samsung: transparent LCD displays

samsung has begun mass production of 22-inch transparent LCD screens in this image, the text, pink drinking glass, and grape graphic at right are images on the LCD panel, while the other items are real objects located behind the screen

having demoed versions of the devices at tech conferences throughout the past year, samsung has just announced that it has begun mass production of a 22-inch transparent LCD screen.

capable of utilizing ambient light, the panels are equipped with a white LED unit along each side, consuming about 90% less electricity compared to backlit LCD panels. they feature HDMI and USB ports for easy integration with other devices.

the panels will be produced in black-and-white and in colour, featuring a contrast ratio of 500:1 and a resolution of 1680×1050. their transparency rate ranges from 15% for the colour version to over 20% for the black-and-white.

in this demo of the black-and-white panel, the galaxy tablet on the left is a real model, located behind the transparent screen

the 22-inch transparent black-and-white panels on display

samsung envisions the screens to be first adopted for advertising and business communications. the company has previously demoed the technology in laptops and television screens, and although the version being mass-produced utilizes high-powered LCDs, the company has also experimented with AMOLED displays, suggesting a possibility for future models.

currently only the 22-inch screen is in production, but samsung has demoed the technology in other prototypes, such as this laptop equipped with 14-inch transparent LCD panel, on display at FPD china 2011 image courtesy of tech on

the transparent LCD display at CeBIT 2011

scott birmbaum, VP of samsung LCD, discusses and demos the screens

via engadget