches the desired behavior discussed above. It certainly lookas if no one at Apple ever bothered to set or check Auto-Brightness for useful performance, which is why there alots of user comments questioning how it works on the web… This is “Brightnessgate” for the iPhone…

The iPhone 4 comes from the factory with the Brightness slider set to ½ (center) and with Auto-Brightness turnOn. At 2,000 lux, where just about everyone will want the display operating at maximum brightness, AutBrightness sets it to only 60 percent of maximum, so Auto-Brightness is throwing away 40 percent of the precio brightness needed for screen visibility. And at 10,000 lux, which is full daylight, the screen brightness is still belo90 percent of maximum. The ¾ setting is much too bright and power wasteful for all indoor viewing and yet it stthrows away 20 percent of the screen brightness at 2,000 lux for outdoor viewing. The Maximum setting is usele because it varies the screen brightness (and power) by less than 10 percent and the ¼ and Minimum settings are f

too dim to be useful for humans.

The iPhone 4 Auto-Brightness performs in a bizarre fashion where it typically makes the screen too bright at lowindoor ambient light levels (which is important for saving battery power) and too dim at higher outdoor leve(which is important for screen readability) – it’s always wrong, usable but very inefficient and wasteful. B“Brightnessgate” for the iPhone gets even worse…

iPhone 4 auto-brightness bug: One behavior of the iPhone 4 Auto-Brightness that is a serious operational error bug is that it locks onto the brightest ambient light sensor value that it has measured at any point starting from ttime it was turned on, and then continues to use that highest value indefinitely to set the screen brightness until thdisplay turns off – either by cycling through sleep mode or full power off. This means that the screen brightnessfrequently set too high, which wastes power and can cause eye strain if you move to lower ambient light levelAuto-Brightness should always follow the current ambient light level (with appropriate time averaging anfiltering). Apple should correct this with a software update. To easily verify this behavior with your own iPhoturn On Auto-Brightness under Settings and set the Brightness slider near the middle of its range. Go to a very darlocation. Click the sleep/wake button on the top of the phone to turn the display off. Then wake it up with thsleep/wake button or the Home button. Note the screen brightness in the dark. Now take the phone to a very brigoutdoor location (such as in direct sunlight) then go back (with the display on) to your original dark location anmonitor the screen brightness. The display will remain at very high brightness indefinitely until the iPhone entesleep mode again (or runs out of battery). What’s even more shocking is that “Brightnessgate” is even worse oAndroid phones…

Android automatic brightness: There are currently a large number smart phones running Google’s Android O

and all of the models that we have looked at appear to work in the same way. There is a slider for manuadjustment of screen brightness, but when Automatic Brightness is enabled the slider disappears and there arenany user settings or preference adjustments (unlike the iPhone 4) – you get whatever screen brightness settingAndroid and the smart phone manufacturers have pre-programmed into them. Unfortunately, those AutomatBrightness settings are incredibly primitive and crude – on the Samsung Galaxy S and HTC Desire that we latested Automatic Brightness produces only four fixed screen brightness levels when the ambient lighting changfrom pitch black all the way up to direct sunlight, with each manufacturer setting their own breakpoints as shown Figure 2. For this reason alone, Auto Brightness is effectively useless for Android. But “Brightnessgate” oAndroid gets even worse…

7/29/2019 VVDS 48 December 2010



59

Android automatic brightness bugs: Both of the Android phones we lab tested have their own Auto Brightneoperational errors or bugs. On the Samsung Galaxy S two of the four Android Automatic Brightness levels are sridiculously high: 7,000 and 30,000 lux – they are about a factor of 10 too high to be useful. The Galaxy S scree brightness remains at an incredibly low 170 cd/m2 up until near Full Daylight, only about 50 percent of the scre brightness that it can deliver, and it waits up until almost Direct Sunlight to move up to its maximum scre

brightness of 305 cd/m

2

. Since there are no available settings or adjustments it’s better to leave the AutomatBrightness permanently off until this gets fixed with a software update. The HTC Desire has a somewhat bettchoice of brightness level breakpoints than the Galaxy S, but it has a bug similar to the iPhone – once the ligsensor detects a light level over 100 lux it won’t allow the screen below Android brightness Level 2 until thdisplay is cycled off by going into sleep mode using the power button or Screen timeout.

