Fujitsu Hitachi Plasma Display Ltd. (FHP) has developed a 42-inch PDP module able to achieve significantly higher brightness and contrast characteristics. According to the company, the new module offers a brightness of 1,400 cd/m2 and a contrast ratio of 3,000:1. The brightness peak is increased by about 15% compared to the 1,200 cd/m2 offered by existing models and pumped up dark room contrast to three times higher than the current 1,000:1. Volume production is slated to start this summer.

This high brightness was achieved mainly by broadening the operating frequency band. Although this generally rises power consumption, the company overcame this problem by boosting light-emission efficiency. According to the company, the panel's power consumption is equivalent to that of conventional models. On the other hand, Light-emission efficiency of the new 42-inch PDP module "is about 10% higher than our conventional model," due to improvements in the fluorescent material and operating method.

In addition, the company achieved a sharp contrast by raising peak brightness while at the same time, by reducing background brightness.

FHP said, "Utilizing the peak brightness property, our panels' performance has reached a level, at which PDPs can properly render their superior image."