NEC LCD Technologies announced it will begin shipping samples of two new amorphous-silicon (a-Si) TFT-LCD displays at the end of December. The new LCDs are suitable for various portable devices, such as PDAs and portable GPS terminals, since they can reproduce colors clearly and vividly in high ambient light conditions, both indoors and outdoors, said the producer quoted by Digitimes.

The new products comprise a 3.5-inch QVGA TFT-LCD module, part number NL2432HC22-41B, and a 2.7-inch QVGA TFT-LCD module, part number NL2432HC17-04B. By means of further optimization of the optical design based on NEC's super-reflective natural light TFT (SR-NLT) technology, NL2432HC22-41B realizes both a high luminance of 200cd/m2 and a high reflective ratio of 15%. Furthermore, NL2432HC17-04B boasts the highest reflective ratio for transflective LCD modules of the same size and resolution, at 35%, and features a luminance level of 100cd/m2, which is standard for transflective LCD modules. This LCD places a priority on the quality of reflection under direct sunlight, making it ideal for portable GPS terminals.

Both LCD modules are equipped with a touch-panel, a timing controller and a DC-DC converter. Consequently, these new LCDs offer a range of benefits to manufacturers of portable information devices, both in development costs and lead time, as well as in miniaturization of portable information devices. The new models will be displayed at FPD International 2006, Yokohama, Japan, from October 18 - 20.