2010 : Launch of GALAPAGOS Cloud-Based Media Business, Introduction of GALAPAGOS Media Tablets | Sharp Corporation

New Slogan for Japan: "Sharp—Aiming for a Different Future"

Since 1990, Sharp has been using the corporate slogan: "From Sharp Minds Come Sharp Ideas" in Japan. But to more clearly express Sharp's stance as a corporation "seeking to change the world through one-of-a-kind products and technologies," Sharp adopted a completely new slogan for Japan in January 2010: "Sharp—Aiming for a Different Future."

The new slogan expresses Sharp's corporate attitude, that is, a desire to change the lives of individuals and the world at large for the better based on the concept of unique, "one-of-a-kind" products and technologies, centered on new essential technologies that include not only LCDs, but also solar, LEDs, and Plasmacluster Ion.

Driven by its uniquely different vision of the future, Sharp strives to develop previously unimaginable products and technologies and make them commonplace throughout the world. Those efforts move Sharp closer and closer to achieving a presence defined by the consumer realization that Sharp makes the world a better place. These are the concepts behind the new slogan for Japan and the establishment of a new image for Sharp, the manufacturer.

GREEN FRONT SAKAI Solar Cell Plant Starts Operations

On March 29, 2010, Sharp started operations at its new thin-film solar cell plant in GREEN FRONT SAKAI, Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture, Japan. This follows the start of operations at the LCD plant on the same site the previous year. The plant produces thin-film solar cells using large-size glass substrates measuring 1,000 x 1,400 mm.

Also, a ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the completion of GREEN FRONT SAKAI was held on April 16, attended by Sharp Chairman Katsuhiko Machida and President Mikio Katayama, who were joined by representatives of various participating companies and Osami Takeyama, Mayor of Sakai City.

In December, Sharp developed a new type of high-efficiency single-crystalline solar cell, which will be mass-produced at this plant before the end of fiscal 2010.

Sharp's Commercialization and Industrialization of Solar Cells Recognized as IEEE Milestone

Sharp's commercialization and industrialization of solar cells from 1959 to 1983 was recognized as an IEEE Milestone from the IEEE, the world's largest academic society for electrical, electronics, information, and telecommunications engineering. This recognition represents high praise for Sharp's efforts to commercialize and industrialize solar cells for applications ranging from lighthouses and space satellites to residential uses, and to contribute to local communities and the solar cell industry. This is Sharp's second IEEE Milestone, following on a previous award in 2005 for leading the industry in the development of electronic calculators from 1964 to 1973. It is also the 14th IEEE Milestone for a Japanese company.

Sharp Releases AQUOS Quattron 3D LCD TVs with Four-Primary-Color 3D LCD Panels

On July 30, 2010, Sharp introduced a new series of AQUOS Quattron 3D LCD TVs that uses four-primary-color 3D LCDs, a world first^*1.

Sharp developed four-primary-color technology based on its proprietary UV2A technology^*2. This technology newly adds Y (yellow) to the three RGB (red, green, blue) primary colors, providing the ability to faithfully reproduce colors with outstanding quality by vividly rendering colors such as brilliant yellow, brassy gold, and emerald green, which are difficult to reproduce using the three conventional primary colors. In addition, increased light utilization efficiency provides a level of brightness approximately 1.8 times greater^*3 than three-primary-color LCD panels, enabling users to enjoy impressive 3D images. Further, the combination of FRED technology^*4—Sharp's proprietary high-speed LCD drive technology—and Scanning LED Backlight technology^*5 that reduces image lag, enables 3D images to be reproduced with an exceptionally realistic sense of depth and with extremely low crosstalk.

*1:As of April 12, 2010; for commercially available LCDs for 3D TV.
*2:Acronym for Ultraviolet induced multi-domain Vertical Alignment. Photo-alignment technology that can precisely control the alignment of liquid crystal molecules using a manufacturing method based on UV light exposure.
*3:Screen brightness when displaying 3D images compared to Sharp's previous technology (three-primary-color Advanced Super View LCD without FRED technology).
*4:Acronym for Frame Rate Enhanced Driving. LCD signal processing technology for 3D television.
*5:Technology to control crosstalk generation based on switching the backlight on and off at high speed, and dividing the LCD panel into a number of regions where the brightness of the backlight is independently controllable.

Sharp Releases AQUOS Blu-ray Disc Recorders That Can Record and Play Back BDXL™ Triple- and Quadruple-Layer Blu-ray Discs

Pioneer Digital Design and Manufacturing Corporation, a joint venture of Sharp and Pioneer Corporation, developed a disc drive that supports recording and playback of BDXL™ conformant media, a world first^*1. BDXL™ is a new format for multi-layer recordable Blu-ray Discs that expands the recordable storage capacity available on a single disc. The BDXL™ format allows for additional recording layers beyond the current dual-layer format (with up to 50GB in storage capacity) to provide triple-layer discs (100GB) and quadruple-layer discs (128GB). On July 30, 2010, Sharp introduced two new models of AQUOS Blu-ray Disc Recorders, the BD-HDW700 and BD-HDW70, that use this disc drive. These models enable 2x/2.5x more recording time^*2 than previous models.

