Sharp Introduces a 2.2-inch QCIF+ LCD Display for Portable Applications

CAMAS, Wash. -Sharp Microelectronics of the Americas announced its 2.2-inch QCIF+ Advanced-TFT LCD (AD-TFT LCD) module to meet the needs of design engineers in North America developing new and emerging mobile devices capable of showing text, video content and still images. Sharp is the first company to offer this size display as a standard part for both mobile phone and other portable handheld applications.

As mobile phone users upgrade to new, multi-feature models, and as new categories of A/V products emerge, such as portable media players, there is a growing demand for small, high-resolution color display modules capable of showing text, still photos and video. These displays must meet stringent display requirements and do so at price points necessary to attract consumers at every level of entry. Sharp’s new, cost-effective 2.2-inch QCIF+ AD-TFT LCD offers the best combination of display technology and power efficiency available for these low-cost mobile products.

The QCIF+ display complements Sharp’s full line of AD-TFT displays optimized for portable electronics. This newest 2.2-inch device rounds out Sharp’s mobile display offerings, which feature displays at the QCIF+, QVGA and VGA resolutions.

“The demand for portable devices has been a major driver of the electronics industry. In fact, the market for mobile phones and newly emerging mobile A/V devices is expected to grow sharply in the coming years as consumers look for ways to manage audio, images and video on a single hand-held platform,” said Dave Hagan, Senior Product Manager at Sharp Microelectronics of the Americas . “These devices fuel demand for better quality color display solutions than were previously available. Sharp has foreseen this need, and offers design engineers a QCIF+ d isplay module capable of displaying full-motion video and images on a standard cell-phone size display.”

The 2.2-inch QCIF+ AD-TFT module is thin, rugged, lightweight, features low power consumption, fast response rate and supports full-motion color. Developed using Advanced-TFT (Transflective) display technology, images are readable in a full range of ambient lighting conditions both inside and outdoors. This is accomplished because the transflective mode is optimized with an emphasis on reflectivity, and the panel more closely resembles the characteristics of paper than other LCDs. To reduce power consumption, this display module is backlit using white LEDs and can be used in different modes to reduce color, reduce refresh rate, or to write to only part of the screen.

Sharp’s 2.2-inch QCIF+ AD-TFT is one of the key components to a reference design recently announced by Sharp for lower-cost portable media players (PMP), an emerging category of portable handheld devices that can play audio, slide shows and video content on a single application. A reference design using a 3.6-inch QVGA landscape display for mid-range PMPs was also announced. The reference designs provide complete hardware and software solutions to speed time to market and lower system costs, and also feature the Sharp BlueStreak™ LH7A404 ARM9 System-on-Chip as the interface for the display.

LCD Type: Transflective with an emphasis on reflective

Screen size: 2.2-inch

Dot Format: 176 x RGB x 220

Dot Pitch: 0.066 (W) x 0.198 (H)

Active Area: 34.848 (W) x 43.56 (H)

Number of Colors: 262,144

Outline Dimension: 42.1 mm (W) x 56.6 mm (H) x 4.2 mm (D)

Contrast Ratio: 60:1

Power Consumption: Less than 300 mW at full brightness

Response Rate: 18 ms (max.)

The LQ022B8UD04 is now in production. It joins Sharp’s broad lineup of displays for mobile and handheld devices, which includes a 3.6” QVGA landscape digital display, available in September. Other high-resolution displays are also planned for media-rich portable devices.

About Sharp Microelectronics of the Americas

Sharp Microelectronics of the Americas, Camas, Wash., is a U.S.-based company and a division of Sharp Electronics Corporation, which is a subsidiary of Sharp Corporation, Osaka , Japan . Sharp is a worldwide developer of core digital technologies that are playing an integral role in shaping the next generation of electronic products for consumer and business needs. Sharp Microelectronics of the Americas offers breakthrough memory, LCD, optoelectronics, CCD, RF/IR, microcontroller and System-on-Chip components, along with packaging and integration skills that help design engineers throughout North and South America bring their ambitious ideas to market. Sharp Microelectronics of the Americas is dedicated to improving people’s lives through the use of advanced technology and a commitment to innovation, quality, value and design. For more information, call 1-800-642-0261 or visit www.sharpsma.com .