Sony’s 32-inch KDL-32JE1, the world’s most energy efficient LCD, still has potential
Omron has developed a backlight for LCDs that reduces the amount of power conventional backlights, mostly cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFL), need by 33% to just 39W. Existing 32-inch LCD TVs are using about 10 CCFLs.
Omron says it has found out that these lamps achieve maximum performance at temperatures of about 50°C. Just reducing the number of CCFLs results in a dimmer display, but Omron’s approach involves using heat-storing resin sheets that are placed inside the backlight, which makes it possible for the tubes to operate at maximum brightness.
As a result, the Omron backlights are based on just three U-shaped CCFLs, the equivalent to six conventional lamps. The company plans to offer its new product to LCD TV makers as early as January next year.
Via Nikkei [registration required, paid subscription]
Any improvements in CFL for use as backlight is a failure in my eyes because everybody is moving to LEDs, which are:
1. even more greener (less watts, less heat)
2. cheaper (because you don’t need to license some intellectual property)
3. produce better colors than CFL lighting