Figure 2: The measured Screen Brightness for various measured Ambient Brightness levels for the Samsung Galaxy S and HTC Desire. The Manual Optimum relation and other elements are the same as in Figure 1.

Conclusion for the current auto brightness: Automatic Brightness on existing smart phones is close functionally useless because the manufacturers have not made the effort required to develop, evaluate and test thsoftware and hardware so that they work properly and effectively. All of the models we tested also have seriooperational errors and bugs indicating how little an effort has been made to make them work (or rather not wor properly. It’s clear that most manufacturers are using ad hoc implementations instead of methodical science aengineering, which is shameful and shocking… As a result most smart phones are operating without AuBrightness because consumers disable them when they don’t work properly, which means the screen brightness seldom set correctly for the wide range of ambient lighting conditions that most smart phones experience. It almeans that the display is very likely set by the consumer to a perpetual high screen brightness. As a result th

7/29/2019 VVDS 48 December 2010



60

battery runs down much sooner than if the brightness and power were actively and intelligently managautomatically, as they should be. We outline how to do that next…

How automatic brightness should work: We’ve already shown that Automatic Brightness is important and currently functionally useless on smart phones and HDTVs for many reasons. We’ve also discussed some of thchanges needed for the Ambient Light Sensors, but by far the most important factor is getting the user interface f

screen brightness to work properly so that consumers can use it to adjust the screen brightness based on their owvisual preferences, in a natural fashion that automatically implements and tweaks the screen brightness they woulike to see for different ambient lighting conditions. That will maximize viewing comfort, screen readability, enerefficiency and battery run time if it’s done correctly. Right now the user interface for brightness controls completely backwards – the Light Sensor measures the ambient light and the smart phone or HDTV adjusts tscreen brightness based on some ad hoc and mysterious algorithm based on an earlier user setting of a brightnecontrol. The solution is very simple – do it in the opposite way – the consumer initially adjusts the screen brightnemanually to whatever they want for the current ambient lighting. The Ambient Light Sensor then measures thlight level. The value is recorded and used to interpolate the screen brightness whenever the ambient lightichanges. In principle, only two such user settings are needed to train the Automatic Brightness for a lineinterpolation as shown in Figure 1. Whenever the user doesn’t find the current screen brightness to their liking, th

manually tweak the brightness and the new value and ambient light level are used to update the Auto Brightnecalibration.

There is one more thing… to make this work for smart phones and TVs need a convenient brightness control tweak and train the Automatic Brightness. Every TV and smart phone in the solar system has a convenient VolumControl but in most cases you have to go down a couple of menu levels to get to a cumbersome Brightness ControMy suggestion for all smart phones: temporarily shift the Volume buttons to Brightness buttons by pressing bothe + and – buttons at the same time – which will activate a temporary Brightness Shift. It’s fast, convenient aneasy, and then have them automatically time out and shift back to Volume Controls when you’re done adjusting t brightness. This same suggestion applies to TV remote controls – use a shift button to temporarily convert tVolume Control buttons into Brightness Control buttons. Every display needs a convenient external Brightne

Control – not buried under several levels of menus. In all cases it’s best to implement it using the existing VolumControl together with an appropriate shift button.

The above is guaranteed to work nicely and conveniently for all consumers, solve :Brightnessgate”, maximiviewing comfort, screen readability, energy efficiency and battery run time all together. For HDTVs it will lowyour electric bill and even make a dent in oil imports… I hope the manufacturers are listening…

Special Thanks to Jay Catral and Konica Minolta Sensing ( http://www.konicaminolta.com/sensingusa/products ) for thinstruments and technical support. To measure the Ambient Light Brightness (Illuminance in lux) we used a Konica MinolT-10 Illuminance Meter and for screen Brightness (Luminance in cd/m2 ) we used a Konica Minolta CS-200 ChromaMeter.

