Panasonic Announces Availability Of 6th Generation 42” Sd Plasma With Industry’s High

[Gregg Lengling]

SECAUCUS, NJ (July 2003) – Panasonic announced the immediate availability of the new 42" TH-42PWD6UY, its sixth-generation 42" standard definition plasma display that offers the industry's highest contrast ratio (4000:1) and exceptional color reproduction.  

            The widescreen TH-42PHD6UY features innovative, newly-developed picture-enhancing technologies, including a Super Real Gamma System, a Real Black Drive System, a Deep Black Filter, a MACH Enhancer and a Contrast Automatic Tracking System (C.A.T.S.).

"The TH-42PWD6UY brilliantly combines a highly-advanced panel and abundant

image-enriching technologies to produce 4:000:1 high contrast images with extraordinary color purity," said Stuart English, Vice President, Marketing, Panasonic Broadcast. "The functionality of this new TH-'6' series panel has also been greatly improved, with features including dual-picture modes, a 9-point digital zoom and slots for interchangeable video and computer inputs."

            The picture-improving technologies producing the display's astonishing, industry-leading 4,000:1 contrast ratio images include: a Super Real Gamma System to reproduce gradations in steps equivalent to 1,536 shades to deliver greater image depth and provide subtle nuances in dark scenes; a Real Black Drive System to reduce pre-charge emission when reproducing the color black to deliver deeper, richer blacks; and a Deep Black Filter in the panel's front protective glass that suppresses light transmittance and dramatically reduces the amount of external light reflected, resulting in a 20% improvement in contrast ratio performance. Its MACH enhancer – an exclusive Panasonic contour-emphasis signal processing technology – improves an object's contours to best reflect the manner the human eye perceives objects. The unit's C.A.T.S. automatically senses the ambient light conditions and adjusts brightness and gradation, ensuring the best possible image contrast while reducing power consumption and minimizing phosphor aging.

            Unique to the 16:9 panel is dual picture capability--including picture-in-picture and picture-out-picture modes--where two different type signal sources can be combined and displayed independently.  The displays offer two picture-in-picture modes; one that splits the screen in half and shows different pictures on each half, and the other traditional mode where a small picture is inserted in the image on the entire screen. Picture-out-picture positions one picture on three-quarters of the screen and a smaller image on the remainder. The panel's remote control includes dedicated buttons to easily display these modes.  

The TH-42PWD6UY also offers a 9-point digital zoom that allows a user to enlarge an image two to three times normal size from nine points on the screen, and then to display the zoomed image full screen. The progressive-scan display is engineered for multi-screen applications with a built-in image enlarge function that simplifies the operation of four (two by two) or nine (three by three) multi-screen displays.

            Ideal as updateable digital signage or for an endless array of multimedia applications, the ultra-thin display has 10-bit digital processing to produce 1,070 million colors, and offers a wide viewing angle of 160 degrees. The panel is equipped with energy-saving functions including Display Power Management Signaling, Auto Power Off, Power Save Mode, Standby Power Save Mode, and C.A.T.S.  The addition of "menu" and "enter" buttons to the front panel permits control of onscreen display functions without the remote control.

The TH-42PWD6UY has a 852 x 480 pixel resolution and it offers wide computer and video signal compatibility with support for VGA, SVGA, XGA, SXGA and UXGA resolution computer graphics and DTV/HDTV signals in 1080p 24p/24sf, 1080i 50/60, 720p 50/60, 480p/i and 576 p/i. It also offer an expanded range of horizontal and vertical scanning rates (fH: 15.6 -110kHz; fV: 48-120Hz). The display is equipped with newly-developed 3:2 pulldown technology that automatically detects a 3:2 film-based source (24p video).

The TH-42PWD6UY SD plasma is available at a suggested list price (SLP) of $3,995. Optional plug-in terminal boards available in August include: TY-42TM6A BNC component video, SLP $110; TY-42TM6B BNC composite video, SLP $145; TY-42TM6Z RCA component video, SLP $110; TY-42TM6V RCA composite video, $145; TY-42TM6D DVD/HDCP, SLP $200; TY-42TM6P PC input, $110; and TY-42TM6G RGB active, SLP $165.

In addition to the TH-42PWD5UY, Panasonic markets the 37" standard definition

TH-37PWD5UZ, and 42" TH-42PHD5UY and 50" TH-50PHD5UY high definition plasma displays.

For more information on Panasonic plasma displays, phone 1-800-528-8601 or visit our web site at //www.panasonic.com/adapt

Panasonic Broadcast & Television Systems Co. is a leading supplier of broadcast, professional video and presentation products and systems.  Panasonic Broadcast is a unit company of Matsushita Electric Corporation of America, the principal North America subsidiary of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (NYSE: MC), one of the world's leading developers and producers of electronic and electric products for consumer, business and industrial use