sharp 32-inch 4k igzo lcd monitors manufacturer

Sharp’s professional-use PN-K321 LCD monitor heralds an entirely new generation of displays that incorporate Sharp’s cutting-edge IGZO* technology. This technology offers two major advantages: extraordinarily high resolution and energy efficiency. At 3,840 x 2,160 pixels (4K Ultra-HD), the PN-K321 boasts four times the resolution of 1080p full HD. Users can now view the content of four full HD screens on a single, seamless display. This super-high resolution makes the monitor ideally suited to a wide range of professional applications in settings where detailed information needs to be displayed with tremendous precision. IGZO technology supports increased pixel transparency and reduced current leakage, resulting in lower power consumption.

The PN-K321 owes its stylish and slender design to IGZO technology and edge-lit LED backlighting. Measuring only about 35 mm at its thickest point, this sleek and lightweight monitor blends in effortlessly in almost any location. The PN-K321 comes with a stand and offers a choice of landscape or portrait installation*, allowing users to select the mode that best suits their display content and application.

LAS VEGAS--Sharp kicked off its media event at the 2013 International CES on Monday by revealing the future of the electronics giant"s display portfolio.

Specifically, that strategy is being spearheaded by IGZO (Indium Gallium Zinc Oxide) technology as Sharp unveiled a 32-inch 4K resolution IGZO LCD monitor.

Kozo Takahashi, executive vice president of Sharp Corporation, remarked during Monday"s press conference that IGZO is the "key to future of next-generation organic LED (OLED) displays."

But IGZO isn"t being reserved just for TVs as executives highlighted new mobile devices sporting IGZO screens that were already unveiled in Japan last year.

Takahashi asserted that Sharp "will be first company to mass produce IGZO," but he acknowledged that "IGZO wasn"t made by Sharp alone." He cited Corning -- the maker of Gorilla Glass -- in particular as a major partner to help produce these IGZO displays for TVs, smartphones and tablets.

We"ve been waiting to enjoy the promised extra detail and low power consumption of IGZO-based LCD panels for a few years now, and they"re finally starting to appear. The latest on the docket is Sharp"s new PN-K321 monitor, built for professional use with 4K resolution (3,840 x 2,160) plus HDMI and DisplayPort inputs, and what Sharp claims is the industry"s thinnest frame at just 35mm thick. With an expected price of 450,000 yen or so (about $5,500 US) when it debuts in February 2013 it"s still too pricey for our desks but if you"re doing CAD work you may be able to design a budget it can fit into. We"re seeing them in phones, tablets and now monitors overseas, here"s hoping we"ll see plenty of these high pixel density yet power-sipping panels with US release dates at CES in January.

Sharp Corporation will introduce into the Japanese market a new 32-inch-class LCD monitor, the PN-K322B. This professional-use monitor features an originally developed high-sensitivity, high-precision touchscreen and delivers 4K resolution (3,840 × 2,160 pixels)-a level of resolution four times that of full HD.

The PN-K322B is Sharp"s latest ultra-high-definition display. Its high-precision touchscreen allows accurate onscreen handwriting of fine text and lines, with writing performed via a dedicated touch pen with a pen-tip width of just 2 mm. The display also supports multi-touch operation.

Thanks to IGZO technology and an edge-lit LED backlight, the PN-K322B boasts a slender profile with a thickness of just 36 mm*2-the thinnest in its class. An included stand allows the monitor to slide easily between two angles depending on the application: vertical for viewing the monitor or low-angle for onscreen writing and touchscreen operation.

The PN-K322B features a palm cancellation function that prioritizes pen input even when the user"s hand is resting on the touchscreen. Input connectors on the PN-K322B are compatible with the latest DisplayPort™ and HDMI™ interface specifications, enabling the monitor to display*3 4K ultra-HD content delivered from a PC via a single-cable connection.

Demand for ultra-high-definition 4K displays is growing for numerous business and professional applications such as graphic and video content creation and editing. To further grow demand for 4K displays, Sharp will propose usage applications in other fields too, such as in customer service applications at retailers and showrooms or in exhibition displays at museums and art galleries.

