Epson has recently unveiled an all-in-one LCD screen with an integrated cover and touch panel. The All-in-One Touch Screen LCD uses a futuristic looking all-in-one optical design that prevents glare. Clear views from just about any angle are said to be obtained thanks to Photo Fine Vistarich wide viewing angle and anti-reflection technologies.

The best news is that these screens are intended for use on in-car systems, such as satellite navigation, and in digital cameras and advanced mobile phones with built-in digital TV receivers. To analyze the impact on the market, some 3.1-inch and 7-inch prototypes will be shown at FPD International 2007, which will be held at the end of this month at Pacifico Yokohama, Japan.

Since most mobile devices equipped with touch panels are expected to become more common, Epson is following the right path. Not to mention that current touch-panel-equipped modules on the market often fail to reveal the true potential of liquid-crystal displays.

According to the giant company, all these have convinced Epson to develop this kind of all-in-one LCDs in which: "the liquid-crystal panel, cover, and touch panel are combined without an air gap, thus preventing the loss of brightness and contrast that occurs when covers and touch panels are attached to LCDs with air in between. Thanks to their composite structure, the newly developed displays enable improved visibility and greater strength in a slimmer, more compact design.", as they put it.

[IMG=2]According to the company's official representatives, there are a lot of advantages when using this particular type of screens, such as: "Higher visibility (optical design combines liquid-crystal panel with cover and touch panel), a better strength and durability, a narrow frame down to a minimum width of 1.5 mm, as well as a 1.8-mm black slim-line design and a clear display with wide viewing angle".

Among the technical specs of the new LCDs, Epson mentioned two versions of 3.1-inch and 7-inch model. The screen size is said to be of 7.8 cm/3.1 inches and 17.7 cm/7.0 inches, respectively. There is also a display mode Photo Fine Vistarich, transmissive Photo Fine Vistarich, a viewing angle (V/H) of 160/160 degrees (CR>100) 160/160 degrees (CR>100) and a touch detection method.