Chapter 2 : Making a Fresh Start in Osaka : Leading the Age of Radio in Japan 1924 1949

Sharp Radios over the Years From Crystal to Vacuum Tubes to The golden age of radio in Japan spanned the 35-year period from 1925, when broadcasts began, to 1960, when became widespread. The wartime economy of the mid-1930s and later hampered development of technology for radios. But in homes across the nation, radio continued to serve as the family’s primary source of information and entertainment.

Radio’s Infancy Radio Age Dawns Growth Period

Crystal Radio Battery-Powered Vacuum-Tube Radio AC Vacuum-Tube Radio (No. 30) Comprising a tuned circuit for picking up Although the vacuum-tube radio had a speaker to Drawing its power from a lamp line, this radio broadcast signals and a crystal for amplify sound and boasted high sensitivity, its featured a separate speaker placed on top of the extracting the audio signal from the radio waves, expensive battery had to be replaced periodically, main unit. the required a receiver in order to making it no more than a temporary product on function properly. the scene.

Growth Period A Maturing Market A Period of Development

Radio with Built-in Speaker (No. 21) Phono Radio (No. 53) Midget Radio (No. 34) This radio used regenerative detection to improve Sharp released a combination radio and record Advancements in vacuum tube performance— sensitivity, with sound being picked up directly player, designed as a luxurious piece of furniture. including four- and five-terminal designs— from different frequencies. This was the most enabled radios to become smaller. Sharp’s midget common type of radio until the end of World War radio was a popular addition to the company’s II. Sharp was the first company to make a radio product lineup. with built-in speakers.

Growth Slows Business Recovers The Zenith

Wartime Austerity Radio (Aikoku No. 1) Superheterodyne Radio (5R-50) Radio (TR-115) Tightening wartime measures restricted the Shortly before the onset of private in The transistor revolutionized the radio. Compact, amount of metal that could be used for radio parts Japan, there was an industry-wide switch to portable radios were a hit around the world. such as transformers. Soon only superheterodyne models, which offered superior government-standardized models were being sensitivity and clearer channel selection. Compact, manufactured. inexpensive models became popular. Note: The Sino-Japanese War broke out in 1937, Note: Superheterodyne models were built during miring the country in war. the war years, but these were specialized models designed to function over long distances.

G1-01 Development at Sharp 70-inch AQUOS Quattron 3D “Double sign” feature for simple adjustment LED AQUOS NewsVision Allowed display of text broadcasts

Since you were born in February, blu Linytron CRT TV with an Advanced Super-V LCD Shadow Electron mask gun Key Station F500 Featured 500 lines of horizontal 20V 1969: 19C-D3UN resolution for high picture quality 2009: LC-60LX1 Used two on-screen lines Delivered high picture quality (the “double sign”) 2 to simplify color adjustment by combining UV A technology 1994: 32C-WD5 and LED backlighting Phosphor screen Allowed the user to view news in 1972: 14IC-401 the form of text broadcasts while watching a TV program Terrestrial digital high-definition LCD TV Automatic picture adjustment Used a horizontal electron gun to eliminate color shift 2001: LC-20B1 1959: TD-81 Used an Advanced Super-V Automatically optimized picture low-reflection TFT LCD 37V 2011: LC-70X5 quality for each channel TV with support for Allowed users to enjoy a compelling, 1985: 21C-K5B high-quality picture on a large 70-inch screen, Higher picture quality Higher picture Displayed detailed images with multiplex broadcasts which was more than four times the size of a 32-inch model at least 500 lines of horizontal (text and audio) HOME1125 high-definition TV Japan’s first domestically resolution when driven by input Sharp’s first color TV produced TV Four-primary-color technology 2003: LC-37AD1 Incorporated a built-in terrestrial RGB RGBY digital HDTV tuner All-channel TV 1983: 21C-L1 Allowed users to timer-record Conventional Newly developed 1968: 20G-W1U a text program or superimpose Start of terrestrial digital Sakai Plant goes online All-channel TV with support technology technology text onto a TV program broadcasts in Japan (3 primary ) (4 primary colors) for UHF broadcasts 1992: 36C-SE1 Start of test text Incorporated a simple MUSE decoder 2003 2010: LC-60LV3 broadcasts in Japan and pioneered HDTV for households Start of commercial Displayed colors such as glittery and UHF broadcasts in Japan at the low cost of one million yen 1983 Start of BS digital bright with vivid clarity thanks to 1968 Kameyama Plant goes online four-primary-color technology 1960: CV-2101 Start of test broadcasts in Japan Start of text high-definition MUSE that added yellow sub- Reproduced vivid images thanks to 2000 a proprietary color circuit broadcasts in Japan broadcasts in Japan 1978: AN-1 19851985 1991 Start of CS digital Audio adapter broadcasts in Japan Start of color 1979: CT-2006 1996 broadcasts in Japan TV with built-in audio Start of CS multiplexing functionality Start of BS broadcasts in Japan 1960 Start of test broadcasts with 1992 Freestyle AQUOS 1953: TV3-14T audio multiplexing in Japan broadcasts in Japan The first TV to be mass-produced in Japan Introduction of AQUOS featuring freedom of installation 1978 1989 Start of broadcasts with 20V Start of television broadcasts in Japan audio multiplexing in Japan Window Series Tochigi Plant goes online large-screen LCD TV 19821982 1953 60V

