Sony Broadens Color Range of 23- and 42-inch LCD Monitors for Broadcasters

Nov 21, 2007 20:22 Shinya Saeki, Nikkei Electronics

Sony Corp has developed 23- and 42-inch LCD monitors, which have extended a color reproduction range for use as a master monitor at broadcast stations, for example, and presented them at "Inter BEE 2007" international broadcast equipment exhibition held at Makuhari Messe from Nov 20 to 22, 2007.

Although the company has not disclosed specific values concerning the color reproduction range, the TVs can recreate a color range of EBU and SMPTE-C broadcast specifications, Sony said. The 23-inch model supports 1920 x 1200 WUXGA resolution, while the 42-inch model does 1920 x 1080, so-called full HD resolution.

To expand the color reproduction range, "We changed the R (red), G (green) and B (blue) materials used for the LCD panel's color filter in addition to adopting an LED backlight system," said an attendant at Sony's booth. These developments used the same LED alignment as that in the backlight employed for the company's 70-inch "Bravia" LCD TV. One LED unit consists of four LEDs including one R, one B and two G LEDs.

In addition, R, G and B color sensors and a temperature sensor are incorporated between these LED units in the newly developed TVs. Tuning LED output in accordance with the measurements of the sensors, the TVs can maintain the LCD panel backlight's luminance despite variations caused by temperature and aging, said Sony. The total number of embedded LED units has not been specified.

Sony also reduced the sense of afterimage by inserting a black screen per frame. As for video data rendering, the TVs support both interlace and progressive displaying technologies.

As a challenge it is currently facing, Sony cited a higher contrast ratio. The company refrained from specifying the new TVs' contrast ratio but just said, "It is not so different from that applied to our current LCD TVs. Although it is difficult to increase an LCD panel's contrast ratio, many users are demanding higher contrast."

The 23-inch model is slated to debut in the market in December 2007 at ¥2.079 million. Sony is planning to release the 42-inch model in the spring of 2008.

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