[Toyako Summit] Sharp Claims Drastic Reduction of LCD TV Power Consumption

Jul 9, 2008 10:37 Mayuko Uno, Nikkei Electronics

Sharp Corp exhibited a prototype of a 26-inch LCD TV whose power consumption is drastically low at the "Environment Showcase" set by Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the G8 Hokkaido-Toyako Summit.

Compared with the company's existing LCD TV, "LC-26GH3" (released in 2007), the new LCD TV has about one-third the power consumption and about half the annual power consumption, the company said.

Though Sharp did not disclose the power consumption and other data, the power consumption and annual power consumption of the new LCD TV are estimated to be about 40W and 60kWh, respectively. The company did not announce when the TV will be available for practical use.

This time, Sharp reduced the power consumption of the LCD TV to the extent that a solar battery as large as its screen can provide enough electric power for the TV. Therefore, the company suggests that the TV should be used with a solar battery. The TV can be effectively used in off-grid areas, the company said.

Sharp did not reveal how it reduced the power consumption of the LCD TV, either. Currently, as measures to reduce the power consumption of LCD TVs, many companies are developing local dimming technologies, which split a screen into several areas mounted with LED direct backlights and light LEDs in accordance with the brightness of each area.

For example, Victor Company of Japan Ltd announced that it was developing a local dimming technology at CEATEC Japan 2007 (See related article).

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