OMRON Features World's First Reversible Light Module for Mobile Phone Displays

OMRON Corporation announced the development of the world's first reversible light module for Clamshell-type mobile phones.

Until today, two backlight modules and two liquid crystal displays were needed for the Clamshell-type phone display, but with this development both the main and sub-displays can be created with only one liquid crystal display and one reversible light module. This will lead to technology improvements in handset design by not only reducing the number of parts needed but also reducing the cost, thickness and weight. The technology will be on display at "FPD International 2004" at the Pacifico Yokohama from October 20th to October 22nd.

The reversible light module was developed as an application of "ultra-fine replication processing technology," which is one of our core technologies. The main display uses the backlight, and the sub-display uses the front light so that both displays can be realized with one light module. In October 2003, we announced the development of our original front light technology, to which we have now successfully added backlight functionality.

Worldwide demand for mobile phones in recent years have showed trends toward clam-shell designs, as the use of mobile phones broadens from voice to include data communications with text and images. Screen displays have become finer, but larger, while demand for smaller dimensions continues to increase.

25% of the worldwide market for mobile phones in 2003 was for clamshell-type designs at 1.4 billion units, and in Japan where the level of data communication usage is high, roughly 70% were of clamshell design. In China, where rapid growth for the handset market is expected, it is also expected that demand will increase even more as screens become larger, driven by data communications and camera use.

Omron will be emphasizing marketing efforts in Asia, and focusing on China, in order to bring the reversible light module to the market.

Source: press release

See also:

• Verizon Offers Motorola V265


• Motorola 3 V975 3G Handset


• The Motorola C698p and C381p GSM-PoC Phones

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