*1 IGZO monitors were developed jointly for mass production by Sharp and Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd. IGZO and the IGZO logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sharp Corporation.

On Wednesday Sharp introduced the PN-K321, a 32-inch professional LCD monitor featuring the company"s IGZO technology, a 3840 x 2160 (4K2K) resolution, and the industry"s thinnest profile design to date. So far pricing and availability is unknown, but the company said that it plans to unleash this display into the Japanese market first.

"The PN-K321 is Sharp"s latest ultra-high-definition display and features smaller transistors (TFTs) in the LCD panel compared to conventional displays, thereby increasing the amount of transmitted light per pixel," the company said. "Because 4K2K displays enable clear, crisp display of large amounts of information ranging from small text to detailed images on one screen, they boost operational efficiency by sparing users the need to scroll frequently."

Sharp said the upcoming 4K2K display features a main body approximately 35-mm deep thanks to Sharp"s IGZO technology. This tech is defined as "a semiconducting material which can be used as the channel for a transparent thin-film transistor." It replaces amorphous silicon for the active layer of an LCD screen, and offers smaller pixels to produce the higher resolution.

"Demand for ultra-high-definition 4K2K displays is forecast to grow for numerous business and professional applications, including creating and editing graphics and video, financial-related operations requiring intensive use of graphs and small text, and CAD services for displaying detailed drawings," the company said on Wednesday.

This new 4K2K display won"t land on Japanese retail shelves until February 15, 2013, so don"t expect to see it in the States until next spring at the earliest.

Today, Sharp unveiled the professional-use PN-K321 monitor, which boasts a 4K resolution of 3840×2160 and measures 32 inches diagonally. It"s also powered by Sharp"s ultra-thin IGZO technology to make for a ridiculously high-resolution but thin and sleek display. However, the new display comes with a hefty price tag of $5,500.

The 32-inch display with the 3840×2160 resolution works out to 137ppi, which doesn"t quite match the Retina MacBook Pro"s 220ppi, but the display should look pretty stunning once it becomes available. It"s expected to released in February 2013 in Japan for a price of 450,000 yen, but no word on release dates for the US and other countries — we should hear more on that front at CES in January.

The display has both HDMI and DisplayPort inputs, and Sharp claims that it"s the industry"s thinnest 4K monitor at just 35mm thick. That"s thanks to the company"s IGZO display technology, which is named after the indium gallium zinc oxide semiconductor on which the technology is based. The company plans to implement the new tech in a wide range of devices in the future, including smartphones and tablets.

IGZO is also a great technology because it uses less power than current LCD displays and it can prolong battery life in mobile devices. 4K displays are still in their infancy, and they most likely won"t hit mainstream for another couple of years, and with the prices the way they are for 4K screens, you can expect to wait a few years before you could really afford one in your living room or on your desk.

Sharp is currently a player in the nascent UHDTV business, but has also begun manufacturing smaller 4K LCD monitors. One of the first to ship is the PN-K321, a new 32-inch 4K workstation display. This monitor employs edge-lit, light-emitting diode backlight technology, just like all late-model LCD television sets. The actual pixel resolution is 3840 x 2160 pixels, otherwise known as “Quad HD” and the input interfaces are 100 percent digital—no VGA or component video connectors here.

Sharp was the first company to employ indium-gallium-zinc oxide (IGZO) thin-film transistors (TFTs) in their LCD displays. Oxide TFTs have been in development since the 1980s and have many advantages such as smaller size, lower power consumption, and faster switching speeds. They also take up less room on each LC pixel, resulting in a larger aperture ratio. This means more light can pass through the pixel.

This “speed limit” is more of a limitation of the display interfaces—specifically, the HDMI format, which currently can’t handle a 4K signal with greater than an 8-bit color depth and a 30 Hz frame rate. That works out to be about 7.5 Gbps of data passing through each of the two HDMI interfaces. (HDMI 1.4 has a maximum data rate of 10.2 Gbps.)

