The International Communications Industries Association, Inc.®
Trends In Display Technologies The Wild Ride Continues…
Peter H. Putman, CTS
President, ROAM Consulting Inc.Founder, HDTVexpert.com
The International Communications Industries Association, Inc.®
The Next Big Thing Is…
2004 was the year of intelligent displays 2005 is the year of “HD” (1080p) displays
• 1920x1080 front and rear projection• 1920x1080 flat panel monitors• 1400x1050, 1600x1200, 2048x1536 displays
16:9 aspect ratios more and more popular 1920x1080 is a shared TV / PC resolution
The International Communications Industries Association, Inc.®
The Next Big Thing Is…
Most significant display products shown at CES, CeBIT, and NAB were HD 1080p displays• Sharp 65-inch LCD TV = 1920x1080• Samsung 82-inch LCD TV = 1920x1080• Samsung 102-inch plasma TV = 1920x1080• JVC 48-inch LCoS RP monitor = 1920x1080• Sony 70-inch LCoS RPTV = 1920x1080
Get the picture?
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Higher Resolution Displays:Boon or Pandora’s Box?
Be Careful What You Ask For
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Gimme Those Pixels!
Everyone wants HDTV imaging resolution But there are trade-offs, as usual
• Decoding and deinterlacing SD/HD video• Image scaling vs. native pixel resolution• Bandwidth and image detail• Accurate grayscales and color shading
None of these are “easy” to do!
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Analog Video Is Still Around
Converting SD video:• Decode composite to component • Convert interlaced to progressive• Correct for intraframe motion artifacts• Eliminate scan line artifacts• Preserve image detail without ringing• Detect and correct for different frame/field cadences
(3:2, 2:3:3:2, 2:2:2:4, etc)
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The Ideal Decoded Signal
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The Sad Reality
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Deinterlacing SD Video
With 480p CRT displays, it’s not as much of an issue (resolution limits of spot size)
With 720p/768p FP displays, scan line and motion artifacts are more visible
With 1080p FP displays, problem is severe as all SD artifacts are revealed
Is 1080p native resolution a good thing, or is it Pandora’s Box?
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Deinterlacing Video
480i source deinterlacing not as intense for processors as 1080i
Most 1080i processors do not convert both fields, only one
Result: 540p scaled to 720p (fudging) This trick doesn’t work when using a native
1080p display
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Deinterlacing Video
Quality deinterlacing and motion correction applied here
Inferior deinterlacing and motion correction applied here
Both frames enlarged 4X
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Image Scaling for HD Displays
Two ways to do it:• UP in resolution (interpolation of add’l. pixels)• DOWN in resolution (decimation of pixels)• The greater the difference in total pixels, the more difficult
either process becomes 480p to 600p: +25%, not too bad… 1080i to 600p: -56%, a pretty good leap! Composite video to 1080p HD: +88% (Uh-oh…)
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Going Up In Resolution
480p source image
600p scaled image
Not difficult to pull off while maintaining
good image quality
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Going Down In Resolution
1920x1080p source image
1024x600p scaled imagePicture detail is thrown away, but overall image
quality is tolerable
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Flat-Out Asking For Trouble
480i source image
1920x1080 scaled image
You don’t realize how bad SD video looks
until you try this trick!
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Image Scaling Headaches
Garbage in, garbage out• Noise reduction (analog, digital MPEG ‘mosquitoes’)• Field vs. frame conversion (1080i to 540p)• Color space errors (601 or 709 to RGB)
Higher resolution fixed-pixel projection systems clearly show scaling defects
Poor SD video performance is #1 cause of consumer returns on fixed-pixel TVs
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Bandwidth and Detail Problems
A little known ‘secret’: Many expensive fixed-pixel displays are short on HD bandwidth• Desire to save $$ on components• Inclusion of ‘video sharpness’ circuits• Obsession with edge enhancement• Designing display for 480p sources
Mostly seen on YPbPr (analog) inputs
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The Ideal Bandwidth Response
Full bandwidth signal processing (>18 MHz)
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The Sad Reality
Clipped bandwidth signal processing (<12 MHz)
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I Want My Money Back
Luminance detail more important than chrominance detail
In MPEG, luminance samples at twice chrominance or more (4:2:2, 4:2:0, etc)
Clipped BW not an issue with SD displays, but a big issue with HD displays
With many HD displays, you are not getting the performance you paid for!
