ERSO develops 20-inch carbon nanotube field-emission backlight unit

Taipei, Dec. 31, 2004 (CENS)--The Electronics Research & Service Organization (ERSO) of Taiwan's Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) has successfully developed a 20-inch carbon nanotube field-emission backlight unit (CNT-BLU), the largest of its kind available in the world.

ERSO developed the CNT-BLU for major applications to large-sized thin film transistor-liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) panels and LCD TVs.

According to ERSO, most LCD TV models now adopt cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFL) tubes as their back-light modules, which, however, have such disadvantages as difficulty in assembly, repair and maintenance, higher surface (working) temperature, and containing toxicant mercury material.

ERSO said that the development of large-sized LCD TV products would see manufacturing difficulties of backlight modules and extra costs. In addition, the organization pointed out, the larger the display size is, the higher the costs of its backlight module will be. Those problems, ERSO stressed, have forced the line to seek new solutions for backlight modules.

In a bid to help local makers upgrade their back-light techniques and remove disadvantages of the mainstream solutions, ERSO integrated its established nano-meter technology and field-emission techniques to develop the CNT-BLU, which is based on a flat electro emission field, with the light spread on the field evenly. ERSO stressed that the new CNT-BLU is especially suitable for large-sized display products, while its technical level is much higher than the CCFL counterpart, yet the cost is lower.

The new back-light solution, according to ERSO, also features high brightness, low power consumption, low working temperature, and no mercury.