DisplayMate offers special pricing to Veritas et Visus readers! Improve the Image and Picture Quality o f Computer and Video Moni tors, Projectors , and HDTVs

Set Up - Calibrate - Adjust - Tune Up - Optimize - Demo - Check Up - Test - Evaluate

DisplayMate Portable USB Editions J ust Plug it in -- Launches Automatically -- No Installation The latest and most advanced versions of DisplayMate

The USB Drive is Free

http://www.displaymate.com/vvm/

7/29/2019 VVDS 48 December 2010



61

The Last W ord: Auld Lang SyneFarewell to VGA…

by Fluppeteer

Fluppeteer is contributing toVeritas et Visus

based on a long background working as acomputer graphics programmer, and a similarly long background torturing his displayhardware to within an inch of its life. He uses an IBM T221 display (3840x2400 pixels) andmulti-monitor setups, the attempts to extract the best out of which have given him someinsight into the issues specific to high-resolution displays. Fluppeteer holds an MA from theUniversity of Cambridge (England) and an MSc in Advanced Computing from King’s CollegeLondon. His efforts to squeeze the most from monitors stretch from ASCII art to ray tracing.Laser surgery left him most comfortable 1-2 feet away from the monitor, making high-resolution a necessity. He is currently ranked 18th in the word at tiddlywinks.

We're approaching the end of a year – indeed, a decade – and it's time to look back fondly on happy times. On thoccasion, Intel, AMD and others have brought one piece of history into focus. With this announcement:

http://newsroom.intel.com/community/intel_newsroom/blog/2010/12/08/leading-pc-companies-move-to-all-digital-display-technology-phasing-out-analog

...a collection of movers and shakers from the industry made a statement of intent that they will remove support fVGA (and DVI-I) in the next few years. They're also killing LVDS, but - beyond my continued use of an SG1600SW – this standard has less impact on my life as a consumer. The end of the era of VGA, though – thatmomentous. I remember when I was first blown away by the quality of a 640x480 (actually, 640x512) image onMultiSync monitor – and how displaying it put such a strain on the memory of the computer that it ground to a ha

Digitizing the past: With almost every display on the market these days made up of a discrete pixel grid widigitized levels, it's hard to justify an analog connection scheme. It makes little sense to start with a digitized pixarray in graphics card memory, convert this to analog levels, and then have the graphics card attempt to recreate th

pixel boundaries and re-digitize the result. Unsurprisingly, driving an LCD monitor with a digital signal is molikely to produce a quality signal than using an analog connection – it's difficult to create a perfect reproduction even a high quality analogue signal.

The problem is that it's not a perfect world. As many people are finding out with a switch to digital over-the-atelevision and radio, a poor quality analog signal is much better than no signal at all. Sometimes long cabextenders, KVMs and bad shielding can play havoc with a signal, but something useful still gets through. Windown the resolution and the result might be acceptable, if far behind what the display was expecting. DVI/HDMand DisplayPort are high bandwidth standards, and when the signal can't keep up, they can't fail gracefully.

Even when the distance between source and display is short, they must still be compatible. VGA may be archa but it's ubiquitous: in the lounge in which I'm writing this, I have three computers and two laptops, each with

VGA output (except one computer, which has four DVI-I outputs). I also have two LCD monitors and a televisionall of which have VGA inputs. VGA may not be the best way to connect systems together, but it's a solution whnothing else works.

In contrast, digital standards come and go, and the quality of implementations vary. Even today, many flat paneare very demanding in the signal they're fed. DisplayPort 1.2 barely exists. HDMI implementations vary in quali(did anyone ever use the type B connector?) and it took years for the quality of DVI signals to improve and fdual-link DVI to become common. Maybe DisplayPort will be a stable, extensible and future-proof standard for thnext quarter-decade, and I really hope for the sake of the industry (and the consumer) that it will, but I have to belittle cautious.

7/29/2019 VVDS 48 December 2010



62

Rose tinted glass: Of course, when I said that using an analog signal made no sense, this assumes that the displais digital. The market may be flooded with flat panels – cheaper to make and certainly cheaper to ship than CRTs but the old technology still has its advantages.

An LCD monitor reproduces the pixels that are fed to it perfectly. So long as it's fed the native resolution of th panel; otherwise the result is a smeared mess. With a CRT, one can change the resolution to fit the source (yes

720p signal will look sharper on a CRT than any 1080p TFT), scale the image to trade off image quality again performance when gaming, change the pixel size to match a physical target.

An LCD monitor shows sharp pixels. When showing a desktop, made up of rectangles and fonts that are hinted the pixel grid (often using sub-pixel rendering), an LCD looks better than the blurred pixels of a CRT: because timage fills each square pixel on the screen, the apparent resolution is much higher. But if the image isn't designto fit on a grid – if it's a photograph, a video, 3D rendering, 2D line-art – square pixels do not make a gooreconstruction filter. The Gaussian blur of a CRT, the smooth steps between DAC outputs, means that the CRimage can look better.

