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SCRAM Technologies (Dunkirk, MD) (www.scramtech.com)
is collaborating with Samsung Electronics (Suwa City, Korea) to
develop two new 52-inch RPTVs. The units will feature Samsung's
DLP engine coupled to SCRAM's proprietary screen technology and
optics design. RPTVs with depths of 12 and 7 inches might well
be shown in early 2004.
SCRAM has developed both a novel screen technology and an optical
system to couple light into the screen. This enables it to be
efficiently coupled to existing or slightly-modified light valve
engines.
At 7 inches in depth, the display will be the slimmest RPTV currently
in existence. It will be driven by Texas Instrument's HD2 chip
set, which delivers 1280 x 720 pixels - similar or identical to
the engine used to drive Samsung's current line of DLP RPTVs.
With SCRAM Technologies' SCRAMscreen, ambient light viewability,
as well as high contrast and black levels, will be possible.
The incredibly thin depth profile of these sets is sure to catch
the attention of potential customers and others within the industry.
This has been one of the promises of microdisplay-based RPTVs,
and developing platforms that are ultra-thin is needed to compete
with flat-panel TV alternatives.
The second set will be aimed at commercial users where the <
12-inch depth will offer advantages too. It is being designed
with a very thin bezel that is smaller than those on PDP-TVs.
"In production, we think this bezel will be less than ¼-inch
wide with a 3-inch wide bezel at the bottom for a standalone unit,"
said Ray Kwong, president and CEO of SCRAM Technologies. "As
a videocube, there might be 3-inch wide bezels at top and bottom."
"At a minimum, it is the goal of both companies to achieve
performance comparable to current DLPRPTVs from Samsung,"
continued Kwong. "The next milestone would be to optimize
the design for mass production." SCRAM expects to deliver
the sets to Samsung at the end of October.
| The SCRAMscreen is constructed
from a series of polymer light guides. To produce the screen,
four alternating layers of polymer sheets are laminated together.
On either side of the clear polymer core layer, a cladding
layer is added. Outside of this, matching black polymer layers
complete the light guide. The black polymer sheets have a
lower index of refraction to create a light guide within the
clear polymer. The black layers also help absorb ambient light
and increase the apparent contrast of the screen. The thickness
of the waveguides varies, says Kwong, but that there are always
more waveguide layers than projector rows so as not to compromise
resolution. |
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To make the screen, large flat
stacks of these laminated layers are assembled and then cut
into thin screens. Each screen then contains a cross section
of these light guides. A diffuser is bonded to the front of
the screen to disperse the outgoing light. SCRAM doesn't say
much about how light is coupled into the screen, but a Fresnel
lens may be used, depending upon the depth requirements of
the RPTV.
At last June's Projection Summit, SCRAM showed two screen
process demonstrators. One smaller diagonal screen was hand
assembled to show the improvements the company has made in
screen brightness, contrast and clarity. The demo was impressive
with respect to these aspects, despite the flaws evident from
the hand assembly process.
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The second screen was a 50-inch model that was produced using
the manufacturing line of the company's partner, located in Massachusetts.
This screen showed very good uniformity, but had poor image quality
because it used an older process.
Currently, SCRAM is working to implement the advances of the new
technology into the manufacturing line of its partner and should
begin limited production in September. "By early 2004, we
should be ready to produce 10K 52-inch or smaller screens per
month on the manufacturing line using the new screen process,"
says Kwong.
Kwong is confident the screens will be successful in products,
and SCRAM is now planning how it will increase capacity beyond
the current 10K/month rate to meet expected demand.
SCRAM Technologies, Inc., Ray Kwong, 301-855-7909, rkwong@scramtech.com
Contact:
Insight Media
Annmarie Gabisch, 203-831-8464
annmarie@insightmedia.info
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