We have developed an ultra-thin 35-mm-thick LCD TV

Taking advantage of the high-performance technology for high light transmittance and wide viewing angle of the ISP-Pro technology, we developed a liquid crystal module that offers both a thin form and high image quality. We applied that technology to help bring the world's thinnest liquid-crystal TV (35 mm thick), the ultra-thin liquid-crystal TV "Wooo" UT series, to the product stage.

A1: There has been a rapid progress in flat panel TVs in recent years. Hitachi developed the ISP-Pro LCD driving mode technology to achieve the world's widest viewing angle and highest light use efficiency, thus bringing a high image quality liquid crystal TV to the product stage. Nevertheless, the market for flat panel TVs is surely interested in something more than a battle over superior image quality. Some 'wow' factor is needed. That situation motivated development of the ultra-thin liquid crystal TV. The television could be called a home electronics product that is the face of the home. We consider stylishness to also be an important need of the customer, rather than simple viewing of an image. Achieving a thinness of 35 mm gives the TV a stylish appearance and allows wall mounting, a long-time goal for TV sets.

A2: Actually, we had completed a prototype one year before the UT series was established as a product. That prototype was a collection of research laboratory technology and was a mere 19 mm thick. It's easy enough to say, "Let's make the TV thinner," but actually trying to do it involved many problems. Achieving an ultra-thin TV required making the backlight and the electric power source unit thinner.

However, thin backlights produce "Mura", an uneven pattern of brightness on the display. Also, thinner electric power source units have poor heat radiation, which reduces product reliability. We had to solve those problems to bring the ultra-thin TV to the product stage.

A3: In developing the ultra-thin TV, we faced many problems that were outside my previous experience. Problems that I could not overcome by myself were solved by working together with my colleagues. I yet again felt that this is the appeal of Hitachi. Hitachi gathers together experts from diverse fields, and when a good proposal is made, people with excellent expertise related to it are assembled through a project system to overcome any difficult problems. While I myself contributed in achieving a thinner backlight, many other experts were involved in bringing the technology to the product stage in a short time. I hope to continue developing ultra-thin TVs that are stylish and display beautiful video images.