Sharp’s Memory LCD, displayed at the Society for Information Display’s (SID’s) Display Week 2009 conference in San Antonio, TX sets a new benchmark in ultra low-power graphic display technology. This is the kind of display technology applicable to electronic readers such as the Kindle or Sony Reader. However, the display also holds other technology leaps which make it a candidate for any future mobile display applications.

The Memory LCD on displayed at SID will soon be joined by other product line entrants featuring additional sizes, color displays, and custom shapes (including octagonal and round). The panels are have been targeted by Sharp for applications including mobile phones, watches, remote controls, and other mobile electronics.

Key technology advances of importance to application developers include:

• Reduction in power consumption (non-updating) is an order of magnitude less at 15 µW compared to 1mW STN* solutions.
• Built-in pixel memory
• Displays smooth-moving graphics with a refresh rate to 1 Hz.
• Need for polarizers removed by Polymer Network Liquid Crystal (PNLC) reflective display technology (50% reflectance) which provides high contrast and wide viewing angles for higher ambient light outdoor environments. Sharp’s Memory reflective LCDs are visible in a 0.5 lux environment without requiring a light source, and deliver high visibility in a variety of adverse conditions.
• Display thickness is optimized at 1.4mm, achieved by an innovative two-glass design.
• Only a single 5V supply required by display panel.
• No external chips required thanks to 3-wire serial interface.

* STN (Super Twisted Nematic) LCDs use less power and are less expensive than TFT technology and provide good contrast for medium to high information content displays. STN twist the orientation of the light passing through the LCD to impact contrast and coloration.