High-Brightness TFT LCDs Go Industrial

April 28, 2003

High-brightness TFT LCDs go industrial Three new 15-in. active-matrix thin-film-transistor (TFT) LCD modules flaunt the high brightness needed for industrial applications like wide-angle factory automation, test and measurement, kiosk, and financial point-of-sale. Developed by Toshiba, the XGA modules (1024 by 768 pixels) also fit financial and medical products as well as a host of emerging applications requiring superior image quality.

These LCDs come with four lamps, instead of the typical two, for higher brightness levels that range from 350 to 400 candelas/meter² (cd/m²). Featured are wide viewing angles of 160° horizontal and 140° vertical, along with a high contrast level and a fast response time of 25 ms.

The LTM15C458C suits cost-constrained applications that require high brightness levels. The LTM15C458S offers the highest luminance rating at 400 cd/m². The LTM15C458T fits applications where mounting is above eye level, such as airport arrival/departure screens.

The LCDs offer a high color range of 72% of the NTSC TV spec, which is significantly more than the typical 40% to 50% on the market. Long-life, cold-cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) backlighting with four replaceable lamps is an added feature.

Pricing for the LTM15C458C, LTM15C458S, and LTM15C458T is $385, $400, and $415 each, respectively, in sample quantities.

Toshiba America Electronic Components Inc.
[email protected] • (847) 945-1500

About the Author

Roger Allan

Roger Allan is an electronics journalism veteran, and served as Electronic Design's Executive Editor for 15 of those years. He has covered just about every technology beat from semiconductors, components, packaging and power devices, to communications, test and measurement, automotive electronics, robotics, medical electronics, military electronics, robotics, and industrial electronics. His specialties include MEMS and nanoelectronics technologies. He is a contributor to the McGraw Hill Annual Encyclopedia of Science and Technology. He is also a Life Senior Member of the IEEE and holds a BSEE from New York University's School of Engineering and Science. Roger has worked for major electronics magazines besides Electronic Design, including the IEEE Spectrum, Electronics, EDN, Electronic Products, and the British New Scientist. He also has working experience in the electronics industry as a design engineer in filters, power supplies and control systems.

After his retirement from Electronic Design Magazine, He has been extensively contributing articles for Penton’s Electronic Design, Power Electronics Technology, Energy Efficiency and Technology (EE&T) and Microwaves RF Magazine, covering all of the aforementioned electronics segments as well as energy efficiency, harvesting and related technologies. He has also contributed articles to other electronics technology magazines worldwide.

He is a “jack of all trades and a master in leading-edge technologies” like MEMS, nanolectronics, autonomous vehicles, artificial intelligence, military electronics, biometrics, implantable medical devices, and energy harvesting and related technologies.