New Film Renders Screen Reflection Almost Non-Existent

An anonymous reader writes "Sony has used the SID 2012 conference to demonstrate a brand new combination of conductive film and low-reflection film that promises to render screen reflection almost non-existent in devices like smartphones and tablets. Sony achieved such low reflections by combining its new conductive film with a moth-eye low reflection film. The key to the low reflectance is the formation of an uneven surface, which consists of both concave and convex structures (tiny bumps) that cover the entire film. The uneven surface means that light won't just bounce back off the screen creating a reflection, and therefore making the screen usable in a wider range of lighting conditions."

Comments

Moth-eye

[Phibz]

I was wondering what they meant by moth-eye and I found this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-reflective_coating#Moth_eye

Re:Moth-eye

[PatPending]

I'll see your Wikipedia reference and raise you two USPTO patents granted to SONY for this:

8,027,090 and 7,633,045.

Note: according to another of SONY's patents, moth-eye can also be used to record info on optical media:

"Today, there are seven primary methods by which information can be recorded on optical media. All methods heat the recording layer to a certain temperature. The methods are known as ablative, alloying, bubble-forming, moth-eye, phase-change, dye/polymer and magneto-optic which cause or could cause some mechanical deformation of the substrate."

P.S.

Unlike TFA these patents include detailed drawings and SEM photographs.

P.S.S.

I remember when the authors of tech articles did this kind of background research. Sigh.

Re:Moth-eye

[justforgetme]

Research?! On teh Internetz?! You crazy, crazy man!

SONY "do not patronize"

[Anonymous Coward]

SONY has been on my "do not patronize" list for years and will remain so for the foreseeable future.

Re:SONY "do not patronize"

[EdIII]

SONY has been on my "do not patronize" list for years and will remain so for the foreseeable future.

Cue the people telling us to just get over the root-kit or whatever else Sony has done.

NEVER.

Sony long ago declared war against the consumer, and much like an aged convict in prison, it does not matter how goody two-shoes they are today. They still murdered somebody. Parole Denied. Let them turn to dust.

Only the complete destruction of Sony will assuage they deep and intense desire for justice against Sony and their evil deeds.

I don't care if they release the fucking cure for cancer tomorrow. The execution is still going to proceed on schedule.

Re:SONY "do not patronize"

[Thanshin]

You will regret those comments when SONY becomes a branch of your government.

Re:SONY "do not patronize"

[samoanbiscuit]

Sony is a lot like Samsung in that they're really more like a network of affiliated companies that use the same brand. While I don't mean to disagree on why you don't patronise them, the possibility exists that other devices from other companies will use screens manufactured by them, as they seem to have a patent on this tech. Would you buy a device from Apple, Samsung or HTC using a Sony made screen?

Re:SONY "do not patronize"

[omglolbah]

I do not buy sony products. I do not 'forgive' them for the asshattery.

The researchers in the article are not doing "evil crap". They're doing research into reducing glare.
It is an interesting piece of tech and has very little to do with rootkits or screwing the customer.

When it comes to morality it is worth pointing out that almost no research is immune to being used for Evil(tm). No matter who you work for, or what research it is, someone will use it in a negative way.
In addition almost all corporations have some form of Evil in its past or present... To varying degrees for sure, but refusing to acknowledge positive contributions because of previous negative ones is just plain stupid.
Weighting the positive and negative and making an informed decision is the way to go, not going all out 'hurr durr rootkitz!!!' like so many seem to be stuck doing.

An uneven surface?

[lxs]

The key to the low reflectance is the formation of an uneven surface, which consists of both concave and convex structures (tiny bumps) that cover the entire film.

From that description it sounds like Sony has reinvented screens with matte finish. Surely there is more to this.

Re:An uneven surface?

[6031769]

Indeed there is more to it. This is a screen for "smartphones and tablets" ie. a touchscreen with a matt finish. That is the novelty here.

Moth eye coating

[teslar]

Philips has a television with a moth-eye coating (just that though; not a combination with other coatings as in Sony's approach) available. Just read the review this morning. Seems a bit fragile though - I wonder if this will also apply to Sony's new film (I guess it won't since that'd be rubbish on a smartphone, but TFA does not actually address it):

Amazingly, it works - but thereâ(TM)s a caveat. The filter requires extreme care, so much so that Philips supplies a proprietary cleaning solution to remove any thumbprint smudges. This fragility makes the screen a questionable purchase for those with young families.

Re:Not even diffuse reflection?

[Thanshin]

Eventually (in the next few years) we'll learn to refract all light coming from one side in an angle that sets it parallel to the screen.

At that point we might consider collecting that light on the edges of the screen to charge the device. Or just leave the screen edges uncovered and rounded to let it disperse, leaving a beautiful light "halo" around the device.

Forget computing devices

[killmenow]

How about they put this shit on car windshields? I'd love to stop getting blinded by the sun's reflection bouncing off the rear glass of the car in front of me.