ACX324

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 significantly 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 I I I I I I I Low-temperature polycrystalline silicon LCD High color purity Low power Digital interface support Adjustment free (digital interface) Narrow frame, thin form factor Use of the same driver for multiple panels 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.) 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. 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 support the implementation of 100% ratio viewing area displays and viewfinders. Digital Interface Support The advantages of switching to digital include obviating the need for D/A converters, lower noise, and adjustmentfree manufacturing. Of course, these products also support use with a conventional analog interface. Use of the Same Driver for Multiple Panels This extensive lineup allows drive using the same driver, even for the EVF products. (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. High Color Purity The color filters are manufactured internally by ST Liquid Crystal Display Corp., which manufactures the panels. This allows 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. V O I C E Thinner Form Factor Providing a full product line requires ramping up production for multiple products at the same time and thus we had to make unreasonable demands on everyone involved. While it was difficult to achieve low-voltage drive without sacrificing the optical transmittance 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. 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 thickness, including the backlight, of only 2.685 mm, the top level in the industry. 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. 12 V Black White 8.5 V COM DC signal White Black Black COM AC signal Video signal White Black White Video signal 0V 0V Conventional Drive Low-Power Drive *: The figure presents a rough overview of these signals. I Figure 1 Low Power Principles Power consumption (mW) 250 205 mW 200 55 150 100 mW 15 150 50 IC 85 LCD Under development (dots) 235K ACX319 ACX330 118K ACX318 ACX320 ACX324 100 78K 0 Conventional Specifications Low-Power Specifications ACX321 ACX332 *: This data does not include the backlight. 1.5 type 1.8 type 2.0 type 2.5 type I Figure 2 Power Consumption Comparison (Example) I Figure 3 Extensive Lineup EVF panel 235K dots 118K dots DSP Fck = 27/24 MHz CXM4006 (Digital interface) or CXM3005 (Analog interface) LCD panel 4.0 mm 3.9 mm • Introduction of thin-form light guides • Structural analysis of backlight systems • Glass etching 3.5 mm 2.98 mm 235K dots 3.0 mm 2.685 mm 118K dots 2.5 mm 78K dots *: Sony provides a compatible driver for both EVF and LCD drive. ACX318ELN 2001 2002 2003 (year) I Figure 4 Using the Same Driver I Figure 5 Trend Towards Thinner 1.5-type Panels