Hamburg, 08 December 2011 – Sharp is getting ready to start the new year with three new models from its range of Memory LCDs. This means the portfolio of ultra-low power displays will now include 13 different types with diagonals of 1.17″ (2.97 cm) to 6.02″ (15.3 cm).
With the new 4.4″ (11.09 cm) LS044Q7DH01 Memory LCD, Sharp will bridge the gap between the 2.94″ and 6.02″ diagonals. The display has a QVGA resolution of 320 x 240 pixels. The high level of reflectivity of 17.5% and the viewing angle of 120° in all directions ensure good readability, even with very low ambient lighting. Sharp has also equipped the LS044Q7DH01 with a transmissive portion of 0.25% in order to provide the display with backlighting, when needed, allowing good readability even in complete darkness. This function is an advantage for sports computers and even for measuring devices, which sometimes also have to be used at night. Like all Memory LCDs, the LS044Q7DH01 also belongs to the class of ultra-low power displays, with a power input (without backlight) of just 0.25 mW with static images and 0.65 mW with a frame rate of 1Hz.
In the lower end of its range of sizes, Sharp has expanded its range of Memory LCDs with models LS012B4DG01 (1.17″ diagonal) and LS013B7DH03 (1.28″ diagonal). The 1.28″ version is impressive, in spite of its compact size of 26.6 x 30.3 x 0.75 millimetres, thanks to its relatively high resolution of 128 x 128 pixels. Like the new 4.4″ model, the LS013B7DH03 has a transmissivity of 0.2%, which means the display can optionally be equipped with a backlight as well.
A characteristic feature of this new and now smallest member of the Memory LCD family is its shape: the edges have a length of 35.1 x 11.0 millimetres and a resolution of 184 x 38 pixels, making the LS012B4DG01 ideal for use as a function and control display of battery-operated tools. Consequently, the display is equally sturdy at operating temperatures ranging between -10°C and +70°C. In addition, the relatively long ribbon cable of approx. 52 mm allows the display to be flexibly positioned and integrated in the housings of cordless screwdrivers, drills etc.
The minimal energy consumption of the Sharp Memory LCDs results from the fact, that each pixel of the innovative display has a 1-bit memory that stores the image data loaded on the screen. Image information therefore only needs to be rewritten in the pixels in which the content has changed, as compared to the previous screen frame. As reflective displays, Memory LCDs also require no backlighting. The combined result is that Memory LCDs require only 0.8 percent of the power needed by conventional displays of the same size. In the case of conventional transmissive LC displays, microcontrollers have to rewrite the entire screen content from frame to frame at a speed of 50 to 60 Hz, even if the majority of image content remains the same. In addition to this, the backlight accounts for a good percentage of the power consumed. This means that the power consumed by standard LCDs is approximately 130 times higher than that of Memory LCDs.
Thanks to the minimal power consumption of the Memory LCDs, small solar cells can supply sufficient power to operate the entire application. It is primarily the small, portable applications, such as testing and measuring devices, industry hand-held equipment, watches, pulse monitors and other fitness devices, electronic shelf labelling systems and so forth, that can be designed as energy self-sufficient applications. In order that such energy self-sufficient solutions can be easily designed in, Sharp also offers most Memory LCDs as 3-volt models, so that when operating with conventional lithium-ion batteries there is no need for using a charge pump.
Availability
The two Memory LCDs type LS012B4DG01 and LS013B7DH03 are already in series production. Samples of both can be obtained from the Sharp sales offices in Europe and via the distribution partners. Availability of samples of the 4.4 inch models is planned starting December 2011. Series production is scheduled to begin in Q2 2012.
