CES-2013 PR: Sony develops the World’s First and Largest “56-inch 4K OLED TV” Prototype to be exhibi

[Ilya]

Sony develops the World’s First and Largest “56-inch 4K OLED TV” Prototype to be exhibited at 2013 International CES

by Communications 01/07/2013

Tokyo, Japan – January 7, 2013 – Sony Corporation (“Sony”) announced today that it has developed the first 4K (3840 x 2160) OLED (organic light-emitting diode) television. To demonstrate its latest achievement, Sony will display a 56-inch prototype at The International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The world’s first and largest* 56-inch OLED TV achieves 4K resolution by using the latest oxide semiconductor TFTs and Sony’s own ‘Super Top Emission’ technologies.

Up until now, in order to force light through the OLED layer, OLED TVs used low-temperature polysilicon (LTPS) thin-film transistors (TFTs). However, there were some challenges inherent in the manufacture of large OLED displays.

Using oxide semiconductor TFTs Sony has been able to produce this new larger display. The new OLED component’s structure also incorporates Sony’s own ‘Super Top Emission’ technology, which has been successfully incorporated in other products already introduced into the market. This ‘Super Top Emission’ technology has a high aperture ratio and enables light to be extracted efficiently from the structure’s OLED layer. By combining two Sony developed technologies, Sony has been able to overcome some of these challenges. This prototype delivers all of the features expected from OLED TVs, such as high contrast, brightness, rapid video image response time and rich images produced even at wide viewing angles, all packaged in a large 4K resolution panel.

The OLED panel used in this prototype 4K OLED TV on display at the exhibition was jointly developed with Taiwanese company AU Optronics Corp. (AUO)

Sony has long been actively involved in the product development and mass production of OLED displays. Beginning with the release of the world’s first 11-inch OLED television in 2007, Sony went on to release 17” and 25” monitors for professional applications in 2011. On the research and development front, Sony has given presentations on the results of its research in process (manufacturing) technologies for mid and large-sized panels as well as presenting research findings on oxide semiconductor TFTs and flexible organic TFTs. Sony is also actively working on next-generation OLED technologies.

Sony will continue to research OLED technology with the goal of commercializing its new 4K OLED televisions, as well as launch 4K LCD TVs like the BRAVIAs exhibited at CES2013. From filming to editing, content creation, delivery, distribution and display devices, Sony is making its unique new 4K imaging experience available to users in a wide variety of ways.

Technological specifications of the exhibited 4K OLED TV prototype

Panel size : 56-inch

Number of pixels : 3,840 x 2,160

Display elements : OLED (organic light-emitting diode)

Drive circuit : Oxide semiconductor TFT

Special structural characteristics : Super Top Emission

Other Characteristics : undisclosed

 

[mike123abc]

Sounds pretty good, I hope Sony can capture their old glory.

 

[jayn_j]

This is a place where I would be reluctant to be an early adopter. I expect this is a very good 1080P set, but the 4K claim will turn out to be bogus, much the same way that early HD sets found it impossible to interface with HD sources when they became available.

Seems to me that Sony is reaching to attach 4K to everything they can this year. I anticipate a 4K clock radio

 

[TheForce]

4k was everywhere at CES. The manufacturers are serious about this being the next paradigm shift in TV panel technology. While most will offer 3D in the 4k models a few, like Toshiba, had to decline on this for now.

The Sony model 4k OLED will be 3D as I was told that is in development stages. What the rep refused to comment on was whether the OLED will be active or passive.

However, I saw the LG OLED 2K 3D which was passive and the image was indeed stunning.

After viewing these different brands all afternoon, I concluded that no one offered everything, yet, in one package.

With LG! The option seemed to be if you wanted highest detail 3D passive, the 4K offered a stunning picture that is hard to argue is less than superb 3D at full HD resolution in a comfortable passive design. If color depth is more important than detail and 3D full HD, then the 2k OLED offered better blacks, brighter whites, stunning metal reflections and richer colors all around. But, LG's OLED did come in at a second to Sony's detail being Sony was 4K.

In regular 3D passive 4K Sony offered several sizes and their PQ appeared to my eyes as second to LG but that may have been the demo content fooled me. Please understand, the different brands are not side by side and I have to watch one and then run to the other side of the hall to watch the other to compare.

If it shows the difference, I did have success with my experimental filter for my 3D camcorder and was able to shoot these 3D monitors and preserve the 3D in the recording. So, when I get home I will edit some comparative clips of the different brands and models. LG did have the best demo of all their models. But, I'd place my bets that Sony will be the first one out with that everything in one package model but at some astronomical price. LG will then come along and undercut the price with their me too version.

 

[dfergie]

Here it is, pretty nice...