*1:As of July 16, 2010; for Blu-ray Disc recorders that support the BDXL™ format.
*2:A guide for comparison of the recording time when recording on a dual-layer Blu-ray Disc (50GB) versus a triple-layer Blu-ray Disc (100GB)/quadruple-layer Blu-ray Disc (128GB) with the recording done under identical conditions.

Sharp Releases New Multi-Screen Display System with the World's Thinnest System Frame Width of 6.5 mm

On August 31, 2010, Sharp introduced a new multi-screen display system that achieves the world's thinnest^*1 System Frame Width of 6.5 mm. This multi-screen display system is built around the PN-V601 60-inch professional LCD monitor, which features a significantly reduced width in the monitor's bezel. The width of the bezels between neighboring displays is a mere 6.5 mm, making the seams where individual LCD monitors join unobtrusive. This enables practical applications such as single large-screen video wall displays. In October, Sharp installed a multi-screen digital signage display at the Yaesu Central Exit of JR Tokyo Station that is among the largest in the Tokyo metropolitan region^*2 (equivalent to a 330-inch screen size).

*1:As of June 7, 2010; for LCD monitors 46-inch and larger in size.
*2:For signage systems using multiple LCDs; as of October 22, 2010 (based on Sharp research).
Note : Digital signage refers to electronic sign boards (digital out-of-home advertising and media that uses displays).

Expanding Efforts Overseas to Become a Total Solar Power Solution Company

In 2010, Sharp expanded its efforts to become a total solution company in the photovoltaic field on the global level. On July 30, 2010, Sharp, Enel Green Power (hereinafter "EGP"), and STMicroelectronics established 3Sun S.r.l., a joint venture company for the production of thin-film solar cells in Italy, which will start production in the second half of 2011. In addition, on July 22, Sharp and EGP established Enel Green Power & Sharp Solar Energy S.r.l, a joint venture of the two companies that will construct a number of solar power plants with a total power generation capacity of more than 500 MW by the end of 2016. The company will be extending its power producing business to Europe, the Middle East, and Africa with a focus on the Mediterranean region.

On November 4, in the US, Sharp completed the process of acquiring Recurrent Energy, LLC, a leading solar project company in the US that develops and markets solar power plants by collaborating with power companies.

Further, in Thailand, Sharp received an order for the construction of one of the world's largest solar power plants (power generation capacity: 73 MW), and to supply the thin-film solar cell modules for the plant.

Various Effects of High-Density Plasmacluster Ions Proven

In testing commissioned to Soiken Inc., the moisturizing effect of high-density Plasmacluster Ions on the skin was proven. In addition, working in collaboration with Professor Michio Niwano of the Research Institute of Electrical Communication at Tohoku University, Sharp proved that the mechanism behind the skin moisture preservation effect is based on water molecules surrounding the Plasmacluster Ions adhering to the skin and forming a "water molecule coating." Further, three skin beautifying effects^*1, namely, retaining skin moisture, improving skin elasticity, and restoring smooth skin texture, as well as the effect of controlling the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, a bacteria that causes rough dry skin (proven on human skin^*1), and the effect of curbing excess sebum secretion on the skin^*1, a cause of undesirable oily surface shine on the skin, were clarified.

Further, through research commissioned to Professor Yasuo Ohashi of the Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, it was proven for the first time in the world^*2 in clinical trials that high-density Plasmacluster Ions (ion density: 10,000 ions/cm³) reduce the risk of influenza infection. In addition, a wide range of other effects of high-density Plasmacluster Ions have been proven, such as reducing airborne bacteria and decreasing the ammonia smell in veterinary hospitals^*3 using high-density Plasmacluster Ions at an ion density of 25,000 ions/cm³.

*1:Proven in testing commissioned to Soiken Inc.
*2:As of November 9, 2010.
*3:Proven in collaboration with the Animal Clinical Research Foundation (an organization based in Tottori Prefecture, Japan that conducts clinical studies related to veterinary medicine).

Sharp Develops Smartphones Equipped with Standard Mobile Phone Functions, Including the Osaifu-Keitai® Mobile Payment System, for Introduction by Three Major Telecom Carriers

Sharp released a series of Android™-based smartphones that enable use of the standard functions of a Japanese mobile phone such as the Osaifu-Keitai® mobile payment system, the One-Seg mobile terrestrial digital TV service, and wireless infrared (IR) connectivity for data exchange between handsets, which were introduced by three major telecom carriers: NTT DoCoMo, KDDI, and SoftBank Mobile. These handsets provide the ease of use of a regular mobile phone along with the fun of using a smartphone, and have recorded healthy sales.

Sharp Launches GALAPAGOS Cloud-Based Media Service and Introduces GALAPAGOS Media Tablets

Sharp launched its GALAPAGOS cloud-based media service business based on network services and e-media tablet terminals optimized for them. This service business will evolve to meet the needs of individual customers and is designed to provide a new user experience. As a first offering, Sharp inaugurated its TSUTAYA GALAPAGOS e-bookstore service in collaboration with Culture Convenience Club Co., Ltd., on December 10, 2010. On the same day, Sharp also introduced two models of its dedicated GALAPAGOS tablets, the EB-W51GJ mobile type (5.5-inch LCD) and EB-WX1GJ home type (10.8-inch LCD). GALAPAGOS, which will provide a variety of services, such as scheduled delivery of the latest content whenever desired, including from newspapers and magazines, has created a sensation among users.