3D DOCOMO smartphone by Sharp uses Assertive Display

Latest 3D DOCOMO smartphone by Sharp uses Assertive Display technology for improved outdoor viewability and reduced battery consumption

Apical is pleased to announce that one of the latest  smartphones in Japan, the docomo with series AQUOS PHONE SH-01D by Sharp, uses Apical’s Assertive Display technology to optimize the performance of its display.

The handset, which goes on sale in Japan this month for the carrier DOCOMO and incorporates a 4.5” HD (1280 x 720) autostereoscopic 3D touchscreen, is the latest in Sharp’s successful AQUOS PHONE series.

The SH-01D uses Apical’s Assertive Display technology as part of its advanced power saving and outdoor viewing functions, which are key to optimizing the performance of the handset for multimedia viewing.

Traditionally, providing a good viewing experience outdoors and saving battery power have been considered contradictory requirements, even though both are central to delivering a high quality multimedia experience on a mobile device.

Assertive Display by Apical solves both central requirements simultaneously, enabling multimedia content to be viewed even in bright sunshine on standard displays, and extending battery life by reducing display power significantly.

Said Michael Tusch, CEO of Apical: “We have been working with Sharp for several years and were very impressed by the way in which Sharp was able rapidly to grasp how to use our unique technology. Sharp has again produced a great product which raises the bar worldwide for smartphone multimedia performance.”

Apical’s Assertive Display is a semiconductor IP core which adapts multimedia content to the display capabilities under actual viewing conditions. It takes into account both the screen brightness and the amount of light in the environment to adjust in real time the appearance of movies, photos and games for optimal viewability. It leverages a decade’s research and development by Apical into the way the human eye adapts to changes in the lighting environment to give a seamless and high-quality experience to the user. The Assertive Display core is integrated into Sharp’s proprietary media processor.

Apical’s Assertive Display technology has been incorporated in the AQUOS PHONE SoftBank 102SH by Sharp, which is part of the winter release of new SoftBank smartphones in Japan.

The smartphone features latest-generation display technology, incorporating an 3D display with HD resolution.

The 102SH uses Apical’s Assertive Display technology as part of its advanced power saving and outdoor viewing functions, which are key to optimizing the performance of the handset for multimedia viewing.

Traditionally, providing a good viewing experience outdoors and saving battery power have been considered contradictory requirements, even though both are central to delivering a high quality multimedia experience on a mobile device.

Assertive Display by Apical solves both central requirements simultaneously, enabling multimedia content to be viewed even in bright sunshine on standard displays, and extending battery life by reducing display power significantly.

Said Michael Tusch, CEO of Apical: “Achieving good viewability of multimedia outdoors together with economical power consumption is a significant challenge for high-resolution 3D displays. We are proud of the performance enhancements Sharp has been able to achieve using our technology in the AQUOS PHONE SoftBank 102SH.”

Apical’s Assertive Display is a semiconductor IP core which adapts multimedia content to the display capabilities under actual viewing conditions. It takes into account both the screen brightness and the amount of light in the environment to adjust in real time the appearance of movies, photos and games for optimal viewability. It leverages a decade’s research and development by Apical into the way the human eye adapts to changes in the lighting environment to give a seamless and high-quality experience to the user. The Assertive Display core is integrated into Sharp’s proprietary media processor.

SmartKem Limited, the developer of high performance, printable organic semiconductor materials for flexible electronics, today announced the appointment of a Japanese representative, Dr. Yutaka Hirai of Business Link Japan.

This partnership, combining SmartKem’s niche scientific expertise and the consultation services of Dr. Hirai, will support SmartKem’s growth in the TFT and electronics display market. The expansion will enable the company to target the complete supply chain in Japan, from chemical suppliers to printing specialists and electronics manufacturers. With a strong heritage in the development of organic semiconductor technology for TFT display applications, SmartKem will deliver customised ink formulations that are designed to enable the manufacture of lightweight, ultra-thin and rugged flat panel displays as used in smartphones, laptops, tablet PCs and TV screens.
Based in Tokyo, Japan, Dr. Hirai brings to the role extensive high level technology experience, having worked for large organizations such as Canon Inc. at senior management and Director level. Dr. Hirai has specialist expertise in semiconductor materials and devices for applications such as displays, sensors, solar cells and fuel cells. Dr. Hirai will be responsible for ensuring that SmartKem’s world class organic semiconductor materials are directed at leading Japanese organisations who are involved in the development and manufacture of flexible, lightweight and large-area printed electronics. Priority will be given to market-driven applications such as EPD, OLED and HD LCD display industries. Asia is the home of electronic device manufacturing and provides an exciting market potential for SmartKem’s technology. The appointment of a highly respected representative in Japan marks the starting point of SmartKem’s Asian strategy.

“I am very excited to have the opportunity to represent SmartKem in Japan. The future of lightweight and flexible electronics will be driven by pioneering advances in material technology that will enable limitless applications comments Dr. Hirai. SmartKem is leading the development of these materials and it is with great pride that I will represent the company in the Japanese market with ground-breaking organic semiconductor solutions.”

“The global market for ultra-thin, lightweight printable electronics is growing rapidly and is estimated to reach $45 billion by 2016. Being a fast evolving industrial market, Japan is expected to play a key role in new developments, offering exceptional growth opportunities for forward-looking companies such as SmartKem adds Steve Kelly, CEO of SmartKem. Dr. Hirai is highly respected in the electronics industry and has impressive credentials within our target market sectors. We are confident that he will exceed our expectations and help us achieve our goal of becoming the leading independent provider of organic semiconductor solutions for TFT displays.”