The International Communications Industries Association, Inc.®
I Want My Money Back
In a typical HD display:• Inferior scaling of low-rez video• Poor de-interlacing and motion correction• Poor noise reduction (digital and analog)• Clipped bandwidth above 12 MHz• Too much edge enhancement with SD + HD
Result: An expensive HD display no better than a cheaper SD display
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Grayscale – Color Purity
Perhaps the two hardest things for any HD display to handle well
Digital systems have it tougher (PWM) Shadow detail always difficult to render Expansive grayscales are problematic
• Industry obsessed with contrast ratio• White detail crush very common
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Grayscale Problems
False contouring and white crush are seen
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Color Purity Problems
Color purity across HD image is a must Color shifts can be caused by:
• Poorly designed mirrors, integrators• Refraction in imaging devices• Inconsistency in color filter materials• Low-cost optics and lenses• Uneven spectral output of illuminants
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Projector Color Shifts
Projector was set to ‘Middle’ or ‘Normal’ WB in each case
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Projector Color Shifts
Not as noticeable with business graphics (saturated colors go pastel)
More noticeable with mid/high gray tones Definitely noticeable with flesh tones! A difficult problem with short-arc lamps
• Fix with filtering, but lose light• Move to xenon imaging? Cost issues?
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Contenders and Pretenders
Everyone’s Got a Better Mousetrap
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E M I S S I V E
transmissive
Reflective
?
???
????????
?
????
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Contenders for the ThroneContenders for the Throne
Emissive - You view the light source directly• CRT, plasma, SED, FED, LED, O-LED
Transmissive - You view shuttered light• TFT LCD monitors, HTPS LCD projectors
Reflective - You view reflected light• DLP, LCoS and variations (D-ILA, SXRD, etc)
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E M I S S I V E
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Emissive ContendersEmissive Contenders
CRT (cathode-ray tube) technology the oldest and best-known variation
Limitations in brightness and physical size
Resolution always tied to brightness
High voltages required Power consumption issues
The International Communications Industries Association, Inc.®
Emissive ContendersEmissive Contenders
Plasma display panels (PDPs) are a step forward
Resolution and brightness link is broken
Higher native resolutions, high brightness and contrast
Saturated phosphors, wide viewing angles
Light weight, thin profile Power still an issue
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Emissive ContendersEmissive Contenders
Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are a step further
Lower operating voltages for luminous energy
Thinner profile, high brightness and contrast
Resolution still coarse High current consumption Modular and durable display
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Emissive ContendersEmissive Contenders
Organic light-emitting diodes (O-LEDs) push the envelope farther out
Super-thin, low-voltage technology
High contrast, brightness Bright colors and wide
viewing angles Current consumption and
uniformity are problems
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Emissive ContendersEmissive Contenders
Surface-conducting Electron-emitting Displays (SEDs) have promise, but…
Super-thin technology with CRT-like image quality
High contrast, brightness Bright colors and wide
viewing angles Can Canon and Toshiba
actually deliver it?
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transmissive
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Transmissive “Threats”Transmissive “Threats”
Liquid-crystal displays (LCDs) are mature
Link between brightness and resolution broken
Low voltage technology, scalable over various sizes
Viewing angles and black levels are issues
Color filter imaging not as intense as phosphors
The International Communications Industries Association, Inc.®
Transmissive “Threats”Transmissive “Threats”
High-temperature polysilicon (HTPS)
Enabled the portable projector market
Low-cost imaging technology at high resolution
Monochrome, requires outboard color filters
Questions as to durability of panels and filters
The International Communications Industries Association, Inc.®
Reflective
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Reflective ChallengersReflective Challengers
Digital light processing (DLP) High resolutions possible Efficient technology, lightweight
projectors Monochrome, needs color
filters / wheels Black levels good, high
brightness / contrast 100% digital system,
unaffected by analog stimuli
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Reflective ChallengersReflective Challengers
Liquid-crystal on silicon (LCoS)
High resolutions possible Efficient technology,
lightweight projection systems
High resolution to 4K Black level / contrast issues Manufacturing issues - yields
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Never A Dull Moment
Significant Display News - 2005
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Significant News - 2005Significant News - 2005
So Far This Year:• Fujitsu exits plasma and LCD fab businesses• The LCD – plasma “war” continues• LCoS fights for respectability, market share• HTPS projection engines strike back• LEDs are used as -- projection lamps?• “1080p” is the latest display buzzword• ELVs, iMods, P-OLEDs grab attention at SID
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Significant News - 2005Significant News - 2005
Plasma: FUJITSU CRIES “UNCLE!”• Falling prices, declining profit margins in both PDP
and TFT LCD manufacturing to blame• Competitive advantage to Korean, Chinese fabs• Sells all but 19% of FHP interest to Hitachi• Sells all IP and patents outright to Hitachi• Sells LCD fabs, IP outright to Sharp• Just another OEM now…….