Progress in broadcasting infrastructure Progress in 10.4V Integrated TV and VCR X1 PC-TV New Head Office Plant goes online TV-in-TV capability 3-inch LCD color TV

2001: LC-20C1 1995: LC-104TV1 Proposed a mobile approach to watching TV in the home with a portable design; 1982: CZ-800C/D Used a 10.4-inch set at a retail price of about Portable TV In addition to TV and color TFT LCD panel 10,000 yen per inch 1957: TM-20 1978: CT-1804X PC functions, it could superimpose 1987: 3C-E1 Featured a 14-inch design Offered TV-in-TV capability 1980: CT-1818V TV and PC images Used a color that could be easily carried for displaying two programs Integrated a TV and VCR TFT LCD panel 2011: LC-60F5 anywhere in the home at the same time into a single, stylish unit Introduced 32/40/60-inch models of the Freestyle AQUOS; Display of nine channels expanded ways for watching TV on the same screen by allowing the user to place the TV almost anywhere Display of the channel number TV with integrated The ‘dream’ 8.6-inch wall-mount TV Ease of use on the screen detachable remote control

Ultrasonic Introduction of Push-button TV remote control set the Freestyle AQUOS

20V

1985: 28C-G10 Used a digital TV circuit to display images from nine channels on the same screen AQUOS Familink support 1991: 9E-HC1 1957: TB-50 1959: TW-3 1972: 20C-241 1979: CT-1880 2006: LC-37GX1W 2011: LC-20FE1 Allowed users to quickly tune Allowed users to turn Displayed the channel number Used a control unit that could be Used an 8.6-inch Used a single remote control to Proposed the idea of carrying the TV stations with a push-button the TV on and off, switch channels, on the screen in large text for detached to serve as color TFT LCD panel operate both the TV and with you to wherever in the home channel-switching device and control volume one or two seconds a remote control or attached a video recorder you want to watch it with a cordless remote control after changing channels to serve as a touch sensor

1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s

G2-01 G2-02 Device Industry and Information/Communications Products That Originated in Calculators

Sharp Calculators Industry LCD Industry Solar Cell Industry Recognized as an IEEE Milestone (2005)

Sharp calculators have been recognized as an IEEE Milestone by the IEEE, an international academic society in the area of electricity and electronics. The honor recognizes innovative initiatives undertaken by Sharp Satellite from 1964 to 1973 to miniaturize Photo: JAXA calculators and reduce their power consumption. Semiconductor, LCD, and solar cell technologies established as Camera module Microwave oven LCD TV Media tablet part of these research processes Community utilizing solar power made significant contributions to the development of the Faced with the need for LSIs to use in To differentiate its offerings from those of Sharp began conducting research into solar electronics industry. its calculators, Sharp built the Advanced competitors, Sharp incorporated an LCD, which it cells in 1959 and initiated mass production Development and Planning Center had been researching since 1969, in a calculator, in 1963, but it was the incorporation of solar including a semiconductor plant in Tenri thereby creating a thinner device that used less cells into calculators that provided the key in 1970 and began mass-producing power. LCDs went on to become key devices used in impetus to development of the component. LSIs. Sharp’s approach of developing fields ranging from information/communications The solar cell industry will continue to grow distinctive products through the devices to audiovisual products, evolving into a in the future, with products ranging from in-house manufacture of key devices premier electronics industry. Videocamera residential solar power systems to Mega-solar plant Word processor began here. mega-solar plants. IEEE Milestone commemorative plaque Device industry stemming from the calculator stemming from Device industry