SmartKem was advised by Peter Bacon of Electronics Link Asia on this project.

For more information on SmartKem and its innovative materials, please call 01745 535190, email enquiries@smartkem.com or visit www.smartkem.com

ENDS-

About SmartKem
SmartKem is a high tech enterprise developing an exciting new technology platform focusing on high performance/high value organic semiconductor materials that can be ‘printed’ to form electronic circuits onto lightweight, rugged and low cost polymer films. Based in the world class Optic Technium centre, North Wales, SmartKem’s main objective is to respond to the demand for low cost, low weight, low energy, rugged electronics. The SmartKem team has proven expertise and experience in the fields of organic semiconductors, specialist ink-technology and printable transistors and was a recent winner of the inaugural Oxford Venturefest gold award for ‘British Technology Innovation of the Year’.

For further press information please contact: Celine Goodier, The Scott Partnership, 1 Whiteside, Station Road, Holmes Chapel, Cheshire, United Kingdom Tel: + 44 (0)1477 539539 Fax: +44 (0)1477 539540  E-mail: smartkem@scottpr.com

You can see as short video of our big moment at the awards ceremony by clicking here:  British Business Awards 2011 Japan

Wakako Yamaguchi, Steve Crane and Yoshiyuki Sato at the British Business Awards ceremony

HM British Ambassador to Japan David Warren presents the 'Person of the Year' award to Steve Crane of Business Link Japan

Read the full article at the BCCJ Acumen web site here.

Business Link Japan is pleased to support this initiative through our new advertising campaign, view here for details

10 companies, 14 people, 72 business meetings, 2 networking events and 71 hotel nights.

The Mission was a great success and thanks to all those involved in the organisation this year.  Particular thanks should go to the 10 organisations that signed up to come, and put in so much work and preparation to make the event such a success.

Read the UKTI Blog report on the mission by Ian Morrison here

Roll on 2012 and the next mission to Japan!

As Japan once again opens its doors for business, there is no one better placed than us to help you take advantage.

We have over ten years of local knowledge and we have the contacts to help you hit the ground running.

A knowledgeable team of Japanese members at our Tokyo office; on-site sales, marketing and technical support and close links with UKTI have seen us bring home many success stories, in both the private and public sector. We have also recently been commissioned by UKTI to run a trade mission to Japan in September 2011.

Any questions?  We will be delighted to hear from you.

Toshiba Corp. has decided to create a 700 billion yen war chest to invest in the environment and energy fields over three years in a strategy that will include mergers and acquisitions.

This will expand the firm’s capital and R&D investment budget for fiscal 2011 to fiscal 2013 to a record of slightly more than 3 trillion yen, up 50% from the fiscal 2008-10 period.  Toshiba has set up a research facility for smart grids in Fuchu, Tokyo.
By creating a large pool of funds for investing in the environment and energy businesses, Toshiba aims to swiftly tap demand stemming from infrastructure projects in both the disaster-struck northeast and emerging countries.

In its three-year business plan announced last May, Toshiba budgeted 1.3 trillion yen for capital outlays and 1.07 trillion yen for R&D investment for fiscal 2010 to fiscal 2012. Adding the 700 billion yen war chest would mean that for the three-year period through fiscal 2013, the company’s total investment budget would be nearly 30% higher by comparison.

Toshiba’s nuclear-focused strategy has suffered a serious setback since the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant. The firm has stepped up efforts to tap the markets for solar and other renewable sources of energy, as well as smart grids, as demand in these areas continues to grow.

On the heels of its recent agreement with Landis+Gyr to purchase the Swiss smart-meter manufacturer for around 190 billion yen, Toshiba on Monday announced plans to become the top shareholder in South Korean firm Unison Co. The Japanese firm will buy some 3 billion yen in Unison convertible bonds as a first step, raising its stake in the producer of wind power generation equipment to about 30% in a year or so.

Toshiba also plans to boost output at a lithium ion battery plant in Kashiwazaki, Niigata Prefecture, in anticipation of higher demand for use in smart-grid systems.

If you’re in need of a shopping trolley, support stockings, a flat cap, sensible shoes, a  flowered apron or what I think used to be called a housecoat, this is the shopping street for you. The music shops stock cassettes of crooners from yesteryear, the food shops are piled high with the dried fish, fresh seaweed and rice crackers beloved of older Japanese people, and the clothes shops boast rack after rack of styles to suit the older figure, in more shades of beige than I knew existed. It’s not often that I come back empty-handed from a shopping trip, but this time I managed it – there’s hope for me yet.

No sign here of people exercising restraint in their personal consumption following the earthquake. The only visible reminders of that sad event are the unmoving escalators in the subway station – turned off to save electricity. I did think this might be one station that might keep them running, out of consideration for their elderly clientele, but no. And in fact these astonishingly nimble, spry pensioners didn’t seem the slightest bit fazed as they trudged up the 80+ stairs to ground level. These are the active elderly and their fitness levels are humbling.

Read the full article on the UKTI Blog site

We are also pleased to support our friend and colleague Matt Hall who is taking part in the Rutland Dambuster Triathlon in June in aid of the victims caught up in the aftermath of the Tsunami in Japan.

Find out how you can help too, by visiting www.justgiving.com/Matthew-Hall6