Nano-TV

Nano-TV enters the flat-screen fray

Plasma under threat? A model relaxes in front of the Panasonic plasma HDTV screen at the Panasonic stand during the recent CeBIT computer fair in Hanover, Germany.
Photo: Reuters

Plans are afoot to pilot test the world's first widescreen nano-TV following a recent pact between Applied Nanotech of the US and a Taiwanese manufacturer.

The nano-TV, which goes under the official title of Carbon Nanotube Television (CNT), is a next-generation display technology that its creators hope will deliver better picture quality than existing plasma and LCD TVs.

A letter of intent was signed yesterday between Applied Nanotech and Da Ling Co to form a joint venture with the aim of constructing a pilot line of the units.

The nano-TVs will be built with 60 to 100 inch diagonal screens and units are expected retail for $US1,300 ($1,800) when they hit full production. But first the technology must go through a series of trials that are scheduled to begin later this year or early next year.

The CNT is not the only new kid on the block when it comes to emerging display technologies. New surface-conduction electron-emitter displays (SED) were also recently unveiled by Canon and Toshiba to challenge existing TV technologies and the units are expected to go on sale in the fourth quarter of next year.

Like the nano-TV technology, the SEDs are believed to deliver clearer images with no "ghosting" because they are based on technology that is similar to traditional cathode-ray tube TVs.

The nano-TVs are also designed to be large and flat, and they deliver images to the display using carbon nanotubes with high thermal and electrical conductivity.

A 25-inch proof of concept was built last year by Applied Nanotech which the company said demonstrated sharper images than those currently observed in large LCD and plasma TVs .

"We expect CNT TVs to become the standard in large size flat panel displays," said Dr Zvi Yaniv, chief executive of Applied Nanotech.

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2006/03/21/1142703346701.html