LG Display unveils Sunlight Illuminated LCD

Besides other things this CES 2009, LG Display will showcase its new 14.1 inch sunlight Illuminated LCD for notebook PCs. LG Display has announced that it has developed a 14.1 inch LCD panel for notebook PC that is illuminated by sunlight instead of the backlight unit when used outdoors.

LG have innovated quite well, with the use of selective reflection plates in existing backlight panels. This enables the switch from reflective mode in a high luminance setting (sunlight) to transmissive mode in a low luminance setting (indoors and at night).

The display's outdoor energy consumption falls to one fourth the level of indoor energy consumption, providing a significant increase in battery life. Backlight units (BLUs) in conventional notebooks can account for more than 75% of the total energy consumption used in LCD panels for notebooks. This new product resolves visibility issues with a contrast ratio exceeding 9:1 when used outdoors in reflective mode, the company said. The display's contrast ratio ranges from just 2:1 to 3:1 for conventional notebook PCs when used outdoors, implying difficulty in viewing the screen.