State-of-the-Art Kameyama Plant Becomes Operational, Merging Sharp's LCD, Video, and Environmental Technologies at the Highest Level
Sharp's state-of-the-art Kameyama Plant became fully operational for the integrated production of large-screen LCD TVs—from fabricating the LCD panel to final assembly of the finished "Kameyama brand" TV sets, the first such facility in the world. This advanced factory, which brings together Sharp's LCD, video, and environmental technologies at the highest levels, drew attention as a factory representative of Japanese product engineering.
45V-Inch AQUOS Delivering a Beautiful Picture on a Large Screen Introduced
This AQUOS model beautifully reproduces high-resolution video images in the same HD format exactly as broadcast using a full-HD LCD panel with 2.07 million pixels (1,920H x 1,080V). This was one of the highest pixel counts in the industry for a 45V-inch TV.
(108.4 cm W, 8.65 cm D, weight: 30.5 kg)
Illuminating Solar Panels Aiming at New Expanded Applications Announced
Sharp developed and introduced Illuminating Solar Panels that integrate high-luminance LEDs (light-emitting diodes) with transparent, high-conversion-efficiency thin-film solar cells. In addition to using the solar cells to generate electricity during the daytime, the solar panels are transparent and allow natural light to pass through. At night these panels can provide illumination using the embedded LEDs. They can be used for a wide range of applications, particularly on the walls of buildings, but also including garages and terraces, sunroofs in vehicles, hothouse rearing of plants for agriculture, and the like.
The Dream Cooking Appliance for the 21st Century: the Superheated Steam Oven "Roasts" Foods with Water
Sharp developed and introduced the AX-HC1 Superheated Steam Oven that achieves low-calorie, low-salt cooking using superheated steam at about 300°C.
The AX-HC1 has three major features—reduced fat, lower salt, and preservation of vitamin C in foods. It differs from conventional microwave and convection ovens in that it applies heat to food extremely rapidly. Fat contained in the foods melts away, as the salt content is also reduced through the action of the salt diffusing into the water which condenses out of the steam that comes in contact with the surface of the foods and falling away. The AX-HC1 is also able to prevent the oxidation of vitamin C during cooking by completely filling the interior of the oven compartment with superheated steam, thereby reducing the oxygen concentration. This innovative cooking appliance drew a huge positive response mainly from people concerned about health and beauty.