VOICE

Providing a full product line

requires ramping up production

for multiple products at the same

time and thus we had to make un-

reasonable demands on everyone

involved. While it was difficult to

achieve low-voltage drive without

sacrificing the optical transmit-

tance and narrow frame design

advantages, I am confident we

have created products that will

be more than satisfactory. The

monitor is the face the camera

presents to the user. Give Sony’s

“beautiful faces” a try in your

digital camera products.

Digital Camera LCD Product Line

Features Low Power and Digital Interface Support

ACX318/319/320/321/324

Sony has now completely revamped its LCD lineup to respond to the

increasingly rapid growth in the digital camera market.

These displays retain the 100% ratio viewing area and high picture

quality of earlier Sony LCDs and at the same time achieve signifi-

cantly lower power and digital interface support.

This new product line contributes to increased end product design

efficiency by providing a wide range of drive options and allowing

the use of common drivers.

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Low-temperature polycrystalline

silicon LCD

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High color purity

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Low power

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Digital interface support

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Adjustment free (digital interface)

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Narrow frame, thin form factor

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Use of the same driver for multiple

panels

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Ratio viewing area: 100%

Low Power

Sony has reduced the supply voltage from

12 V to 8.5 V and achieved significant

power reduction in these LCD panels by

switching from the conventional COM DC

drive to COM AC drive. (See figures 1

and 2.)

Digital Interface Support

The advantages of switching to digital

include obviating the need for D/A

converters, lower noise, and adjustment-

free manufacturing. Of course, these prod-

ucts also support use with a conventional

analog interface.

Extensive Lineup

Since these products form an extensive

product line in terms of both pixel counts

and screen sizes, they can respond

flexibly to differing end product sizes and

concepts. (See figure 3.) Sony is also

planning to expand this product line even

further.

Use of the Same Driver for

Multiple Panels

This extensive lineup allows drive using

the same driver, even for the EVF prod-

ucts. (See figure 4.) The CXM4006 is used

with digital interface applications, and the

CXM3005 is used with analog interface

applications. Sony provides the digital

drive CXM4007 for compatible drive with

EVF units, and since only one driver is

required, power consumption, space, and

costs are reduced.

Thinner Form Factor

Sony has introduced thinner light guide

plates, has actively promoted revised

backlight structures, and has even

introduced glass etching. Thinner form

factors is another area where Sony leads

the industry. (See figure 5.) For example,

the ACX318ELN features a module thick-

ness, including the backlight, of only

2.685 mm, the top level in the industry.

Ratio Viewing Area: 100%

In digital cameras it is critically important

both when composing and taking images

as well as when reviewing images to be

able to see the whole image without any

part being left out. All these panels sup-

port the implementation of 100% ratio

viewing area displays and viewfinders.

High Color Purity

The color filters are manufactured inter-

nally by ST Liquid Crystal Display Corp.,

which manufactures the panels. This al-

lows each color to be designed optimally

for the panel, making high color purity

color reproduction possible.

Narrow Frames

COG-less drive based on low-temperature

polycrystalline silicon fabrication allows

these panels to have extremely narrow

frames. This is a particularly attractive

feature for the design of digital cameras,

in which smaller models with larger LCD

monitors are now desired.

Up/Down and/or Right/Left

Inversion Functions

Since these panels support up/down and/

or right/left inversion functions controlled

with serial signals only, they provide

increased design flexibility in, for

example, digital cameras with a rotating

monitor.