The future is visible at SID 2007

Now in its 45th year, the 2007 Society for Information Display conference* is one of the most important gatherings for scientists, engineers, manufacturers, and users in the electronic-display industry. Here is only a small sampling of the products from more than 250 companies exhibiting during SID 2007.

The Sharp (Osaka, Japan) LK460D3LZ19 is a 46-in. LCD panel module with a contrast ratio of 1,800:1 and a 6 ms response time. The 1,080-line display has a contrast ratio of 1,800:1 and a 6-ms response time. (Booth #1327)

The LK460D3LZ19 46-in. LCD panel from Sharp.

Using a force-based sensor configuration that can interface with any rigid surface, the QrystalTouch touchscreen from QSI (Salt Lake City, UT) creates a virtually indestructible touch surface that is impervious to debris, weather, use, and abuse. (Booth #1806)

NEC Electronics America (Santa Clara, CA) will showcase a full suite of LCD modules for industrial, medical, and mobile applications. Technologies featured include white LED backlighting and 3-D image reproduction. (Booth #1234)

Available as an LED driver board or a complete kit including driver board and LED rails, the SmartForce family of LED drivers from Endicott Research Group (Endicott, NY) provides voltage to a constant current driver and LED rail. The devices are available with input voltages from 5 to 48 V in single-, dual-, or triple-channel versions. (Booth #1328)

SmartForce LED drivers from Endicott Research Group

The PRISMA II Series of RGB/DVI/Video converter boards from Apollo Display Technologies (Ronkonkoma, NY) offers a variety of cost-effective solutions with analog control for connecting TFT LCDs to standard graphics and/or video interfaces. Input signals such as analog RGB, analog video, or DVI are automatically converted into TTL or LVDS signals accepted by TFT displays. (Booth #1159)

PRISMA II RGB/DVI/Video converter boards from Apollo Display Technologies

Global Lighting Technologies (Brecksville, OH) will be showing a family of LED-based edge lighting products using MicroLens molded-in optic light-extraction technology. Available in versions less than 0.5 mm thick, the devices can illuminate LCD panels from less than 1 in. to over 50 in. (Booth #1649)

—Alix L. Paultre

* The 2007 Society for Information Display International Symposium, Seminar, and Exhibition will be held from May 20-25 at the Long Beach Convention Center, Long Beach, CA. Visit http://www.sid.org/conf/sid2007/sid2007.html for more information.