Glass coatings specialist Southwall Technologies Inc. and display panel manufacturer Berliner Glas, Berlin, Germany, announced 17 December 2002 that the new Compaq 1000 Tablet PC“s LCD display benefi…
Glass coatings specialist Southwall Technologies Inc. and display panel manufacturer Berliner Glas, Berlin, Germany, announced 17 December 2002 that the new Compaq 1000 Tablet PC“s LCD display benefits from a high performance film to glass laminate produced by the two companies. The companies claim that the combination of Southwall“s anti-reflective film with Berliner Glas“ anti-glare technical glass greatly reduces unwanted reflected light and provides a smooth, strong writing surface. Both are important considerations for tablet PC users. The Compaq 1000 is a fully functional PC in a flat shape. The user is able to write on the display to take notes or access files. The unit can be used flat on a desk like a pad of paper, or held at an angle like a clipboard. Southwall“s sputter coated thin film ARC2 product provides high visible transmission to maintain optical clarity, while greatly reducing reflected ambient light and significantly improving the viewing experience for LCD users. The glass finished by Berliner Glas is etched in order to avoid reflection and to guarantee clear, true colors. The glass can be etched single or double sided in a thickness of 1mm – 6 mm with various levels of surface roughness and gloss values. Additionally, the panel is chemically strengthened and laminated with Southwall“s anti-reflective film. Finally, the silk screen printing provides functional support and accentuates the design of the Tablet PC. “The Southwall anti-reflective film allows us to achieve the critical optical and mechanical performance demands for the Compaq Tablet PC display glass,” stated Jorg Bannicke, Vice President of Berliner Glas. “Laminating the Southwall Technologies film to our glass easily integrates into our manufacturing process.” “The ARC2 high performance anti-reflective film enhances the Berliner Glas anti-glare glass providing the highly desirable surface characteristics for the new Compaq 1000 Tablet PC,” said Thomas G. Hood, President and CEO, Southwall Technologies. “This application is complementary with other high performance films we have employed in electronic displays to reduce reflection. This new and exciting application showcases our ability to quickly develop high performance antireflective solutions to satisfy the display industry“s increasing needs for improved optical performance. We are pleased to be partnering with Berliner Glas.” According to several industry sources, tablet PC units sold by all manufacturers are expected to reach at least 7 million over the next year.