The International Communications Industries Association, Inc.®
Significant News - 2005Significant News - 2005
NO PRISONERS TAKEN IN LCD – PLASMA MARKET SHARE BATTLES• Average MSRP of 42” ED plasma TV ranges from
$1500 to $2500 - ED going away in favor of HD• 50-inch plasma TV now well under $5K SRP• LCD dominates to 32”, “no man’s land” at 37” size• 32” LCD under $1500, 37” at $2500• Average 42” ED plasma sold at $50 loss in 2004
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Significant News - 2005Significant News - 2005
LCOS JUST WANTS TO BE LOVED:• More companies pursuing LCoS as alternative
technology to DLP (multiple sources, cheaper)• Yields still a big problem for all LCoS types• Some companies just hanging on by fingernails• Sony, JVC continue battles at high end (2K, 4K)• Push in China and Korea to build LCoS TVs• “1080p” seen as tipping point for LCoS
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Significant News - 2005Significant News - 2005
HTPS LCD HAS A FEW TRICKS LEFT:• Sony, Panasonic, Sanyo all introduce new color
correction systems• Dynamic iris and gamma correction (Panasonic)• Adoption in more 720p RPTVs (Mitsubishi)• .9” 1920x1080 panels coming from Epson for front
and rear projection• Front projection systems (Fujitsu, Sanyo, Barco)
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Significant News - 2005Significant News - 2005
YOU’VE GOT TO BE KIDDING!:• LumiLEDs light engines (RGB stripes) now in
‘pocket’ projectors• Models from Mitsubishi, Samsung, BenQ, InFocus• Light output 30 – 50 lumens on small screens (12”)• Single chip DLP (800x600) designs• Question: Why not just use a laptop instead?
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Significant News - 2005Significant News - 2005
THROW OUT YOUR 720P DISPLAYS:• Industry becoming obsessed with 1080p imaging• Support across all display technologies
• DMDs – 2K professional, 960x1080 consumer• LCoS – 1920x1080 D-ILA, SXRD, others• HTPS – 1920x1080 panels• TFT LCD – now as small as 37” diagonally• Plasma – 71” screens to 102” screens
• Silicon Optix field / frame deinterlacing issues
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Significant News - 2005Significant News - 2005
HOW DID THEY EVER COME UP WITH - -• Electrowetting light valve (ELV)
• Uses oil and water• Simple monochrome light shutter
• Polymer organic light-emitting diodes (P-OLEDs)• Colors can be fluorescent, phosphorescent• Ink-jet printable
• Interferometric Modulator (IMod)• Bends light with refraction, reflection
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OK, Back To Reality
The Rough Waters Ahead
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The Battle Lines are DrawnThe Battle Lines are Drawn
Plasma vs. LCD• New plasma fabs coming on-line in Korea, China• Plasma has edge in price across competitive sizes
• 37” is current battleground, also 40 – 42”• LCD still limited in sizes above 46”
• Materials cost lower in plasma screens• Color rendering still better than LCD for now• Popular choice as consumer TV screen
The International Communications Industries Association, Inc.®
The Battle Lines are DrawnThe Battle Lines are Drawn
Plasma vs. LCD• “Full court press” by plasma manufacturers to correct
misconceptions about panel life, burn-in, cost• New gas mixtures (xenon and neon) improve
phosphor life and brightness• Plasma ‘tube’ technology may allow larger sizes• Caveat: Plasma technology may be reaching the
limit of improvements!
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PDP Technology EnhancementsPDP Technology Enhancements
Plasma Tube Structure• Breaks the link between
glass size and imaging elements
• Reduced costs in manufacturing
• May allow curved screen plasma displays
• Shown: Fujitsu tube demo
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The Battle Lines are DrawnThe Battle Lines are Drawn
players / partners in PDPs: Japan – Panasonic, Hitachi, Pioneer
• Panasonic #1 WW in sales• May partner with Hitachi on PDP projects• Pioneer owns ex-NEC fabs, OEMs NEC glass• Hitachi now in charge of FHP factory• No new VC investment in plasma is likely
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The Battle Lines are DrawnThe Battle Lines are Drawn
players / partners in PDPs: Korea – Samsung, LG
• Samsung #1 WW in PDP shipments (>200K/month)• LG and Samsung have both expanded fabs• Both companies make largest PDPs in world
China – Chungwha Picture Tube• Building 46-inch SD/HD panels (Mitsubishi design)
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The Battle Lines are DrawnThe Battle Lines are Drawn
LCD vs. PLASMA• LCD is aggressively marketed across all channels• Many OEM partners selling into US market• LCD manufacturers working hard to address:
• Viewing angles (could be better)• Black levels (still 10x that of best plasma)• Color accuracy (needs to emulate CRT gamut)• Motion smear
The International Communications Industries Association, Inc.®
LCD Technology EnhancementsLCD Technology Enhancements
Viewing angles• New polarizing films
being shown• Close to 170 degrees in
any axis possible• Improves off-axis color
and black levels• Scalable to any sizes• Shown: Nitto Denko
New Filter Old Filter
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LCD Technology EnhancementsLCD Technology Enhancements
