Well, it’s looking likely!

LG may be about to take on Sony in the OLED Television market.  A new OLED TV by LG is expected to be released for sale in Australia and worldwide in 2010.  The news that it is expected to be priced at around $4000, and will be 15 inch, is causing a buzz, as Sony is still selling its two year old OLED 11 inch model for around $7000 through Sony Stores.  The display area of the LG TV is 40% bigger than the current Sony television and prices are tipped to fall even further as production increases to meet new demand.

The LG OLED TV is expected to be available in Korea and the US in November.

The panel is only 1.7mm thin. It has a 1366×768 pixel resolution and boasts a contrast ratio of 100,000:1.

Features of the new OLED TV:

• Resolution (HxV) 1366xRGBx768 Pixel
• Outline Dimension (HxVxT mm) 347.938×210.293×1.70
• Number of colours: 16.7 million
• Luminance (peak/cd/m²) 200/440
• Contrast ratio: >100.000:1
• Colour gamut NTSC %: > 87
• Viewing angle: All azimuth angle
• Response time ms: < 0.01
• Interface: LVDS

There is no need for additional backlight structures in the Sony XEL-1 TV due to the use of OLED technology.  Backlights add thickness to televisions so the end result for this model, which does not need the backlight structure, is an incredible 3mm form factor at its thinnest point.

Extraordinary Colour Reproduction

Sony has intensified brightness and efficiency, and at the same time, its micro-cavity structure and the embedded colour filter’s colour extracting technology enhances the colour purity.

Energy Efficiency

The eliminated need for a separate light source, due to the OLED technology being applied to this model, means it is also able to achieve a higher level of energy efficiency. Up to 40 percent less power than conventional 20-inch LCD panels.

Smoother than Ever

The production of smooth and natural fast moving action images is unlike any other.  This is achieved through the OLED technology which allows spontaneous control of light emitted from the organic material layer.

Outstanding Contrast:

The contrast ratio is an unparalleled 1,000,000 : 1. Deep blacks can be achieved due to the ability to turn off a single pixel in the OLED light emitting structure when it is not required. Light transmission can therefore be completely stopped, which in turn enables the OLED TV to achieve these very deep blacks which were previously unattainable in conventional televisions.

Model:

LCD Screen Size: 11″ (28cm), 16:9
TV System: Digital: DVB-T, Analog: B/G, D/K, I
Colour System: NTSC 3.58, NTSC 4.43, PAL
Video Signal: 480i, 576i, 480p, 576p, 720p, 1080i, 1080/24p (HDMI^TM) for Monitor, 1080p (HDMI^TM / Component)
Number of Tuners (Analog): 1
Number of Tuners (Digital): 1 (Hybrid)

Picture:

Display Resolution: 960 x 540
Display Device: OLED
Fine Motion: Yes
Live Colour Creation^TM: Yes
x.v.Colour: Yes
Broadcast Upgrade: Yes
MPEG Noise Reduction: Yes
Dynamic Contrast: over 1,000,000 : 1
Screen Format: Full / Normal / Wide Zoom / Zoom / 14:9
Picture Mode: Vivid / Standard / Custom
CineMotion / Film Mode / Cinema Drive: Yes
3D Digital Comb Filter: Yes

Terminals:

HDMI^TM / Audio In: 2 (Rear)
USB 2.0: 1 (Rear)
Audio Out: Optical Digital Output – 1 (Side)
Headphone Out: 1 (Side)
PCMCIA Slot: 1 (Rear)
RF Connection Input: 1 (Rear)

Other Features:

Light Emission Control: Yes
XMB^TM: Yes
Parental Control: Yes
Clock: Yes
Sleep Timer: Yes
On/Off Timer (with Time Setting): Yes
USB Application(s): Photo Viewer (jpeg)
Teletext: Yes
Multiple Language Display: English

General:

Power Requirements: 220-240V 50/60 Hz
Power Consumption: 39W
Standby Power Consumption: 0.8W
Dimensions (W x H x D) without Stand: 287 × 255 × 147 mm
Weight without Stand: 2.2kg
Bioplastic: Remote Control / Terminal Cover

Supplied Accessories:

Remote Control: RM-ED015
Batteries: CR2032 (lithium)

They are available right now from Sony Stores around Australia and are retailing at the moment for $6999 (Australian dollars).

The 11 inch monitor has fantastic clarity. Check out the display models instore.

Photo by Shanie Aibo

There are a number of advantages which make OLED technology ideal for HDTV:

1.     Brightness – OLED TV is brighter than any of the back lit passive technology used in HDTV

2.     Fast refresh – OLED TVs reacts faster to changes in signals than plasma or LCD TVs which make them ideal for full motion video

3.     Light weight – Due to not needed backlighting, OLED TVs are much lighter in weight

4.     Good durability – Because a flexible substrate can be used OLED TVs are able to handle shock and torsional forces much better than LCD or Plasma TV’s

5.     Temperature tolerant – OLED TVs can operate in a large range of temperatures which makes them great for use in hostile environments

6.     Low Power Usage – Due to not needing backlights OLED TV uses less power than plasma and LCD TVs

How does OLED Technology Work?

LED or Light-Emitting Diode was the first solid state light producing device which emits a bright light when current is passed through it and it is long lasting as it has no filament. These were used in many items such as car dashboards and watches. Sony then used LEDs in screens for large stadiums but couldn’t translate that into a home use product that was practical due to the large power consumption and size.

LCD then came to the forefront for home use and office products as it used small amounts of electricity but it doesn’t emit light, so it needed a light source behind it to see the images. Unfortunately the need for a back light behind the screen then make the power usage increase greatly for the finished product, so you don’t really end up saving money on power usage.

OLED meets the requirements of having the pixels which an LCD screen has, but also produces a bright light. It has the colours red, blue and green which are produced when an electric current passes through a series of thin organic films between two electrodes. Each pixel can be controlled individually by using semiconductor technology which then produces the picture on the screen. The process is called electrophosphorescence which is also seen in nature in the form of fireflies. OLED panels are extremely thin (like a piece of paper) and are flexible with a wide viewing angle of 170 degrees. As they produce their own light they do not need backlighting like an LCD and therefore need very little power to operate.