Sed1.gif A Surface-conduction Electron-emitter Display (SED) is a flat panel display technology that uses surface conduction electron emitters for every individual display pixel. The surface conduction electron emitter emits electrons that excite a phosphor coating on the display panel, the same basic concept found in traditional cathode ray tube (CRT) televisions. This means that SEDs can combine the slim form factor of LCDs with the high contrast ratios, refresh rates and overall better picture quality of CRTs. Canon also claims that SEDs consume less power than LCD displays.

The surface conduction electron emitter apparatus consists of a thin slit across which electrons tunnel when excited by moderate voltages (tens of volts). When the electrons cross electric poles across the thin slit, some are scattered at the receiving pole and are accelerated toward the display surface by a large voltage gradient (tens of kV) between the display panel and the surface conduction electron emitter apparatus. The technology has been in development since 1987.

In 2004 Toshiba and Canon announced a joint development agreement originally targeting commercial production of SEDs by the end of 2005. The 2005 target was not met, and several new targets since then have also slipped by. This failure to meet mass-production deadlines goes as far back as 1999, when Canon first told investors of its intentions to immediately mass-produce the technology. The lack of tangible progress has worried many investors and has prompted many critics to call SED “the best display technology you’ve ever seen that may be stillborn”During the 2006 Consumer Electronics Show, Toshiba showed working prototypes of SEDs to attendees, and indicated expected availability in mid-to-late 2006.[http://gear.ign.com/articles/679/679235p1.html Toshiba and Canon again delayed their plan to sell the television sets to the fourth quarter of 2007.^* Analysts think the long ramp-up to mass-production will give LCD and plasma screens a chance to further drop in price, thus becoming harder to compete with. Toshiba cited pricing pressure as a reason for the latest delay.

Toshiba's president has since announced it plans to begin full scale mass production of SED TVs in early 2008.^*

External links

• SED TV Reviews
• Infoportal about SED TV
• SED TV
• Canon Technology
• SED News - April 2005
• SED Manufacturing - Sept 2005
• Toshiba Press Release
• SED TV Reviews
• IGN: CES 2006 preview - Jan 2006
• Sound and Vision - Jan 2006
• Close Encounters of the Third Kind: SED - Jan 2006
• Standing in the shadows - March 2006

SED (Display) | Surface-conduction Electron-emitter Display | Surface-conduction electron-emitter display | 表面伝導型電子放出素子ディスプレイ | SED | Surface-conduction Electron-emitter Display