Color Gamut• Use of LEDs expanding• Color-corrected CCFL
and HCFL backlights• Hybrid LED / CCFLs also
shown• Power savings with
brighter whites• Shown: Philips Aptura
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LCD Technology EnhancementsLCD Technology Enhancements
Color Gamut• Use of LEDs expanding• Color-corrected CCFL
and HCFL backlights• Hybrid LED / CCFLs exist• Power savings with
brighter whites• Shown: Samsung 46”
1080p LCD TV with LED stripe backlights
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LCD Technology EnhancementsLCD Technology Enhancements
Cleaner Motion• Scanning backlight• Black frame insertion• Effect is similar to a
motion picture shutter• Techniques can be
combined• Shown: LG Philips combo
scanning backlight and black frame insertion
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The Battle Lines are DrawnThe Battle Lines are Drawn
Plasma OR LCD: WHO WINS?• LCD making huge jumps in image quality each year• LCD offers 1080p imaging in smaller screen sizes• Plasma will always be limited by brightness• Predictions:
• Plasma migrates to consumer TV market on lower price, competes with microdisplay RPTV
• LCD captures 37-inch “battleground” in 2005, becomes display of choice for DS, pro AV channels to 42 inches
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The Battle Lines are DrawnThe Battle Lines are Drawn
DLP vs. LCOS:• DLP now shipping in two 1080p variations
• 2048x1080 for digital cinema, large venue• 960x1080 for consumer RPTVs, uses “wobbulation”
• LCoS panels all ship with full 2K resolution• Consumer RPTVs (JVC, Sony, eLCOS, LG)• Professional monitors (JVC)• Front projectors (Sony, JVC, Canon)
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DLP AdvancementsDLP Advancements
More DLP at lower cost:• 1080p monitors• Uses single-chip engine• Expanded multi-segment
color wheels with faster sequencing
• Improved light sources and color correction
• Shown: Samsung 70-inch 1080p DLP RPTV
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LCoS AdvancementsLCoS Advancements
Expanded use of LCOS:• 1080p monitors• Uses three-panel engine• Dichroic filters for wide
color gamut• No sequential color
wheels or scanning• Xenon light source• Shown: JVC 48-inch D-
ILA reference monitor
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The Battle Lines are DrawnThe Battle Lines are Drawn
DLP OR LCOS: WHO WINS?• DLP yields are typically better than LCoS• More DLP product in production – it’s mainstream• LCoS has potentially lower costs, no IP issues• Many Asian manufacturers entering LCoS business• Predictions:
• LCoS needs more time before significant penetration• DLP will rule the lower-price “roost” for several years
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The Battle Lines are DrawnThe Battle Lines are Drawn
DLP vs. HTPS LCD:• DLP has achieved 2K resolution, but only ‘full’ 2K
with professional displays• HTPS LCD has achieved full 2K resolution with .9”
panels for all types of displays• DLP limited to single-chip with color wheel in smaller
projection engines• HTPS LCD is three-chip with color filters in all
projection engines
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HTPS LCD AdvancementsHTPS LCD Advancements
Visual Quality Issues:• ‘Screen door’ effect is being
minimized• Lower black levels due to
dynamic irising of content• Color gamut accuracy is
greatly improved• Shown: Panasonic PT-
AE700U front LCD projector
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The Battle Lines are DrawnThe Battle Lines are Drawn
DLP OR HTPS LCD: WHO WINS?• HTPS LCD improvements for 2005 are dramatic!• HTPS LCD still has price advantage
• Typical 720p LCD projector is $2500• Lowest-cost 720p DLP projector is $4500
• Predictions:• LCD remains strong, affordable projection technology• DLP prices must drop to compete in 720p skew• Issues with full 1080p imaging will surface
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Oh, and By The Way…
Better Living Through Displays?
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Oh, and By the Way….Oh, and By the Way….
On-board OS• Integral piece of a
network• Faster LANs allow remote
file access• Maintenance and status
updates enabled• Diagnose and fix many
‘operator error’ issues
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Oh, and By the Way….Oh, and By the Way….
100% digital video interfaces• Smart set-up between
monitor and display card or video source
• Best match to pixel resolution and refresh rate
• DVI for pro markets• HDMI for consumer
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Oh, and By the Way….Oh, and By the Way….
Improved on-board video processing• More functions on one
chip set• Scaling, de-interlacing,
motion correction, cadence correction
• Enables a true resolution-independent display
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Oh, and By the Way…Oh, and By the Way…
Power Saving Modes• Larger displays consume
lots of electricity!• Need to improve luminous
efficiency (lumens/watt or nits/watt)
• Smart backlights• Pulsed backlights• Low power modes
The International Communications Industries Association, Inc.®
Trends In Display Technologies The Wild Ride Continues…
Peter H. Putman, CTS
President, ROAM Consulting Inc.Founder, HDTVexpert.com