Sharp’s information communications products LSI calculators LCD calculators Solar-powered calculators that are attracting attention today

All-transistor IC calculators Buttonless 0.8 mm thick calculators 1977: 1985: EL-8130 EL-900

Exceptional designs 1967: CS-31A

1969: QT-8D 1973: EL-805 1976: EL-8026 Touchscreen LCD monitor Digital MFP Used MOS LSIs to achieve Used an LCD and C-MOS LSIs; Brought solar cells, which had previously a higher degree of integration could be used for 100 hours on been used exclusively in lighthouses and 1979: than was possible with ICs a single AA battery on satellites, to the calculator EL-8152

ELSIs Development of the film carrier method Production line automation 1964: CS-10A Development of more First-half process Second-half process advanced manufacturing Awarded the 1970 Awarded the 1980 Electronic cash register POS terminal Okochi Memorial 1976: Okochi Memorial technologies Production Prize EL-8020 1978: 1980: Production Prize EL-8140 EL-211

Media tablet Business-use mobile handsets 1972 1979 1987 1993 1962 1971 1977 printers Voucher terminals organizer Electronic Electronic PI-3000 translators Scientific Handy data Handy BL-3100 Zaurus PDA CTS-1 calculators PC-1200 IQ-3000 PA-7000 Minicomputers HAYAC-3000 1972 1973 1979 1988 1997 1971 1978 Electronic dictionary machine Word system English- Compact terminals Japanese business- translation processing Electronic Personal PW-5000 processors dictionaries

ER-40 Billpet BL-3700 computers POS terminals MZ-80K WD-3000 DUET E/J Cash registers

1972 1980 1987 1994

Calculator Origins of information/ phones Copiers Cordless communications products communications SF-201 FO 2000 CJ-S30 JN-A100 Mobile phones Fax machines Fax

G3-01 G3-02 What are optoelectronics devices? Developing along with Application Products: Optoelectronic Devices Optoelectronic devices—semiconductor components that combine optics and electronics—have played a major role in the development of an advanced, information-based society thanks to their ability to communicate, store, and key convert large volumes of information quickly and accurately. They consist of technologies5 -emitting and light-receiving elements, and they are available in numerous variations of purpose and function. Sharp began dedicating resources to research 2010s in this field early on and established a lead in the global market thanks to 2000s Sharp’s One-of-a-KindManufacturing technology Technologies technological advantages in terms of products and manufacturing techniques. That Bolster Its Lead in Optoelectronics 1990s 1 Liquid phase epitaxy 1980s LED LEDs can be used to implement lighting that This method for forming light emitter p-n junctions at 1970s boasts lower energy use as well as a longer service life than the same time as crystal is grown allows growth of 1960s conventional incandescent and fluorescent bulbs. extremely high-quality crystal. Sharp’s patents in the Additionally, the emitted wavelength can be controlled to obtain the desired light color. area of crystal growth propelled the company to a leading position in the industry. LCD TV backlights LEDs for lighting LEDs Product technology Dot matrix LEDs 2 Red LEDs LEDs for displaying Graphics OPIC (optical IC) Inorganic ELs numbers and symbols Text OPICs integrate a light-receiving element and signal Type of processing circuit onto a single chip. Integration with key information 5 Dots Numbers Symbols an IC reduces the effects of external interference and that can be technologies allows output signals to be directly linked to a displayed microcontroller. The design was instrumental in the (1) Liquid phase epitaxy development of more compact, more reliable, and LED lighting more inexpensive devices. Full-color LED displays LED AQUOS Light-based Lighting and signboards Calculators LED displays LED lamps Manufacturing technology 3 VSIS structure

displays and lighting displays Infrared communications Infrared communications allow information to be sent and received wirelessly using infrared (V-channeled substrate inner stripe) light. TV remote controls are a typical example of this technology, key but it is also used to send and receive image and text data The creation of a V-shaped groove on a P-type between devices such as mobile phones and computers. gallium arsenide substrate allows the formation of a 5 Standardization bodies have established standards governing technologies series of thin layers, providing stable laser light with a various aspects of the technology’s implementation, including communication ranges and formats. Compared to radio waves, long service life. (2) OPIC infrared communications offer a high level of security. Infrared IrSimple high-speed infrared Photocouplers/ communications devices communications devices Infrared High-definition of data photo-interrupters Type of data Signal Operation of images Positive electrode transmission consumer Text, that can be Current P-type GaAs communicated circuits electronics still images n-type GaAs Photocouplers and photo-interrupters Photocouplers and photo-interrupters, n-type GaAs which consist of light-emitting and negative light-receiving elements, convert electrode electrical signals and transmit them as light. They are used to detect the presence of objects and their position. Air conditioners Remote-controlled TVs Electronic organizers Mobile phones Exchange