The Sharp UHD monitor also comes with a DisplayPort input, similarly limited to a 30 Hz refresh rate. You can double up the two HDMI inputs to “stitch” together a Quad HD signal at 60 Hz, or run the DisplayPort input in multistream mode to accomplish the same thing. In effect, you wind up with two desktop images.

I found Sharp’s PN-K321 UHD monitor to be a really intriguing product. It can easily be used as a desktop multiviewer— Sharp has already demonstrated it in a post-production setting at the InfoComm event—and its grayscale and gamma performance, once calibration is performed, proved to be very stable and accurate across a wide dynamic range, making the unit suitable for gamma and color correction applications.

Even though the display’s EDID (extended display identification data) says that its maximum refresh rate for 4K content is 30 Hz, the monitor doubles the rate to 60 Hz—that’s OK for static images, acceptable for static video images, but somewhat iffy for use with fast-motion video. Computer graphics should be fine, as well as the checking of image parameters. Sharp really needs to upgrade the HDMI inputs to v2.0, so that 60 Hz 4K video can be displayed.

Las Vegas, January 7, 2013 – Brace yourself for a look into the future…today. This year, Sharp comes to CES with breakthrough technologies and exciting products that show the future isn’t that far off – Sharp is making amazing things happen now.

“Whether in your home or in your hand, display technology is everywhere,” said Toshi Osawa, CEO and Chairman of Sharp Electronics Corporation. “From game changing IGZO, to stunning Ultra HD products, and large screen televisions, the introductions we are making at CES 2013 will advance people’s lives at home, work and everywhere in between.”

For the first time in North America, the company will showcase the amazing possibilities of IGZO (Indium Gallium Zinc Oxide) and introduce the first new products that use it. Today and tomorrow, IGZO will engender a whole generation of display products that are dramatically more energy efficient, produce high-resolution images and are ultra-responsive to touch.

Sharp will take the lead in Ultra HD, the next generation of high-definition 4K display technology for the home, showcasing two lines of large screen Ultra HD TVs that will be introduced this year.

At CES, Sharp is also primed to continue its leadership in large screen LED TV’s by introducing its 2013 AQUOS LED TV lineup, featuring the largest commercially available LED TV in the world, more large screen models featuring Quattron technology and striking new designs.

Sharp is the first to successfully mass produce IGZO, an innovative compound that replaces the industry standard amorphous silicon material used for the active layer in thin-film transistors (TFTs).

· Super high-resolution and clarity: IGZO’s transistors are much smaller than traditional LCDs and have significantly higher electron mobility. Therefore, more data can be shown in a single display, creating a stunningly detailed image – up to four times that of conventional full-HD or 1080p LCDs.

· Ultra-low power consumption: IGZO can maintain the onscreen data for a certain period of time without refreshing the data, even when the current is off. This helps cut back the power consumption to achieve longer battery life for mobile displays.

· High performance touch response: Compared to conventional LCDs, IGZO displays have drastically minimized the noise caused by touch input. This allows for quick, easy, more natural-feeling writing and smooth lines.

While the possibilities for this technology are far reaching, Sharp is already implementing IGZO technology in its displays, tablet PCs, monitors and smartphones available today.

At CES, Sharp is revealing its state of the art 32”-class professional LCD monitors, the PN-K321 and a touchscreen monitor prototype, which feature IGZO technology with ultra-high-definition 4K × 2K resolution (3,840 × 2,160 pixels), four times the pixel resolution of full high definition. These models also boast the industry’s thinnest design at just 35mm. The touchscreen monitor prototype is capable of 10-point multi-touch option, allowing users to perform multiple gestures at once simply by touching the screen, which is especially useful for portraying and interfacing with images, graphics, complex visual elements or architectural designs. The PN-K321 is planned to launch in February.

