Omron Corporation of Kyoto, Japan, has announced that their research labs produced a technique -- dubbed hybrid-integration technology -- that uses very small or "nano" prism arrays to achieve a three-fold improvement in contrast ratio compared to conventional front-lighting methods, said the statement.
The firm's design also allowed a reduction in number of LEDs (light emitting diodes), the screen's light source, and so lowers power consumption.
Existing front-lighting methods, which feature LEDs that light up the front of the LCD, have low power consumption but offer low contrast images. Backlighting methods, which put the LED at the back of the LCD, produce high-contrast images, but consume more power.
The screen brightness produced by the new technology is said to rival that of notebook computers, the statement said.
The nano prism array prevents reflection of unnecessary light and realises clear screen images.
The growth in camera-equipped mobile phones, handheld PCs, digital cameras and video-image transmission has generated demand for brighter and clearer LCD screens.