Emitted light key key technologies5 Laser wavelength (color) Lasers with shorter wavelengths are needed in order to 5 read and store higher densities of information using optical disc media. For example, Product technology technologies CDs use infrared lasers, while DVDs use red, and BDs blue-, lasers. Of these, BDs (5) Vapor phase have the highest storage capacity. Additionally, lasers with higher output are required in 4 Hologram laser unit (4) Hologram epitaxy order to improve write speeds. laser unit A hologram laser unit incorporates a light-emitting Lasers Whereas sunlight and Infrared laser diodes Hologram lasers laser element and a light-receiving signal-reading fluorescent light contain various High-definition Type of data Red laser diodes Blue-violet laser diodes element into a single package. In addition to allowing of data wavelengths, laser light consists of a images that can be single wavelength. Due to the high level Music more compact pickups, the design is distinguished by handled of linearity of the light they produce, key its reduction of the need to perform optical lasers are used in laser pointers, and technologies5 Computer TV images adjustment during the assembly process. they are essential for optical disc media data such as BDs and DVDs. Inside structure of a hologram laser (3) VSIS structure Light reflected from the disc

Storage Hologram glass CD players MD recorders Computers DVD recorders BD recorders Laser light

Type of data Blue cells for cameras Mark sensors One-dimensional Camera modules that can be Sharp developed Laser Photodiode High-speed OPIC capture CCD line sensors CCD area captured Light and C-MOS camera modules compact, diode chip for laser light-receiving sensors thin-profile camera output monitor element for dark areas modules that signal detection and Image and integrated image black areas text on paper Video recording Sharp’s one-of-a-kind technologies sensors and lenses in order to

Image shrink the size of Manufacturing technology On-chip color filter mobile devices. 3 On-chip micro-lens Vapor phase epitaxy Cameras Large electronic calculators Sharp developed a proprietary Vapor phase epitaxy technology is used to form thin Incident light Paper tape readers manufacturing method for creating a films by growing crystals of the vaporized material on color filter and super-small, Fax machines Micro-lens a substrate. Sharp has drawn on its expertise in the light-collecting lens directly on the area of crystal growth technologies to establish a On-chip surface of CCD and C-MOS chips. color filter lead over competitors and seize high market share. These innovations delivered improved Videocameras Light-receiving image quality and sensitivity, helping Mobile phones area maintain Sharp’s lead in the industry. G4-01 G4-02 Evolution of LCD Technology and Application Products

1970s 1980s 1990s LCD technology today (2000 and beyond)

Mobile Large LCDs

Portable TVs Advanced technology for large LCDs LCD projectors UV2A* technology Thin-profile calculator Japanese word processor Tablets Large-screen LCD TVs This photo-alignment technology allows liquid LCD videocameras crystal molecules to be aligned with a high degree 3 of precision. It also allows high contrast of 5,000:1 Full-HD* panels (1.6 times better than previous technologies), fast LCD calculators

Representative response (2 times better than previous technologies), and high light utilization efficiency application products application Double-speed Advanced(with an aperture ratio that is at least 20% higher Electronic translator Electronic organizer Super-V LCDs4 than previous technologies) for vivid colors and Car navigation Laptop and * systems notebook computers reduced energy use. Moreover, the simple design affords a high level of production efficiency. Liquid crystal molecules Mobile phones PDA Alignment film including special macromolecules 1 IGZO* that “memorize” the UV orientation of UV light light

