News

Display shows images and captures them, too

May 22, 2003

TOKYO -- Imagine a display screen that can scan images. The product is being developed by Toshiba Corp., according to an article in the New York Times. The prototype liquid crystal display is being used in some cameras, laptops, cellphones and hand-held organizers.

"The idea kind of jumped out at us," said Steve Vrablik, business development director for LCDs at Toshiba America Electronic Components.

The displays, called low-temperature polysilicon thin film transistor LCDs, may ultimately be able to do much more than copy pictures, the article said.

They have the potential to allow any kind of electronic circuitry to be created within them. As an example, perhaps laptops in the future could recharge their batteries through displays that double as solar energy panels. Or a computer as thin as a credit card could be built by integrating all its processors within its screen, the article said.