LG Display Says Its New LCDs Could Cut 3D TV Costs 20 Percent

LG Display launched production this month of LCDs with a film patterned retarder (FPR) technology that, paired with polarized glasses, could reduce total 3D TV costs 20 percent, company officials said. LG is starting with 32-, 37-, 42-, 47- and 55-inch panels that will feature an FPR applied to the top of the screen, a company spokesman said. The approach has support from six Chinese manufacturers as well as LG Electronics, Philips, Toshiba and Vizio, all expected to ship FPR-equipped TVs in 2011, an LG spokesman said. Skyworth already is demonstrating sets in China, the spokesman said. Chinese suppliers Changhong, Haier, Hisense, Konka and TCL also are backing FPR, the LG spokesman said. LG unveiled FPR panels at a ceremony Wednesday in Beijing sponsored by the China Video Industry Association and the China 3D Industry Association.

In LG’s spatial multiplexing approach, an FPR corresponds to an LCD’s odd and even lines and converts light to left or right circular polarization that, seen through polarized glasses as left and right images, produces 3D. Unlike time multiplexing used in shutter glasses, the entire frame time generates a single frame, so slower liquid crystal response rates don’t produce ghosting or double images. In active shutter, time multiplexing is used so that left and right images are shown in different frames at the same time. The glasses and switching liquid crystal alternately open left and right frames in sync with TV images. And black frame is inserted between the left and right frames. As a result, 240 Hz rates correspond to 60 Hz for each frame. Since LCDs don’t switch as fast as plasma or OLEDs, double images occur. More than 80 percent of brightness also is lost with active shutter, so a 450-nit panel is perceived at less than 100 nits through the glasses.

While LG’s FPR panels have a 240 Hz frame rate, 120 Hz is seen as sufficient, since flicker is less of an issue and a black frame isn’t inserted, LG officials said. FPR separates left and right images resulting in greater stability, and without the black frame, brightness, is more than double that of time multiplexing, industry officials said. The FPR panels are lighter at 15 grams than active shutter, which weigh 35 grams, the LG Display spokesman said.

FPR isn’t without downsides. The technology sacrifices resolution for other improvements, industry officials said: 1,920 x 540 resolution is delivered to each eye rather than 1,920 x 1,080. The FPR also results in a lower vertical viewing angle and the technology can’t be turned off in 2D mode as it can with active shutter. While FPR would appear to cost more, LG and other panel suppliers have said they can match shutter glass panel costs because of vertical integration and reducing the refresh rates. With polarized glasses taken into account, the FPR’s total cost should be 20 percent less than that of active shutter panels, LG officials said.

An active retarder technology that’s said to be more expensive also is being developed without sacrificing resolution, and sticking with passive glasses. LG and ChimeiInnolux have shown prototypes of LCDs with active retarders, but the technology requires an additional LCD layer and another two glass substrates. OLEDs have been demonstrated with active retarders.