TASELs, versatile and extremely appealing

Sep 25, 2007 16:06 GMT  ·  By

Remember all those Sci-Fi movies, where computer monitors were both extremely thin and transparent? Well, it would seem that (as in many other cases) these things will become real sooner than we might have thought, as the Planar company just announced the development of a whole new range of transparent and segment electroluminescent (TASEL) displays, which allow users to view both images on the display itself, but also what's going on behind them.

The new displays feature the same visual performance characteristics of Planar's proven electroluminescent (EL) displays, but this new technology offers added benefits of transparency and the ability to cut or shape the display. The transparent displays are ideal for markets in which design aesthetics are a crucial component in communicating product innovation and quality. Feedback from product and industrial designers of transportation systems, premier pro-consumer electronics and architectural projects have identified TASEL's unique characteristics as an enabling technology that removes constraints imposed by flat, rectangular, non-transparent displays.

Planar's TASEL display technology can be integrated into a variety of enclosures and used in products that need a unique look for product differentiation. These displays upgrade product appearance from more traditional LED or TN LCD display technologies, as they provide a 84 percent level of light transmission, can be transparent or mirrored and provide a viewing angle of around 179 degrees. Moreover, they provide a response time of less than 1 ms, have quite a wide range of operational temperatures (-100 to +100 degrees Celsius) and support various customization options (as for example touchscreens or performance films).

"Our innovative electroluminescent technology enables glass displays to be curved into different shapes and configurations, opening up markets with new OEM customers," said Doug Barnes, general manager and vice president of the industrial business unit, Planar Systems. "Product designers seem inspired by this breakthrough to reimagine how they incorporate displays into projects."

Planar has not released yet any significant information regarding the pricing or availability of its TASEL displays, but has invited consumer electronics manufacturers to request samples for further analysis. Nevertheless, considering just how interesting and attractive the new displays are, we'll probably see them very soon embedded in next-generation products.

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