Himax
Introduces New Generation
TFT-LCD
Single Chip Driver IC for Handsets Displays
Tainan,
Taiwan, November 29, 2007 - Himax Technologies, Inc. (“Himax” or
“Company”) (NASDAQ: HIMX) today introduced its new generation single chip
display driver for TFT-LCD handsets, the HX8352. The new chip is among
the
world’s first that integrates features including Content Adaptive Brightness
Control, MDDI*1
and MIPI*2
interface, RGB separated gamma correction, and supports up to Ultra Wide
QVGA
(240X480) resolution, suitable for multimedia-rich portable devices, such
as
3G/3.5G and smart phones. The HX8352 has passed customer
qualifications and is ready for mass production.
There
is an
increasing demand for handsets that transmit multi-media data, and as a
result,
there is a greater adoption of larger, higher resolution, and higher power
consuming panels by handsets. In order to provide high quality pictures
on
handsets while controlling cost and power consumption at a relatively low
level,
Himax has successfully integrated several unique features to produce a
low-cost
single chip that emphasizes on high speed data transmission and low power
consumption. Currently, Himax has already seen strong interest in the HX8352
from several of the Company’s Taiwanese, Mainland Chinese, Japanese, Korean
handset panel module customers, and also Tier-1 handset makers. Several
of the
Company’s customers have already adopted the new chip for design-in
activities. With its advanced features and early time to market, the
Company believes that this latest display driver can provide great value
to
customers in their next generation of multimedia-rich and power conscious
portable devices.
The
HX8352 supports
262K colors primarily for wide QVGA (240x400 or 240x432), and ultra wide
QVGA
(240x480). WQVGA and UWQVGA panels provide handset makers with more flexibility
in industrial design, user interface, and feature applications.
In
addition to
regular functions, the HX8352 integrates unique features enabling better
TFT-LCD
panel performance for multimedia-rich portable devices, such as 3G/3.5G
and
smart phones. Content Adaptive Backlight Control (CABC) fine-tunes backlight
brightness by analyzing and processing the display content, which would
result
in an up to 50% power saving in backlight power while maintaining a vivid
display quality.
The
HX8352 also
features RGB separated gamma correction. As the R, G, B gamma curves are
independently corrected, the colors would be more accurately and precisely
presented.
In
terms of input
interfaces, the HX8352 supports not only traditional MPU and RGB interfaces,
but
also high speed serial interfaces MDDI*1 and
MIPI*2 which
has emerged as
popular interfaces for multimedia-rich portable devices. .
For
more
information, please contact Himax local sales or agent, or visit http://www.himax.com.tw
*1
MDDI
(Mobile Display Digital Interface):
A high-speed serial interface standard drawn up by the VESA (Video Electronics
Standards Association)
*2
MIPI
(Mobile Industry Processor
Interface) is an
open interface standard for mobile
application
processors promoted by the
MIPI Alliance, a non-profit standardization organization established by
ARM
Ltd., Nokia Corporation, STMicroelectronics N.V., and Texas Instruments
Incorporated.
About
Himax
Technologies, Inc.
Himax
Technologies,
Inc. designs, develops, and markets semiconductors that are critical components
of flat panel displays. The Company's principal products are display drivers
for
large-sized TFT-LCD panels, which are used in desktop monitors, notebook
computers and televisions, and display drivers for small- and medium-sized
TFT-LCD panels, which are used in mobile handsets and consumer electronics
products such as digital cameras, mobile gaming devices and car navigation
displays. In addition, the Company is expanding its product offering to
include
LCD TV chipset solution, power management ICs and LCOS microdisplays. Based
in
Tainan, Taiwan, the Company has regional offices in Hsinchu and Taipei,
Taiwan;
Ninbo, Foshan, Suzhou and Shenzhen, China; Yokohama, Japan and Anyangsi
Kyungkido, South Korea.
Forward-Looking
Statements:
Certain
statements
in this press release, including statements regarding expected future financial
results and industry growth, are forward-looking statements that involve
a
number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results
to
differ materially from those described in this press release. Factors that
could
cause actual results to differ include general business and economic conditions
and the state of the semiconductor industry; level of competition; demand
for
end-use applications products; reliance on a small group of principal customers;
continued success in technological innovations; development of alternative
flat
panel display technologies; ability to develop and protect our intellectual
property; pricing pressures including declines in average selling prices;
changes in customer order patterns; shortages in supply of key components;
changes in environmental laws and regulations; exchange rate fluctuations;
regulatory approvals for further investments in our subsidiaries; and other
risks described from time to time in the Company’s SEC filings, including its
Form 20-F dated June 22, 2007, as amended. We undertake no obligation
to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as
a result
of new information, future events, or otherwise.