Since Panasonic is pretty much the world's best-known manufacturer of plasma displays, it's no wonder that it brought at IFA just about the best in its arsenal. And no, we're not talking just about production models, but also about next-generation PDPs, prototypes whose features and specs offer us just a glimpse of things to come.

 

The prototypes include a 42-inch panel with double efficiency technology that halves energy consumption while maintaining the same brightness, a less than one-inch super-thin 50-inch PDP, and for the first time ever a one-inch super-thin 58-inch and 65-inch PDP. And since size does matter a lot when it comes to plasma displays, the company has also brought to IFA its record-breaking, 150-inch advanced high definition (HD) PDP.

 

The main point of attraction provided by these prototypes is the use of a new, energy-efficient technology. Panasonic's research laboratories have developed new phosphors and cell design technology for improved discharge and new circuit and drive technology to significantly reduce power loss.

 

And the results are actually quite impressive, since the new PDPs have twice the luminance efficiency and provide the same brightness as the existing 1080p full HD PDP, while cutting the power consumption by half.

 

Another major development is related to the process of miniaturization of the components included in the displays. For example, the 24.7 mm (less than one inch) super-thin 50-inch, 58-inch and 65-inch Plasma televisions are around four times thinner than previous PDPs thanks to the new circuit and drive technology, and they're also a lot more lightweight.

 

However, by far the most impressive product (the showstopper) to be found in Panasonic's lineup is the 150-inch PDP, which delivers an 8.84 million pixel resolution (2,160 x 4,096) - more than four times the 1080p HD specification (1,080 x 1,920). The prototype has a screen size equivalent to nine 50-inch PDPs, as well as an effective viewing area of 3.31 m x 1.87 m.

 

It's also quite interesting to note that all the prototypes use Wireless HD technology, another very clear sign of things to come, since it's becoming quite clear that we're approaching (fast) a world in which just about everything will be wireless, from our computers to all the components from the home entertainment system.


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