Sharp has developed an LCD panel for PDAs and cellphones that it claims provides a "clear, bright display visible from virtually any angle and under any ambient lighting condition".

The panels are based on technology devised for the company's Aquos LCD TV screen and have been designed with streamed video content in mind. They also incorporate transflective display technology, which combines back-lit transmissive and reflective LCD techniques.

The result is a screen that can be viewed at up to 160 degrees in both the vertical and horizontal planes. The response time comes in a 25ms, and the screen provides a 300:1 contrast ratio.

Sharp said it will initially offer four Mobile ASV screens - as it calls them - with 1.5, 2.4, 4.0 and 6.5in screen sizes and 560 x 240, 240 x 320, 480 x 640 and 400 x 234 resolutions. They are aimed at digicam, mobile phone, PDA and in-car navigation systems, respectively. The last three displays offer RGB colour depths.

All four displays will sample in December, and go into volume production during the Spring of 2004. ®