Sharp is taking the lead in the development of the next generation of screen resolution: Ultra HD. Previously known as 4K, this significant leap in viewing is four times the pixel resolution of 1080p. At CES 2013, Sharp will demonstrate two large screen Ultra HD technologies that it will bring to market in 2013:

ICC Purios: Developed jointly with I-cubed Research Center Inc., ICC Purios combines Ultra HD resolution and the ICC (integrated cognitive creation) image processor, which reproduces the “cognitive” process by which the human brain interprets light stimuli. Employing this unique process provides a similar sense of depth, texture and perspective to what people experience when looking directly at an object for a stunningly lifelike viewing experience where everything is in sharper focus. The picture is so stunningly real, ICC Purios is the world’s first Ultra HD TV to receive THX® certification, confirming that the display not only meets industry 4K performance guidelines, but that it maintains content accuracy true to the original HD image. This model is scheduled to make its North American debut in summer 2013.

AQUOS Ultra HD: At CES 2013, Sharp will also showcase a prototype of the AQUOS Ultra HD TV, a new large screen product under the AQUOS brand. In addition to boasting Ultra HD resolution, this product features a new screen technology, introduced as Moth Eye that virtually eliminates glare while preserving color vibrancy.

Brace yourself for an all out visual thrill ride. Sharp is showcasing its full line of 2013 AQUOS LED TVs, with striking new designs and large-screen sizes such as 60” (diagonal), 70” (69 ½” diagonal), 80” (diagonal) and 90” (diagonal), the world’s largest commercially available LED TV. This year, Sharp Canada, the leader in large-screen LED TVs, will once again introduce the most choice in the industry for screen sizes of 60” size or larger.

Sharp is demonstrating two exciting audio products at CES 2013. The HT-SB60 is the only soundbar system on the market designed from the ground up to be used exclusively for 60” and larger TVs. The system provides clear and powerful sound via a 2.1 channel arrangement with 310 total watts of power and a wireless subwoofer. Its flexible design offers options for horizontal and wall mounted use. Exposed drivers and a rich black-brushed aluminum finish offer a striking visual element.

Sharp is also demonstrating the next generation of Quattron technology at CES 2013. Using a specialized sub-pixel signal processing for Sharp’s red-green-blue-yellow Quattron pixel panel, the next genesis of Quattron will allow the control and use of these colours individually, enabling the reproduction of double resolution in one singular pixel. As a result of this breakthrough feature, the next-generation of Quattron can increase the effective resolution of a 1080p panel to Ultra-HD-like for video and still image content as well as web-based text. The next generation of Quattron technology also includes specialized signal processing for scaling up from 1080p to 4K images. Sharp expects to introduce products with the next generation of Quattron technology in 2014.

The company is showing a glimpse of the high definition future with a demonstration of 8K resolution on an 85” (diagonal) screen size class TV. Sharp was the first brand to showcase this groundbreaking technology at CES 2012. 8K is an astounding 7680 x 4320 resolution, the equivalent of 16 times the pixel resolution of HDTV and presents an unprecedented level of incredibly detailed, high-quality images.

It seems like all the giant companies are now working with the 4Kcompatible monitors as a lot of computer users are now looking forward to 4K resolution monitors for higher-quality images and more information on the screen at one time. And following that trend, lately Sharp has unveiled a 32-inch 4K IGZO touchscreen monitor which is also compatible with Apple’s OS X operating system.

The 32-inch 4K touchscreen monitor was originally introduced back in January during CES 2013. But the display was also shown during CEATEC 2013 in Japan last week, which was running off a MacBook Pro. However, the Sharp’s 4K Monitor features a resolution of 3840×2160 and utilizes an IGZO LCD panel with a touch interface and pen support. The touch interface uses capacitive technology and supports pen input. The Japanese news portal Macotakara claims, Sharp’s 32-inch LCD LED monitor has already been shipped, but won’t be able to run OS X until the company releases a free download of that software.

Currently this Sharp 32-inch 4K2K touch Monitor is available in Amazon.co.jp for ¥ 317,887(Japanese Yen) or $3266(USD). So for now only, the Japanese people can buy this monitor. Unfortunately, there is no information available for its global release! Check out the both demo videos at CES 2013 and CEATEC 2013 for more.

