Samsung has shown off what it claims is the world's thinnest LCD panel for mobile phones and handheld devices: a credit card-thick unit that measures a mere 0.82mm deep. That, the company said, is 0.07mm thinner than the previous, unnamed record holder.

Samsung said the panel will be available in 2.1in and 2.2in screens, both of 240 x 320 resolution. The displays will provide a 500:1 contrast ratio and a brightness of 300cdpm². Its reduced thickness arises from redesigned light guide plate sub-assembly and glass substrate.

At this stage, the new panel is still in the development stage. Samsung said the part won't go into mass production until the second half of next year, so it's the best part of 12 months away from appearing in devices.

Looking further ahead, Samsung touted its i-Lens system, a way of bonding a display's protective plastic cover directly onto the LCD to reduce the thickness of the host device's display assembly even further. Currently, there's a 2-3mm gap between cover and panel, a space Samsung hopes i-Lens will eliminate.

It also claimed the result is a screen that is not only more resistant to knocks and bumps than today's displays, but is also easier to read. ®