10-17-2003, 06:00 AM
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Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 15,171
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New LCD Technology By Omron?
"Omron Corporation has developed a new manufacturing technique for building liquid crystal display (LCD) frontlights that promises to make LCDs brighter than ever before. Conventionally, LCDs have been lit by Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) in one of two ways - through a 'frontlight' method or through a 'backlit' approach. The problem is that while frontlight methods offer low power consumption, LCDs lit that way have a relatively low contrast too. Backlit methods on the other hand, offer a high contrast display but have a higher power consumption. Omron engineers solved this dichotomy by combining a micro prism array with a nano prism array into the frontlight assembly of the LCD itself."
It seems like Omron is reviving the front-lit (reflective) display technology. If they can improve the issues with frontlighting (especially contrast and color saturation), I'd be all for it. I still miss my 3870's in-the-sunlight performance, which was fantastic.
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10-17-2003, 12:26 PM
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Magi
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,386
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Re: New LCD Technology By Omron?
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Originally Posted by Janak Parekh
If they can improve the issues with frontlighting (especially contrast and color saturation), I'd be all for it.
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Was that really an issue for all reflective devices? I thought the 38xx stood alone on that one?
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Originally Posted by Janak Parekh
I still miss my 3870's in-the-sunlight performance, which was fantastic.
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While I'm a 2215 user, I still keep my 3870 around as a 2nd device... everytime I pick that thing up (especially outdoors), I'm always thinking the same thing.
Does someone out there know what screen technology is used by the Nokia 3650? I wonder if what's being described here is similar... that screen is just as nice indoors as my ipaq2215 and even better at reflecting light than my ipaq3870. It's definitely backlit.
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10-17-2003, 12:47 PM
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Philosopher
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 516
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The biggest problem with reflective screens on PDAs was the dust issue where dust could get between the screen and "touch-sensitive layer." Did manufacturers really eventually solve this problem completely? I think this gave reflective screens such a bad reputation that many manufacturers lost sales simply by having a reflective screen, even if they had solved the problem (again, though I'd like confirmation on that). I would agree that dropping the technology may have been premature, though. For certain applications, improved outdoor visibility is a must. I'm thinking specifically of convergent PDA/phones or PDA/GPS devices. As an example, the Garmin iQue seems to have a large userbase of former GPS users who have limited experience with PDAs. One of the biggest criticisms it gets is that the screen is too difficult to see in direct sunlight.
Scott
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Tapland
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10-18-2003, 12:59 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 461
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As most of my work is done outdoors, it's so important to me my device is clear and easy to see in sunlight. As most people agree, this works better with reflectives (you can turn lighting off and save battery, as a plus!)
I hope this technology lives up its promise.
And, I also hope there will STILL be PDAs around to put it to good use :roll: sigh... I love mine!
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10-18-2003, 01:51 PM
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Magi
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,386
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Prevost
you can turn lighting off and save battery, as a plus
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...yet another reason I actually prefer sidelit-reflectives screens over the backlit-reflective screens (I know I'm in the minority here).
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10-18-2003, 08:16 PM
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Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 15,171
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Re: New LCD Technology By Omron?
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Originally Posted by ekkie
Was that really an issue for all reflective devices? I thought the 38xx stood alone on that one?
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Most definitely for all devices. I've worked with a 3650, 3870, Pocket PC Phone, an m505, and perhaps several others I can't remember, and their screens were very similar.
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Originally Posted by Scott R
The biggest problem with reflective screens on PDAs was the dust issue where dust could get between the screen and "touch-sensitive layer." Did manufacturers really eventually solve this problem completely?
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Good question. I can say that HP/Compaq got it 99% fixed with the 3800 series. My 3870 had one or two microscopic pixels of dust that you couldn't notice unless you had an all-black background -- but there was no huge hair, dust particles, or any such thing unlike my very dusty 3650.
--janak
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