EVOLUTION OF FLAT-PANEL DISPLAYS

The evolution in performance and manufacturability of liquid-crystal displays has created a new reality in the electronic information displays industry. LCD's now outnumber all other flat-panel displays in production volume, by more than two orders of magnitude. LCD's may equal CRT's in market sales by the year 2000. However, LCD's are still an order of magnitude more expensive than comparable performing CRT's. LCD's are enabling new products, such as personal digital assistants, moving map navigators, picture telephones, etc., which could not be readily done with CRT's because of their size and sensitivity to ambient illuminations. The LCD technology in various modes, from passive twisted nematic to active matrix, is being used in all product sizes, from the 0.7-in camcorder viewfinder to the 14-in full-color display with XGA resolution. Full color is very important in future products and any flat-panel display technology without it will be relegated to niche markets.