V
O
I
C
E
Providing a full product line
requires ramping up production
for multiple products at the same
time and thus we had to make un-
reasonable demands on everyone
involved. While it was difficult to
achieve low-voltage drive without
sacrificing the optical transmit-
tance and narrow frame design
advantages, I am confident we
have created products that will
be more than satisfactory. The
monitor is the face the camera
presents to the user. Give Sony's
"beautiful faces" a try in your
digital camera products.
Digital Camera LCD Product Line
Features Low Power and Digital Interface Support
ACX318/319/320/321/324
Sony has now completely revamped its LCD lineup to respond to the
increasingly rapid growth in the digital camera market.
These displays retain the 100% ratio viewing area and high picture
quality of earlier Sony LCDs and at the same time achieve signifi-
cantly lower power and digital interface support.
This new product line contributes to increased end product design
efficiency by providing a wide range of drive options and allowing
the use of common drivers.
I
Low-temperature polycrystalline
silicon LCD
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High color purity
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Low power
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Digital interface support
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Adjustment free (digital interface)
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Narrow frame, thin form factor
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Use of the same driver for multiple
panels
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Ratio viewing area: 100%
Low Power
Sony has reduced the supply voltage from
12 V to 8.5 V and achieved significant
power reduction in these LCD panels by
switching from the conventional COM DC
drive to COM AC drive. (See figures 1
and 2.)
Digital Interface Support
The advantages of switching to digital
include obviating the need for D/A
converters, lower noise, and adjustment-
free manufacturing. Of course, these prod-
ucts also support use with a conventional
analog interface.
Extensive Lineup
Since these products form an extensive
product line in terms of both pixel counts
and screen sizes, they can respond
flexibly to differing end product sizes and
concepts. (See figure 3.) Sony is also
planning to expand this product line even
further.
Use of the Same Driver for
Multiple Panels
This extensive lineup allows drive using
the same driver, even for the EVF prod-
ucts. (See figure 4.) The CXM4006 is used
with digital interface applications, and the
CXM3005 is used with analog interface
applications. Sony provides the digital
drive CXM4007 for compatible drive with
EVF units, and since only one driver is
required, power consumption, space, and
costs are reduced.
Thinner Form Factor
Sony has introduced thinner light guide
plates, has actively promoted revised
backlight structures, and has even
introduced glass etching. Thinner form
factors is another area where Sony leads
the industry. (See figure 5.) For example,
the ACX318ELN features a module thick-
ness, including the backlight, of only
2.685 mm, the top level in the industry.
Ratio Viewing Area: 100%
In digital cameras it is critically important
both when composing and taking images
as well as when reviewing images to be
able to see the whole image without any
part being left out. All these panels sup-
port the implementation of 100% ratio
viewing area displays and viewfinders.
High Color Purity
The color filters are manufactured inter-
nally by ST Liquid Crystal Display Corp.,
which manufactures the panels. This al-
lows each color to be designed optimally
for the panel, making high color purity
color reproduction possible.
Narrow Frames
COG-less drive based on low-temperature
polycrystalline silicon fabrication allows
these panels to have extremely narrow
frames. This is a particularly attractive
feature for the design of digital cameras,
in which smaller models with larger LCD
monitors are now desired.
Up/Down and/or Right/Left
Inversion Functions
Since these panels support up/down and/
or right/left inversion functions controlled
with serial signals only, they provide
increased design flexibility in, for
example, digital cameras with a rotating
monitor.
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Figure 2 Power Consumption Comparison (Example)
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Figure 1 Low Power Principles
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Figure 3 Extensive Lineup
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Figure 5 Trend Towards Thinner 1.5-type Panels
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Figure 4 Using the Same Driver
COM AC signal
Video signal
White
Black
Black
White
COM DC signal
Video signal
White
Black
Black
White
12 V
0 V
8.5 V
0 V
Conventional Drive
Low-Power Drive
*
: The figure presents a rough
overview of these signals.
*
: This data does not include the backlight.
0
50
100
150
200
250
Conventional
Specifications
Low-Power
Specifications
150
85
55
15
LCD
IC
205 mW
100 mW
Power consumption
(mW)
1.5
type
1.8
type
2.0
type
2.5
type
(dots)
78K
ACX321
ACX332
118K
ACX318
ACX320
ACX324
235K
ACX319
ACX330
Under
development
78K dots
LCD panel
235K dots
CXM4006
(Digital interface)
or
CXM3005
(Analog interface)
118K dots
EVF panel
235K dots
*
: Sony provides a compatible driver for both EVF and LCD drive.
DSP
Fck = 27/24 MHz
118K dots
4.0 mm
3.0 mm
3.5 mm
2.5 mm
2001
2002
2003
3.9 mm
2.98 mm
2.685 mm
ACX318ELN
(year)
Introduction of thin-form light guides
Structural analysis of backlight systems
Glass etching
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