Sharp to start production of small- and medium-size LCD panels for smartphones, tablets.

WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De Jesús.

Sharp has developed small- and medium-size LCD panels using oxide semiconductor, InGaZnO, according to the company. Production of these new LCD panels will start at its Kameyama No.2 plant later in 2011.

Sharp acknowledges strong demand for small- and medium-size LCD panels used in smartphones and tablet terminals, which require high resolution and picture quality, compact design and lightweight, and high energy efficiency, the company said.

Sharp indicated that in collaboration with Semiconductor Energy Laboratory, it has developed and will commercialize a thin-film transistor using InGaZnO. High energy performance LCD panels will be made possible by downsizing the transistor and by increasing the light transmittance for each pixel.

In addition, Sharp noted its proprietary UV2A (Ultraviolet-induced Multi-domain Vertical Alignment) technology will achieve high display quality small- and medium- size LCD panels. The company will use 8G glass substrates to produce the panels, utilizing capacity at its Kameyama No.2 plant.

Sharp's Kameyama No.2 plant has started operation from August 2006, and has been producing panels for TVs.