TOKYO (04/25/2000) - Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. has developed a display panel for cellular telephones that should mean extended battery life for users.
Unlike conventional LCD (liquid crystal display) panels, the new model is a reflective-type LCD, which means it does not need a backlight when used in most situations. The panel reflects ambient light, whether daylight or artificial lighting, to do away with the need for a backlight -- a major power drain in any battery-operated product -- and thus allow designers to offer extended battery life.
The two-inch panel can produce 260,000 color shades, and resolution is 720 pixels by 240 pixels, the company said in a statement. It is manufactured using a low-temperature polysilicon process that allows for the necessary driver and peripheral circuits to be built onto the glass panel, thus saving space -- another important consideration in cellular telephones.
Samsung, which is a major manufacturer of both LCDs and cellular handsets, said the new panel will enter commercial production in the second half of this year.
The company has an eye on catching the market for handsets for third-generation mobile services, which are expected to begin around the world in 2001.
Samsung Electronics, in Seoul, can be found online at http://www.samsungelectronics.com/.