It seems like all the giant companies are now working with the 4Kcompatible monitors as a lot of computer users are now looking forward to 4K resolution monitors for higher-quality images and more information on the screen at one time. And following that trend, lately Sharp has unveiled a 32-inch 4K IGZO touchscreen monitor which is also compatible with Apple’s OS X operating system.

The 32-inch 4K touchscreen monitor was originally introduced back in January during CES 2013. But the display was also shown during CEATEC 2013 in Japan last week, which was running off a MacBook Pro. However, the Sharp’s 4K Monitor features a resolution of 3840×2160 and utilizes an IGZO LCD panel with a touch interface and pen support. The touch interface uses capacitive technology and supports pen input. The Japanese news portal Macotakara claims, Sharp’s 32-inch LCD LED monitor has already been shipped, but won’t be able to run OS X until the company releases a free download of that software.

Currently this Sharp 32-inch 4K2K touch Monitor is available in Amazon.co.jp for ¥ 317,887(Japanese Yen) or $3266(USD). So for now only, the Japanese people can buy this monitor. Unfortunately, there is no information available for its global release! Check out the both demo videos at CES 2013 and CEATEC 2013 for more.

Sharp announced two new 4K LCD monitors, which will display images at close to four times the overall resolution of traditional 1080p high-definition monitors available Monday.

The new 32-inch LCD monitor series will display images at a 3840 by 2160-pixel resolution, Sharp announced at the International CES show in Las Vegas. The monitors will be available in touch and non-touch models, and pricing was not immediately available.

Sharp refers to the new class of ultra-high resolution displays as UltraHD, which is the standard name being adopted for the next generation of high-definition TVs and displays. Sharp also said it is will show off a prototype UltraHD TV set at CES.

UltraHD TVs are also referred to as 4K TVs and made a splash at last year’s IFA trade show in Berlin with companies such as Sony and LG announcing TV sets with ultra-high resolutions. More UltraHD announcements are expected at CES with companies like Toshiba, LG and Samsung set to announce new TVs.

Sharp’s new monitors will have two HDMI (high-definition multimedia interface) and one DisplayPort port. The monitors will use IGZO (Indium Gallium Zinc Oxide) technology, which improve the responsiveness and brightness of displays, according to the company. The 4K monitors will be particularly useful for specific applications requiring high-definition graphics, such as video editing and computer-aided design.

As part of its new 2013 TV lineup, Sharp also announced close to 20 Aquos high-definition TVs, with a standard feature being the ability to browse the Web and watch movies from Internet streaming services like Netflix. The 6-, 7-, 8-Series Aquos TVs will have Wi-Fi, and support Flash and HTML5 web content.

Sharp, the struggling Japanese consumer electronics maker, is finally taking its low-power IGZO (indium gallium zinc oxide) panels off the ground, announcing Wednesday a 32-inch monitor built around this proprietary display tech. And with 4K resolution of 3,840-by-2,160 pixels, it’s a marvel of cutting-edge display engineering.

Sharp’s proprietary IGZO technology incorporates a thin-film transistor that allows for thinner devices while reducing power consumption and increasing image quality.

“Because 4K2K displays enable clear, crisp display of large amounts of information ranging from small text to detailed images on one screen, they boost operational efficiency by sparing users the need to scroll frequently”, explains Sharp.

Pricing and availability info was unknown at press time, but Wikipedia thinks the monitor will cost a cool $5,500. Sharp underscored the PN-K321 will first launch in Japan on February 15, 2013, with initial production limited to just 1,500 monthly units.

Another major upside to IGZO is that unlike LCDs which need a constant power stream, Sharp’s tech uses extra power only briefly, when the user presses the screen.

The Japanese company last month hinted IGZO devices will surge as it announced own Aquos Pad SHT 21 tablet rocking a seven-inch IGZO display, a tell-tale sign Sharp solved problems that had been limiting its ability to manufacture IGZO panels in volume.

We know Apple wanted to use IGZO panels for new iPads and iPhones, but couldn’t due to yield issues. Now that Sharp is incorporating IGZO panels into various form factors ranging from tablets to big monitors, perhaps Apple will take another look at implementing IGZO tech into the next wave of iOS devices, where Sharp’s technology could triple battery life while offering higher touch sensitivity.

