Sony sells 11in organic screen

Organic displays, which have been available only in small sizes for phones and cameras, are about to move into the big time.

Sony, which has demonstrated a 27in Organic Light Emitting Display (Oled) screen, is to sell an 11in TV using the technology in Japan before Christmas.

Oleds use carbon-based polymer light-emitting diodes instead of the usual silicon. They generate their own light, rather than reflecting or blocking light like an LCD, which makes them more efficient.

And because they require no backlight they can be made much thinner than LCDs - the Sony screen is just 3mm think. It will sell in Japan for around £850. But the company plans to make only 2,000 a month so the product is hardly about to sweep the world.

Toshiba is reported to be planning to launch a 20in Oled screen within two years. But pocket devices are expected to remain the main market for Oleds for at least five years.

The screens also have great potential for ultra-portable PCs because of their efficiency. In principle there is no reason why parts of a screen cannot be shut down completely when not in use.

Cambridge Display Technology, which recently merged with Japanese giant, has set up a pilot Oled production plant at Cambourne, near Cambridge. No-one there was available to comment today.

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