Low-price single substrate optical filter for plasma display panels : "CLEARAS F-Filter (Hybrid-4)" has been developed [2005.10.21] Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co., Ltd. (SOC, CEO: Yasuyuki Odagiri) has developed an adhesive optical filter for plasma display panels (PDP): "CLEARAS F-Filter (Hybrid-4)" which consists of single substrate (single-layer polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film). 1. Introduction SOC has developed and commercialized anti-reflection (AR) films, near infrared shielding (NIRA) films, AR and NIRA compound films, and electromagnetic shielding (EMS) films. In 2004, SOC was the first in the industry to bring together these technologies and release the adhesive optical filter for PDP (glassless). This product consists of layers of an AR and NIRA compound film and EMS film. SOC applied the technology used in adhesive optical filter for PDP and developed the adhesive single substrate optical filter for PDP "CLEARAS F-Filter (Hybrid-4)", that consists of a PET film, by reducing film substrate and making it simple, light-weight, and thin. 2. Features of adhesive single substrate optical filter for PDP "CLEARAS F-Filter (Hybrid-4)" 1) Simple structure There is an AR layer on the surface of a PET film, and an EMS metal mesh layer on the other side. Moreover, an adhesive layer with neon-cut, NIRA, and tone-control functions is added. Because it consists of only one PET film, it is lighter, thinner, resource saving, and environmentally-friendly compared to conventional optical filters for PDP that consists of more than two PET films. 2) Light weight The filter weighs only 100g (except protective film and separator film) which is 50% lighter than a SOC's conventional adhesive glassless optical filter (42-inche conversion). In comparison with a glass-type optical filter, the new filter weighs only 1/40. 3) Thin The thickness of the filter is 140 micron (except protective film and separator film) which is about 50% thinner than SOC's conventional glassless adhesive optical filter. In comparison with a glass-type optical filter, the thickness is 1/20. 4) Low price The market price of optical filter (42 to 43-inche type) is currently estimated to be around 100 dollars / filter. However, CLEARAS F-Filter (Hybrid-4) is only 70 dollars per filter, and SOC is working on lowering the price to 50 dollars per filter in the near future by making further technical cooperation with PDP makers. 3. Conclusion SOC has already started handing out samples of CLEARAS F-Filter (Hybrid-4) to Pioneer Corporation and several other companies, and corresponding to requests for 2006 year models. SOC positions CLEARAS F-Filter (Hybrid-4) as next generation's optical filter for PDP, and expands its business on optical filters and films by developing lighter, thinner, and lower-price products. <Contact information> Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co., Ltd. Advanced Materials, Sales group e-mail: materials_sales@socnb.com