2

displayed CG-* Glass substrate Touchscreen displays Once the orientation of the alignment film is determined Type of information by irradiating the substrate with ultraviolet (UV) light STN LCDs Mobile Advanced Super-V LCDs Advanced DSM LCD TN LCD Color TFT LCDs during the manufacturing process, the liquid crystal Color STN LCDs Advanced TFT LCDs Super-V LCDs molecules are aligned in the same direction. * UV2A: Ultraviolet induced multi-domain Passive matrix type Active matrix type Reflective/transflective type Advanced Super-V vertical alignment DSM (dynamic scattering TN (twisted nematic) STN (super twisted nematic) TFT displays use thin-film A reflector inside the LCD’s This new display technology mode) displays use the fact displays use the fact that displays use liquid crystal transistors (TFTs) to switch pixels reflects incident light incorporates innovations in liquid Four-primary-color technology that light is scattered when a previously aligned liquid molecules that twisted to a pixels on and off. from the surface of the display crystal molecule alignment and This technology adds yellow to the conventional voltage is applied to liquid crystal molecules change much higher degree than to increase ease of viewing. structure. three primary colors of red, , and blue to crystal. their alignment when a those in a TN LCD, yielding implement four-primary-color pixels. This voltage is applied. superior contrast. enhancement allows displays to vividly reproduce colors such as glittery gold and emerald-green, which are difficult to create with

Major LCD This technology makes Advanced Super-V LCDs the conventional three primary colors. technologies The advantage of a simple TN LCDs solved the STN displays were TFT displays provide possible displays that can be provide excellent viewing angles design was offset by high problems with DSM designs characterized by a dramatically improved viewed in bright light. in all directions, fast response, operating voltages and but suffered from yellow-green or blue tint. contrast and response and no image persistence, even sluggish response in cold deteriorating contrast as the Later designs eliminated the compared to TN LCDs, even when displaying fast-motion environments. number of pixels was tint and introduced color when the number of pixels is video. Moreover, they can Note: Sharp’s four-primary-color increased. capability. increased. display high-contrast images. concept was designed for use Note: Some mobile products use with LCDs; it differs from the transmissive LCDs. conventional three-primary- color concept of light and color. RGBY

Ultra-high-resolution LCD technology

■From passive matrix to active matrix ■Principle of color LCDs *1 IGZO *3 Full-HD panels Ultra-high-resolution LCDs can display extremely As the size and resolution of displays increased, manufacturers were unable to resolve contrast and In IGZO displays, the silicon in the TFT Full-HD panels with a resolution realistic images with smooth edges at resolutions response speed inadequacies with passive matrix designs, and active matrix LCDs became the material is replaced with an oxide of of 1,920 (horizontal) × 1,080 far in excess of standard high-definition dominant technology. indium (In), gallium (Ga), and zinc (Zn) (vertical) pixels can reproduce broadcasts. to more readily facilitate the flow of the high-definition signal format ICC 4K LCD TV (3,840 × 2,160 pixels) electrons. This technology allows (1080i) used for digital Opposing Combining Sharp’s large-screen, high-resolution electrodes smaller TFTs while increasing screen broadcasts at their native Y electrode LCD control technology with signal processing Active element brightness and lowering energy use. resolution. (transistor) technology from I-cubed Research Center Inc., the ICC 4K LCD TV reproduces depth and X electrode Pixel texture at a level of detail that approaches the Pixels are divided into three Scan line 2 4 natural world. sub-pixels, and color filters * CG-Silicon * Double-speed Advanced Signal line RGB Light Light are used to create the three CG-Silicon (continuous grain silicon) Super-V LCDs 85-inch direct-view LCD compatible with primary colors of red, Passive matrix drive design Active matrix drive (TFT) design ） ） ） incorporates innovations in the crystalline Double-speed Advanced Super-V Super Hi-Vision (ultra high definition) Sub-pixel Sub-pixel Sub-pixel green, and blue. A range of When a voltage is applied to X and Y electrodes Transistors attached to individual pixels serve as structure of TFT silicon to more readily LCDs create an intermediate frame (7,680 × 4,320 pixels) colors can then be forming a matrix along the display’s X- and Y-axes, the switches, turning elements on and off. facilitate the flow of electrons. It can be between each frame sent in TV The first display of its kind in the world, this potential difference created in the point (pixel) at their reproduced by varying the used to create high-definition LCD panels broadcasts to display 120 frames UHDTV was developed jointly by Sharp and per second, enabling them to intersection causes the orientation of the LCD and darkness of into which peripheral functionality has NHK in 2011. The device reproduces video with Pixel reproduce motion more smoothly. molecules there to change. the three primary colors. been integrated. overwhelming presence and intensity.

G5-01 G5-02