Samsung Develops Two Notebook LCDs with 16:9 Aspect Ratios, and One with an Active White-LED Backlight

Business Wire, Oct 17, 2007

SEOUL, South Korea -- Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., the world's largest provider of thin-film-transistor, liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) panels, announced today that it has developed three new LCDs for notebook PCs - two offering a true 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio for viewing movies, TV shows and new-age gaming, while the third featuring active White-LED (light-emitting diode) backlighting that boosts picture clarity and reduces power consumption.

Samsung will unveil its latest LCD models, which it expects will garner considerable interest in the high-end notebook PC market, at FPD International being held in Yokohama, Japan, October 24-26. Mass production is scheduled to commence in the first half of next year for the 16:9 displays and in the second half of 2008 for the White-LED backlit panel.

The new 16:9 aspect-ratio displays - 16-inch diagonal and 18.4-inch diagonal - delivers virtually the same rich colors as that of an LCD TV with color saturation levels of 60 percent for the 16-inch model and 90 percent for the 18.4-inch model, compared to the 40-50 percent range seen in most notebook monitors today.

Both 16:9 LCDs also feature an 800:1 contrast ratio, 8ms (millisecond) response time and 262,144 colors.

The new 16-inch and 18.4 inch Samsung LCD panels have the same 16:9 aspect ratio as most LCD HDTVs, whereas notebook screens of the past have gradually moved from a 4:3 aspect ratio to the current standard of 16:10 that became popular with the widespread use of Windows XP, a phenomenal increase in Web traffic and the rise of multimedia content.

However, with the growing use of Windows Vista and wireless LANs, there has been a sharp rise in the use of notebook PCs in large part as an entertainment medium. The most accurate representation of video content for Blu-ray DVDs, HD-DVDs, electronic games and digital TV can be seen in the use of a 16:9 notebook display.

When the source video is 16:9, a 16-inch HD LCD will reproduce movie images at 114 percent better screen efficiency than that of those provided by a 15.4-inch display with a 16:10 aspect ratio. Similarly, an 18.4-inch full-HD LCD allows users to watch a movie with an image that is 124 percent better screen efficiency than that of a typical 17-inch model and about the same efficiency as a 19-inch model.

In addition to its 16:9 aspect ratio notebook displays, Samsung has completed development of a 15.4-inch diagonal LCD with an active, White-LED backlight. The new 15.4-inch display operates on 40 percent less power than a typical LED backlight.

Already, backlight units (BLU) using LEDs can operate on less power than conventional BLUs, which use cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs). CCFL BLUs remain fully lit all the time, while an active LED BLU illuminates the screen selectively, according to the image being displayed. Light areas project varying degrees of light, while dark areas are turned off. As a result, power consumption is greatly reduced and the contrast ratio is improved tremendously. Samsung's new 15.4-inch LED backlight unit has ten times (10,000:1) the contrast of a typical notebook PC display.

LCDs with an active LED backlight unit provide a resolution of 1,440 x 900 and a brightness level of 300 nits.

Specifications for 16:9 LCDs

[TABLE OMITTED]

Specifications for LCD with Active Matrix White-LED Backlight

                   <



Size               <
15.4"


Resolution         <
WXGA (1,440 x 900)


Contrast Ratio     <
At least 10,000:1


Viewing angle      <
120[deg] all around


Brightness         <
300nits


Color saturation   <
45%


Power consumption  <
2.0W or less (playing international standard video)

About Samsung Electronics America, Inc.

Headquartered in Ridgefield Park, NJ, Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (SEA) markets a broad range of award-winning consumer electronics, information systems, and home appliance products; and oversees Samsung's North American operations, including Samsung Telecommunications America, LP, Samsung Semiconductor Inc., Samsung Electronics Canada, Inc. and Samsung Electronics Mexico, Inc

About Samsung Electronics

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2006 parent company sales of US$63.4 billion and net income of US$8.5 billion. Employing approximately 138,000 people in 124 offices in 56 countries, the company consists of five main business units: Digital Media Business, LCD Business, Semiconductor Business, Telecommunication Network Business, and Digital Appliance Business. Recognized as one of the fastest growing global brands, Samsung Electronics is a leading producer of digital TVs, memory chips, mobile phones and TFT-LCDs. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. ranks #5 in the 2006 Consumer Electronics segment of the Fortune Magazine "America's Most Admired Companies," and ranks #20 in the BusinessWeek "The Best Global Brand 100 2006." It also is a top patent holder, ranking second overall in the U.S. in 2006.