There are LCDs with higher resolution than CRTs. The T221 is way ahead of any CRT, but it was discontinue

years ago. The 30-inch panels popularized by Apple and Dell have more pixels than CRTs can show, althouthese pixels are huge. A lot of CRTs certainly shipped that couldn't even reach 1280x1024 resolutions. Not all them, though. I have a 19-inch CRT that's perfectly capable of 2048x1536, and usually runs at that resolutioalthough 1600x1200 is admittedly a bit sharper. I was running 1600x1200 in 1995; cheap 19-inch monitors can sthit 1920x1200 – LCDs with more than 1920x1080 pixels are still pricey and exceptional.

LCDs take up less space on the desk than CRTs. Although the saving is usually behind the screen, where iinconvenient to put anything. To compensate for the alleged desk savings of flat panels (at least, that's a genero justification) flat panels have larger pixels and a larger screen area, meaning they can be viewed from further aw(although, due to my optical deficiencies, not by me). This means that LCD monitors are often wider than CRTsespecially because so many are wide screen. Put an array of monitors on a desk and CRTs can easily provide mo pixels on the same desk without resorting to precarious mounting solutions. It's also much harder to knock a CR

off a desk; owning cats means that this can be important.

LCDs use less power than CRTs of the same size. Of course, CRTs often have smaller screens – the origincomparison between a 17-inch LCD and a 17-inch CRT doesn't apply so much when you're comparing with a 2inch LCD. And, of course, LCDs draw much the same power regardless of the display contents; a white-on-blacolor scheme can make a significant change to the requirements of a CRT.

LCDs have their place; I use several (I'm writing this on a laptop), and I wouldn't argue that CRTs are necessari better – but they do have their own set of advantages. Not least is that I can stack five CRTs on my desk at wowithout IT minding; getting the same pixel area out of new LCDs would be expensive.

It's about time: There are those who could argue that the death of VGA is overdue. DVI has been commonalthough not to the exclusion of D-Sub connectors – for more than five years, and it's been the preferred solutiofor driving the average LCD for that long.

The problem is that the “average LCD” was never as good as a decent CRT. With reduced blanking, single-liDVI (or HDMI) can barely reach 1920x1200 at 60Hz, within the 165MHz DVI cap and using eight bits pchannel. Many CRTs can hit 2048x1536 at 85Hz, with a fully-continuous (and continuously calibrated) brightnerange, using 10-bit DACs in the graphics card.

Dual-link DVI can add color depth to a 1920x1200 image, or increase the resolution. HDMI can do both. Still, thHDMI 1.3 effective pixel rate is 340 million per second, reducing if the bit depth exceeds 24; the requirements

7/29/2019 VVDS 48 December 2010


7/29/2019 VVDS 48 December 2010



64

January 19-21 LED/OLED Lighting Technology Expo Tokyo, Japan

January 19-21 NEPCON World Japan Tokyo, Japan

January 19-21 Photovo l ta ics Summi t Phoenix , Ar izona

January 22-26 Tangib le , Embedded, and embodied

In te rac t ion Funchal , Portugal

January 22-27 Photon ics West 2011 San Franc isco, Cal i forn ia

January 23-27 Elec t ron ic Imag ing 2011 San Franc isco, Cal i forn ia

January 24-27 S tere o sc o p i c Di s pl a ys a nd A pp l i c at i o n s S an Fra nc i s c o , Ca l i fo rni a

January 25-27 ICE Tota l ly Gaming London, England

January 25-29 MacWorld Expo San Franc isco, Cal i forn ia

January 26-27 Disp laySearch Japan Forum Tokyo, Japan

January 26-28 Semicon Korea Seoul , Korea

January 31 -

February 3 Nanomater ia ls , Nanofabr icat ion, and

Organic Elec tron ics Adel a ide, Aust ral ia

February 2011

February 1-3 In tegrated Systems Europe Am st erdam , Hol lan d

February 4 O rg a ni c Di s pl a ys , L i gh t i n g, & E le c t ro ni c s L o s A n ge l es , C al i f orn i a

February 6-11 Eu ro pe an Co nf er en c e o n L iq ui d Cr ys t al s M ar ib or , Sl ov en ia

