World's first LCD panel to use inorganic alignment layer

February 25, 2005, Tokyo, Japan--Representing the latest technology in precise liquid crystal alignment, Sony Corporation announced the successful development of the world's first high-temperature polysilicon (HTPS) liquid-crystal display (LCD) panel for front-projector TV sets, with increased reliability and higher picture quality through the incorporation of an inorganic alignment layer.

By applying these new technologies, Sony has surpassed conventional systems with a 10% higher transmittance and about 5 times higher contrast ratios, despite the very small pixel pitch of 11.5 microns.

Additionally, Sony has introduced the new Field Inversion Driving method, a liquid crystal-driving system that modulates input voltages to all pixels simultaneously within one field. Unlike conventional systems that use a line-by-line writing method, the Field Inversion Driving method overcomes the difficulty in suppressing anomalous movement of liquid crystal molecules near the fringe of the driving line. All of this translates into improved contrast ratios and aperture ratio compared to conventional systems, due to the high reduction of light leakage.

Sony will brand this new HTPS LCD panel technology as Bi:NA 6 (pronounced "Bee-na"), and will launch the components by early next year. Consumers can expect front projectors incorporating Bi:NA 6 technology to be introduced soon thereafter.