On Wednesday, Nov. 28, Sharp introduced the latest addition to its Ultra-HDTV range: a 32-inch IGZO PN-K321 display with a whopping resolution of 3,840 x 2,160.
Besides the 4K2K resolution, the new 32-inch professional LCD monitor also sports the industry's thinnest profile to date. Sharp did not offer any details on price and availability yet, but it did say it plans to launch this display into the Japanese market first.
"The PN-K321 is Sharp's latest ultra-high-definition display and features smaller transistors (TFTs) in the LCD panel compared to conventional displays, thereby increasing the amount of transmitted light per pixel," said the company. "Because 4K2K displays enable clear, crisp display of large amounts of information ranging from small text to detailed images on one screen, they boost operational efficiency by sparing users the need to scroll frequently."
Sharp's IGZO technology, defined as "a semiconducting material which can be used as the channel for a transparent thin-film transistor," allows the upcoming 4K2K display to be ultra-thin, featuring a main body of roughly 35-mm deep (1.37 inches). The technology replaces amorphous silicon for the active layer of an LCD screen, and produces higher resolution by offering smaller pixels.
According to Sharp, the input connectors will be compatible with the latest displayPort and HDMI interface specifications, allowing users to connect the PN-K321 to a PC with a single cable. The company further stated that DisplayPort can handle the high resolution at 60 frames per second (fps) via one cable, while HDMI can only do 30 fps on a single connection. For 60 fps, it requires two cables.
The spec sheet lists the display with one displayPort, two HDMI ports, two 2-watt speakers, one 3.5-mm stereo jack, a 3.5-mm input jack, and a 250 cd/m2 brightness.
"Demand for ultra-high-definition 4K2K displays is forecast to grow for numerous business and professional applications, including creating and editing graphics and video, financial-related operations requiring intensive use of graphs and small text, and CAD services for displaying detailed drawings," Sharp said on Wednesday.
The company's new 4K2K display is slated to launch in Japan on Feb. 15, 2013, which means it will not hit the U.S. until at least next spring.