Apple, as Ed told you, may have bailed out Sharp to the tune of $2 billion. And with ongoing rumors asserting Apple is mulling a strategic investment in Sharp’s high-tech IGZO plant in Osaka, Japan and talk of an Apple-branded HD TV set among analysts, fans and Hollywood moguls, the possibility of Apple’s next big thing grows with each day.

The PN-K322B 4K LCD from Sharp is available in both a touch screen and non-touch version and will be 32″ diagonal with a 350 cd/m2 of brightness. It’s an edge-lit LED-based LCD offering DisplayPort, HDMI and network content ports. And, it will scale 2K to 4K. And, for those of you who go, ho-hum, reading the 2K to 4K scaling line — you’re wrong. Don’t overlook this. Scaling 2K (or 1080p) to 4K looks incredible — even with crappy scalers. This new model will officially debut in November and will have 10 touch points and can be mounted horizontally, vertically or flat.

We saw it (and took a photo) at the Whitlock Convergence Show last week in Durham, NC. Mac Rumors is also reporting that Sharp showed the display at CEATEC in Japan earlier this month using Mac OS X with full touch support.

Sharp is announcing a 32-inch 4K monitor today that uses its LGZO LCD tech expected to hit the Japanese market in February 2013. The roughly $5,500 PN-K321 monitor sports a 3,840-by-2,160 resolution and HDMI and DisplayPort inputs. According to Sharp, it will also be the thinnest monitor frame on the market at just 35mm. Even if analysts were wrong about a full-fledged TV set from Apple next year, these new Sharp displays would certainly make a pretty Thunderbolt display.

Sharp will put its IGZO displays in the hands of consumers in the near future, as it recently announced its first 7-inch tablet to take advantage of the technology’s low-power consumption features. Apple decided to not go with Sharps’ IGZO displays for its latest round of iPad launches. It instead sourced display components from AU Optronics, LG Display, and Samsung, but several reports in the past indicated Apple is interested in the technology. Apple was even recently rumored to be potentially making an investment in the failing company—much like Apple partner Foxconn previously agreed to.

Sharp will hit full production on at least its 7-inch IGZO tablets later this year, which means there is a possibility we could see the tech make its way to a next-generation iPad.

Sharp has announced two new 4K LCD monitors, which will display images at close to four times the overall resolution of traditional 1080p high-definition monitors available today.

The new 32-inch LCD monitor series will display images at a 3840 by 2160-pixel resolution, Sharp announced at the International CES show in Las Vegas on Monday. The monitors will be available in touch and non-touch models, and pricing was not immediately available.

Sharp refers to the new class of ultra-high resolution displays as UltraHD, which is the standard name being adopted for the next generation of high-definition TVs and displays. Sharp also said it is will show off a prototype UltraHD TV set at CES.

UltraHD TVs are also referred to as 4K TVs and made a splash at last year"s IFA trade show in Berlin with companies such as Sony and LG announcing TV sets with ultra-high resolutions. More UltraHD announcements are expected at CES with companies like Toshiba, LG and Samsung set to announce new TVs.

Sharp"s new monitors will have two HDMI (high-definition multimedia interface) and one DisplayPort port. The monitors will use IGZO (Indium Gallium Zinc Oxide) technology, which improve the responsiveness and brightness of displays, according to the company. The 4K monitors will be particularly useful for specific applications requiring high-definition graphics, such as video editing and computer-aided design.

As part of its new 2013 TV lineup, Sharp also announced close to 20 Aquos high-definition TVs, with a standard feature being the ability to browse the Web and watch movies from Internet streaming services like Netflix. The 6-, 7-, 8-Series Aquos TVs will have Wi-Fi, and support Flash and HTML5 web content.

Nintendo will partner with Sharp to put the company"s IGZO (indium gallium zinc oxide) displays in the Switch, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal.