February 7-10 Flex ib le Elec tron ic s and Disp lays

Conference Phoenix , Ar izona

February 12-17 Med ica l Imag ing Orlando, F lor ida

February 13-16 In te l l i gent Use r In te r faces Palo Al to , Cal i forn ia

February 15 Disp lays for Chal leng ing Env ironments Warwick , England

February 15-17 Broadcast V ideo Expo London, England

February 15-18 Hol lywood Post A l l iance 2011 Tech

Retreat

Rancho Mirage, Cal i forn ia

February 18-20 Symposium on In teract ive 3D Graphics

and Games San Franc isco, Cal i forn ia

February 22-25 Dig i ta l S ignage Expo Las Vegas, Nevada

February 23-28 Adva nc es in Co m pu t er-Hum an

In te rac t ions Gosier, Guadeloupe

February 25-27 Sound & Vis ion 2011 Bris to l , England

February 28 –

March 4 Game Developers Conference San Franc isco, Cal i forn ia

7/29/2019 VVDS 48 December 2010



65

March 2011

March 1-2 US FPD Conferenc e San Diego, California

March 1-2 Over-the-Top TV & Video San Jose, Cal i forn ia

March 1-4 LED China 201 1 Guangzhou, China

March 1-5 CeBIT 2011 Hanover, Germany

March 2-3 Electron ic Disp lays Conference 2011 Nuremberg, Germany

March 2-4 PV Expo 2011 Tokyo, Japan

March 3 Createasphere/Enterta inment

Technology Expos i t ion Universa l Ci ty , Cal i forn ia

March 3-4 In ternat iona l Th in-F i lm Trans is tor

Conference 2011 Cambridge, England

March 5-7 In ternat iona l Conference on Imaging

Theory and Appl icat ions Alga rve, Po r t ugal

March 6-9 Focus on Imaging Birmingham , England

March 7-9 DVB World Nice, France

March 8-9 uv.eb West Santa Clara, Cal i forn ia

March 8-10 A i r Traf f i c Co nt rol Am st erdam , Hol lan d

March 10-11 SID - ME Spring Meet ing Seeheim, Germany

March 14 Si l icon Chip Industry Tra in ing Seminar London, England

March 14-18 2 01 1 Me as ur em e nt S c ie nc e Co nf er en ce Pa sa de na , Ca li fo rn ia

March 15-17 FPD China Shanghai, China

March 15-17 Laser World o f Photon ics China Shanghai, China

March 17-19 EHX Spring Orlando, F lor ida

March 19-20 Symposium on 3D User In terfac es Singapore

March 19-23 Vir tua l Real i ty 2011 Singapore

March 22-24 Phosphors Summ it San Anton io , Texas

March 22-24 Image Sensors Europe London, England

March 23 Korea FPD Conference Seoul , Korea

March 28-31 Cinemacon Las Vegas, Nevada

7/29/2019 VVDS 48 December 2010



Apr i l 2011

Apr i l 4-6 Smart Fabr ics 2011 London, England

Apr i l 4-8 MIPTV Cannes, France

Apr i l 5-6 Prin ted Elec tron ics Europe Dusseldorf , Germany

Apr i l 5-6 Photovo l ta ics Europe Dusseldorf , Germany

Apr i l 5-7 Photovo l ta ic Technology Show Stu t tga r t , Germany

Ap r i l 9 -14 NAB 2011 Las Vegas, Nevada

Apr i l 10-12 Global FPD Partners Conferenc e Hyogo, Japan

Apr i l 12-14 Sign UK/Dig i ta l S ignage Showcase Birmingham , England

Apr i l 13-14 In t erna t iona l Eye Trac king Conferenc e Reno, Nevada

Apr i l 13-15 FineTech Japan & Disp lay 2011 Tokyo, Japan

Apr i l 13-15 Touch Panel Japan Tokyo, Japan

Apr i l 14-15 2011 Ta iw an FPD Conference Taipe i , Ta iw an

Apr i l 22 Disp laySearch Japan Forum Tokyo, Japan

Apr i l 25-29 SPIE Defense, Security, and Sensing Orlando, F lor ida

Apr i l 25-26 In terac t ive Disp lays 2011 Sacramento, Cal i fo rn ia

Apr i l 27-28 Dig i ta l S ignage Show 2011 San Franc isco, Cal i fo rn ia

Apr i l 27-28 3D Gaming Summ it Universa l Ci ty , Cal i fo rn ia

Apr i l 28-30 In ternat iona l S ign Expo Las Vegas, Nevada

VVDS 48 December 2010

Documents

Transcript of VVDS 48 December 2010