Development of Three Kinds of 21.3-Inch QXGA LCDs Suitable for Medical Use

For immediate use November 25, 2004
NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd.

Tokyo, November 25, 2004 --- NEC LCD Technologies, Ltd. today announced the development of three kinds of 21.3-inch (54cm diagonal) amorphous silicon thin-film-transistor liquid crystal displays ("TFT LCDs"), which meet the various demands of the medical field.

The three new models are:

1. Two mega pixel, monochrome TFT LCD with three-color LED back-light system.
2. Three mega pixel, monochrome TFT LCD enabling 10-bit input/output.
3. Three mega pixel, high luminance color TFT LCD.

All three models boast the following:

・A large, 21.3-inch screen making these LCDs ideal for diagnostic imaging.
・NEC LCD Technologies' own unique Super-Advanced, Super-Fine TFT ("SA-SFT") technology, which realizes improved panel transmission ratio, and achieves a wide-viewing angle of 170 degrees.
・A frame width of just 12mm, the thinnest in its category.

The main characteristics of each LCD are as follows:

1. Two mega pixel, monochrome TFT LCD with three-color LED back-light system.
   

   The three-color LED back-light system enables white point level customization of the screen by controlling the luminance of each color LED individually. In addition, it boasts a built-in luminance and color sensor, and can support external communication functions. This LCD provides medical customers with a variety of benefits including; (I) Luminance and white point level harmony between adjacent screens even if the introduction timing of the LCD monitors is different. (II) Consistent luminance and white point levels throughout the life of the LCD. (III) A choice of base color of the screen, or the option to switch it from P45 (blue base) to P104 (clear base) (*1).

2. Three mega pixel, monochrome TFT LCD enabling 10-bit input/output.
   

   Each pixel consists of three sub-pixels, and a 10-bit TFT LCD source driver enables individual sub-pixel control of 1024 grey-scales from input to output. Thus, simultaneous display of 3070 grey-scales (equivalent to 11.5 bits) per pixel is achieved without the need for any interpolation technologies such as FRC (*2). In addition, the 12-bit internal LUT (Look up Table) allows selection of the most suitable 3070 grey-scales by tracing GSDF (*3). This LCD boasts a high-degree of quality making it appropriate for radiographic image diagnosis with mammography (*4), which requires a high level of grey-scale quality.

3. Three mega pixel, high luminance color TFT LCD.
   

   The combination of NEC LCD Technologies' own unique super-advanced, super-fine TFT ("SA-SFT") technology, and a high-intensity, direct, back-light system, achieve a brightness of 450cd/m2, the highest brightness level in the 3 mega pixel class. This color LCD is bright enough to be utilized for radiogram interpretation and can be used for a combination of purposes; image diagnosis requiring high-brightness and smooth grey-scale, and image analysis requiring a color screen.

Recently, digitalization within the medical scene is expanding leading to the replacement of conventional film-based X-ray photos and/or paper-based medical charts with digital data. With this change comes increased efficiency in data management, a reduction in hours from radiographic inspection to diagnostic imaging, and facilitation of information sharing. It also contributes to improved accuracy in diagnosis due to facilitation of image processing and/or image analysis by computers.

Amid this environment, LCD needs are becoming increasingly sophisticated and diversified as a key-device to display medical information. NEC LCD Technologies has responded to these needs by expanding its line-up of monochrome and color LCDs, and will continue to develop advanced technologies to meet the greater and more sophisticated needs of its customers in a variety of fields worldwide.

For main specifications for these LCDs, please see the attached sheet.

*1: There are two types of X-ray film base color; P45 (called "blue-base") and P104 (called "clear base").
*2: Abbreviation of "Frame Rate Control"; one of the technologies for interpolating grey-scale by changing the luminance of the pixel(s) for each frame.
*3: Abbreviation of "Grey-scale Standard Display Function", which is based on the characteristics of human's vision, and regulated by DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) Part 14.
*4: X-ray inspection equipment for breast cancers only.

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