The Journal reported back in March that Sharp was set to be a new supplier for the Switch"s display technology, which is currently a silicon display provided by Taiwanese suppliers. Now, Executive Vice President Katsuaki Nomura says the company will be providing IGZO displays to "a video game client," according to the Journal.

integrated into large-scale touchscreens, designed for desktop computer use. The new type of thin-film transistor (TFT) backplane in these displays allows for "electron mobility" that"s 20 to 50 times faster than traditional "amorphous silicon" IPS displays, like those found in the Switch currently, Sharp says.

Improved electron mobility also means IGZO displays can have slightly faster response times than traditional displays. Monitor comparison site Display Ninja suggests the change could help get those times down from 4ms to around 1ms. That"s not the kind of change most users would consciously notice, but it could help at the margins for games with high frame rates.

IGZO displays are also capable of providing greater color accuracy, increased brightness, and better pixel density than more widespread panel types, according to Display Ninja. The last of these could be particularly important for the Switch Lite, which packs the Switch"s 720p portable resolution into a 5.5-inch diagonal display instead of the standard Switch"s 6.2-inch one.

More realistically, there"s a new 4K2K display from Seiki (a Chinese manufacturer) for $1199 (available from TigerDirect and a few others). It"s 50" and you can only run it at 30Hz (3840x2160x30p) because it has an HDMI port and not a display port. (HDMI 1.4 only allows up to that bandwidth.)

In any case, it definitely seems 2013 is the year we"ll start to get affordable 8MP monitors, which is great news for those of us running 2-3 30" panels.

Mike Marusic has a great job. As senior vice president, marketing for Sharp Imaging and Information Company of America, he has the pleasure of introducing Sharp’s new 4K Ultra HD PN-K321 and PN-K322B monitors to the U.S. market. These new monitors use Sharp’s groundbreaking IGZO technology, a significant advance in high-performance, low-power liquid crystal displays.

The key feature is, of course, the 4K or Ultra HD resolution, and Marusic says people are blown away. “The number one interest is from graphic arts people; they’re all over it.”

These Ultra HD displays, along with some smartphone and tablet displays, are the first commercial applications of IGZO technology, and, as we will see, they are the vanguard for a broad range of new, innovative products.

Sharp’s Gary Bailer, director, product planning and marketing, agrees that the monitor is a great starting point: “This new LCD monitor gives graphic artists, photo and video editors and designers an unparalleled ability to see what’s going on,” he says. “We’re matching the trend towards higher digital camera resolution. The combination of monitor size and resolution that’s four times greater than an HDTV lets artists see the whole picture without losing any detail.”

Color fidelity is critical, too, and these monitors can depict over 1 billion colors, so there’s never an issue with gradient (color) banding or other artifacts. Marusic adds, “That 32-inch screen is a big workspace. It can handle multiple images, option menus, dialog boxes and other applications without getting crowded. That’s a win for productivity.” Not surprisingly, the new monitors have already received enthusiastic reception in the financial industry, where they provide dense information in an ergonomic, eye-friendly format.

Sharp is also targeting video production studios. Source material is increasingly shot in 4K, even though broadcast is still 1080p. It’s a hedge against the future as TV and Internet video content moves to 4K.

Gamers have also taken note of the Sharp 4K Ultra HD display. Both professional and dedicated amateur gamers seek a completely immersive experience, and the photograph-like resolution of these monitors, coupled with their crisp performance and vibrant colors, makes them ideal for a high-end, competitive system. Of course, one screen, even a 32-inch screen, isn’t enough. Three screens in an immersive arc are becoming more popular, and Gavin Gear, a gaming blogger for Microsoft, has demonstrated a system with three PN-K321 monitors, and another with an unbelievable six PN-K321s. (July 25, 2013; to visit Gavin Gear’s blog, go to http://blogs.windows.com/windows/b/extremewindows/archive/2013/07/25/pushing-the-12k-pc-gaming-boundary-at-1-5-billion-pixels-per-second.aspx)

Sharp has immediate, medium-range, and long-range goals for IGZO devices, with the potential to revolutionize the way we work and the way we interact with our technology, to more fully integrate it into our lives. Sharp’s scientists continue to push the state of the art forward. They have developed a number of pre-production and experimental displays for everything from personal electronics to high-end medical imaging.

