Philips Research Technology Backgrounder
High-Brightness, High-Contrast LCDs |
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Scientists at Philips Research have developed an advanced
double-layer LCD technology that drastically enhances the clarity
and detail visible in radiology images. The improvement of the
visual quality of medical images offers patients the prospect of
earlier, faster and more reliable diagnosis, improved treatment and
a better prognosis. The benefits are expected to be particularly
significant in the diagnosis of diseases such as cancer
(particularly breast cancer) and arteriosclerosis.
Based on two LCD screens sandwiched together with intermediate polarizers and an enhanced backlighting system, Philips high-contrast dual-layer LCD technology dramatically increases the displayable gray scale range, and allows almost 100% blocking of the backlight to achieve a much better black level. Coupled with the high-intensity backlighting already fitted to FIMI Philips medical-grade LCD displays, the result is a high-brightness, high-contrast display that maintains a high contrast ratio even when viewed at a very wide viewing angle. Philips Research’s demonstrator for the technology is a 1.3-megapixel (1280 x 1024) 18.1-inch DICOM compatible gray scale display with 750-cd/m² peak brightness, 0.005-cd/m² black level and a contrast ratio in excess of 100,000:1. A normal LCD panel’s poor black-level and inability to maintain contrast ratio at wide viewing angles often makes it difficult for doctors to spot the nuances of texture and detail that allow them to differentiate healthy tissue from diseased tissue. Even though images may have been captured digitally, some doctors and radiologists therefore transfer them to photographic film so that they can still view them on a conventional light box. By achieving a black-level some 100x better than a conventional LCD, while at the same time displaying high-brightness images, Philips’ new dual-layer LCD technology eliminates the time and expense of transferring images to film. Its high brightness also allows direct viewing in patient examination and operating theater environments, while its ability to maintain image contrast even when the LCD is viewed obliquely makes it easier for groups of doctors and radiologists to work together in front of a single screen. It also means that specialist consultants in different parts of the world will be able to view the detail in high-quality images on-line to help clinical teams with their diagnoses. |
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Video:
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