New 32-inch LCD panel uses 50 percent less power

AU Optronics (AUO) has started mass production of a new 32" LCD display that uses 50 percent less power than traditional LCD TV panels of the same size:

AUO explained that it has reduced the numbers of cold-cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs) used in a traditional backlight unit (BLU) from 16 tubes to 4 u-type tubes, and the content of mercury in each tube is reduced by 82%.

In addition to the power-saving CCFL panel, AUO is looking at LED backlighting as another energy saving strategy for its LCD panels. By 2010, AUO will adopt LED backlighting for all of its notebook panels, according to the company.