In one novel application, IGZO powers displays that use MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems). While there are many MEMS devices in use, such as the motion detector in your smartphone, Sharp’s innovation, a joint development with Pixtronix Inc., a subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, uses IGZO to power tiny shutters that open and close over red, green and blue LEDs.

The MEMS display promises bright, true colors while consuming less power, because the high brightness of the LEDs is directly visible, not attenuated by color filters and polarizers. Thus, the LEDs can consume far less power while providing excellent color rendition. This design will also have better cold weather performance than LCDs, making it ideal for harsh environments, automotive dashboards and aircraft cockpits. Sharp has also demonstrated a long-refresh version that consumes even less power, potentially reducing backlight energy by a factor of 10, with the ability to switch between energy-saving and high color-rendition modes.

IGZO also benefits OLED (organic LED) displays. OLEDs have many advantages, including vivid color and a wide viewing angle with accurate color rendition. They also permit bendable, flexible displays because they emit light right from the surface of each pixel. Historically, however, OLEDs have been somewhat limited in resolution. IGZO based OLEDs allow much higher resolution because the color system—the RGB filters—are placed right on the white light-emitting layer. That, in turn, is mounted on the IGZO TFTs, which, as above, are smaller. While current OLED displays are limited to roughly 300 pixels per inch, the combination of color filtering and IGZO may reach 400 PPI. OLEDs with IGZO drivers can also be built on a flexible substrate, allowing designers to create many new, innovative products, especially tablets, smartphones and wearable personal electronics.

Specially treated arrays of IGZO transistors respond to X-rays as well, with all of the benefits of IGZO: lower power, greater sensitivity, and higher resolution. The low power and low- leakage characteristics of IGZO TFTs allow them to be made smaller than conventional technologies, with an obvious benefit in resolution. The low leakage of IGZO makes it more sensitive to the voltage generated when each pixel struck by an X-ray.

Since the pixels are more sensitive than those of conventional TFTs, exposure time is shorter and the patient’s radiation dose is lower as well. Existing sensors are somewhat limited in size, but Sharp already has the ability to build large, high-resolution IGZO arrays. It may be possible in the not too distant future to perform full-body scans, using far less radiation than traditional film technology. And since the scanning medium is an electronic array, not film, IGZO-based sensors will be able to record continually moving images. This is an exciting possibility with important diagnostic potential.

Whether a screen that fits into your pocket or a wall-sized display, IGZO is advancing the state of the art. Consider, for instance, museum displays. Imagine a Manet, far too valuable for the public to approach closely. But with Ultra HD touch screens, people can “touch” a replica of the painting, zoom in, pan around, and see the entire image or a single brush stroke, all in perfect resolution, with pixels that are undetectably small, colors that are exactly like the original. This is only one example of how people will interact with IGZO in their daily lives.

IGZO smartphones and tablets are already available in Japan. Users in the US can now enjoy the benefits of IGZO-based products, starting with the monitors, soon to be followed by Ultrabooks. From there, many exciting and innovative products will evolve. Wall-size displays and interactive surfaces, such as mirrors, tables and desktops, are all within reach.

Sharp’s leadership in display technology is clear: in products you can use today, some that will be available in the coming year and others that will break entirely new ground, opening a world of possibilities.

With its 32″ class (31-1/2″ diagonal) screen size, 3,840 x 2,160 4K Ultra HD and energy efficient edge lit LED backlight, the PN-K321 is ideally suited to a wide range of professional applications in settings where detailed information needs to be displayed with tremendous precision. This super-high resolution display boasts four times the resolution of 1080p full HD, enabling users to view the content of four full HD screens on a single seamless display. IGZO* technology supports increased pixel transparency and reduced current leakage, resulting in lower power consumption.*IGZO (InGaZnO) is an oxide comprising indium (In), gallium (Ga) and zinc (Zn)