Toshiba looks at smart displays

Toshiba has developed a new 'input display' which it claims is the first to capture images directly via sensors within a thin film transistor (TFT) liquid crystal display (LCD).

The prototype is a 3.5in diagonal low-temperature polysilicon TFT LCD with QVGA (320 x 240) resolution format, which is able to capture images such as photos or printed text through photo sensor devices embedded in the LCD.

Toshiba said the input display is different from a camera because it inputs an actual-size image directly from its built-in image sensors.

The firm said this technology could be used to capture data from a catalogue, read barcodes, or recognise and authenticate fingerprints for security applications.

"This demonstration highlights the capabilities of polysilicon technology, which we believe will lead towards complete system on glass displays in the future that incorporate a multitude of functions that now require silicon circuitry outside the periphery of the display," said Steve Vrablik, business development director for LCDs for Toshiba.