Sony unveils advanced LED system for film & home use

Sony has announced the development of a next-generation display system incorporating a high-density LED backlight with independent RGB drive, promising an expansion in colour volume and improved image quality.

Utilising a unique proprietary backlight control technology, the system enables high colour purity and vibrant colour reproduction, resulting in images that are both bright and delicately nuanced. This innovation aims to surpass the limitations of existing OLED panels while being suitable for larger screens commonly used in both home settings and film production environments.

The new display system offers enhanced film production and home viewing experiences through a wider colour gamut and higher brightness, effectively reflecting the creator's intent. It aims to begin mass production in 2025, with products expected to be available to consumers by 2026. Sony plans to integrate this technology into consumer televisions and displays for content creation.

The panel's specifications include independent drive RGB LED technology, which allows each of the primary colours—red, green, and blue—to emit light independently. This results in the ability to cover over 99% of the DCI-P3 colour space and approximately 90% of the ITU-R BT.2020 standard, marking a significant step forward in terms of colour accuracy and vibrancy.

Additionally, the system is designed to dynamically allocate power to RGB channels based on scene-specific requirements, providing enhanced detail in both single-tone and dark scenes. With a peak brightness level exceeding 4000 cd/m², the display system surpasses brightness capabilities of many currently available models, including Sony's own professional monitors.

The signal processing within this system operates with high precision at a bitrate of 96 bits, allowing for a wide dynamic range and precise gradation representation. This contributes to the system's ability to render deep blacks alongside bright whites, while also enabling detailed expression of intermediate colours, a feat challenging for traditional OLED panels.

Sony's new display system is also equipped with advanced local dimming processing, offering approximately twice the processing power and improved pixel correction technology when compared to conventional methods. This equips the system to produce accurate colour reproduction without shifts and to handle bright areas and shadows with nuance, a critical factor for both high-quality cinematic experiences and professional production.

In its development, Sony collaborates with strategic partners, MediaTek, ROHM, and Sanan Optoelectronics, to enhance the system's capabilities, ensuring the display system supports cutting-edge visual technology.

According to the company, Sony continues to advance visual technology, seeking to build the future of entertainment in collaboration with creators and partners alike, leveraging its technical expertise cultivated through years in the cinematic industry.