Energy Efficient Displays

More Energy Efficient LCD TVs, Monitors, Notebooks and Handheld Displays

3M’s breakthrough innovations in light management films include the world’s first brightness enhancement film and the first reflective polarizer. By refracting or recycling light, these Vikuiti™ films enhance the energy efficiency of LCD TVs, monitors, notebooks and handheld displays.

LCD TVs Vikuiti™ Dual Brightness Enhancement Film (DBEF) – the industry’s first reflective polarizer – recycles light that normally would be absorbed by the LCD. It improves backlight efficiency by 32 percent to 52 percent, and provides total LCD TV energy savings of 23 percent to 37 percent. For example, a 46 inch LCD TV with Vikuiti DBEF and two diffusers ran on 83 fewer watts than the same TV with three diffusers and no Vikuiti DBEF. Vikuiti DBEF increases brightness so much that engineers can design equally bright LCD TVs with fewer bulbs and inverters. A lower-watt power supply can also be used, further reducing costs.	Monitors When used together Vikuiti™ Dual Brightness Enhancement Film (DBEF) and Vikuiti Brightness Enhancement Film (BEF) provide energy savings of ~30 percent in LCD monitors. By recycling and reflecting light that would otherwise be wasted, the films enable monitors to use two bulbs instead four and maintain a brightness level of 250-300 nits. Display performance remains equal, meeting TCO3 standards on units that previously met the standard with four bulbs. It is a cost neutral solution because the films increase brightness enough to lower power supply requirements and to allow the elimination of two bulbs and an inverter.
Notebooks Since 1993, Vikuiti™ Brightness Enhancement Film (BEF) – the world’s first enhancement film for LCDs – has been used to brighten notebook computer displays. A single sheet of Vikuiti BEF boosts brightness ~ 60 percent, and two sheets with prisms crossed can increase brightness ~ 120 percent. This improves energy efficiency and enables notebooks to operate longer on battery power. Adding Vikuiti DBEF to notebook computers allows them to operate even longer on battery power.	Handhelds Vikuiti films increase brightness, contrast and uniformity, while reducing power needs in cell phones, personal electronics, games and digital cameras, enabling them to operate longer on battery power. Increasingly thinner and brighter Vikuiti™ handheld film solutions for light angle management, light polarization and backlight enhancement help engineers design ever smaller, lighter and more powerful handheld devices. For example, 3M scientists invented Vikuiti BEF-RP to reduce thickness and maximize brightness. It combines Vikuiti BEF with a reflective polarizer.