Pioneer Introduces Fourth Generation High-Definition Plasma Displays For Commercial Use

Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. announced today two new high-definition plasma displays for the industrial market, the PDP-504CMX (50-inch), and PDP-434CMX (43-inch),providing commercial users the most flexible solutions for digital signage, board room and other business applications. Key among the features of the new PDP-504CMX and PDP-434CMX is the ability to insert a variety of expansion boards to change or enhance the capabilities of the display.  As part of Pioneer’s new Expansion Solutions™ program, the new Pioneer plasmas have two open architecture card slots enabling the user to modify or expand the panel’s capabilities.  One slot is for communication, the other for visuals.  Mountable expansion boards are available from Pioneer as well as a variety of third-party manufacturers to create multiple custom application scenarios.  The other key feature is the PureDrive® technology that maintains all signals in the digital domain; eliminating signal loss, reducing distortion, and providing a far greater degree of control of the signal.

Expansion Solutions Card Slots

Pioneer’s vision for its Expansion Solutions program is to provide a more future-proof environment for plasma displays by enabling users to modify their display to meet the rapid evolution of display and communication technology.  Pioneer’s plasmas can be adapted through expansion cards to allow access to the World Wide Web, to create a TV tuner, for system control, MPEG playback, signal interface, wireless connectivity or for an imbedded PC.  The flexibility and adaptability of Pioneer’s PDP-504CMX and PDP-434CMX enable them to outperform the competition today as well as into the future.  As expert third party manufacturers continue to develop more cards, the breadth of new applications for Pioneer’s plasma displays will grow exponentially.

Pioneer currently offers two new optional video cards, PDA-5003 and PDA-5004, that work with the Expansion Solution card slots.  Each optional video card provides composite, s-video and component terminals. Vivid, vibrant images can be reproduced on the plasma display when either of these cards is used in conjunction with a PDP-504CMX or PDP-434CMX. The PDA-5003 is equipped with stable BNC terminals, and supports an analog RGB signal through its component terminals. The PDA-5004 is equipped with RCA terminals, for connectivity with many external devices.

Pure Drive

The PDP-504CMX and PDP-434CMX employ Pioneer’s PureDrive technology to maintain the purest digital signal possible for a clear, smooth and natural image quality.  PureDrive includes:

• Advanced Continuous Emission II (ACE II) processes the basic color elements enabling the plasmas to reproduce more than one billion colors and eliminates false contouring within the displays.
•  Pioneer’s unique Deep Encased Cell Structure and the use of new fluorescent materials results in the highest brightness levels (white peak) in the industry, 1,000cd/m² and 1,100cd/m² for the 50-inch model and the 43-inch model respectively.
• Digital Noise Reduction (DNR) effectively reduces random noise.
• MPEG Noise Reduction effectively reduces mosquito noise unique to MPEG signals.
• Natural Enhancer emphasizes image contours without causing adverse effects such as rough-edged images.
• Color Detail Adjustment allows users to independently fine-adjust the six basic colors.

Screen Management

Many commercial plasma displays offer a variety of patterns used in off-peak hours to help achieve even wear of the phosphors in the panel.  Pioneer offers a unique management tool, which gives integrators the ability to schedule these patterns at predetermined intervals.  In the integrator mode, the panel can be instructed when and how long to implement the patterns, making Pioneer’s plasma displays better suited to withstand the rigors of digital signage and other professional display applications.  Patterns available include RGB separate full mask and side mask brightness adjustment, Orbiter mode, and Inverse mode. The Orbiter mode allows the plasma to move a displayed image one pixel at a time at fixed intervals and the Inverse mode lets the plasma displays images as negative.

Energy Star Certified

The new professional plasmas offer the lowest power consumption in the industry – 360 watts peak consumption for the 50-inch model and 298 watts peak consumption for the 43-inch model – without limiting performance.   The plasmas also offer four Energy Save Modes, which include Power Save, Intermediate, Linear Brightness, which decreases the peak intensity of high-brightness images, and Auto Brightness Control, which uses a sensor to automatically adjust the brightness depending on room lighting.

Additional New Features

• Four Picture-in-Picture (PiP) Display Modes offers a variety of PiP combinations. 
• Intelligent Auto Setup function automatically adjusts the screen when a computer is connected.
• Point Zoom function allows users to expand any portion of a PC image in three steps 1.5x, 2x and 3x for emphasizing key points in a presentation.
• 2x2 Enlarged Display function optimizes images depending on the input source when the four-segment multi screen display is used.
• Error Information function performs self-diagnosis of a malfunction and displays its cause using error codes as a sequence of lights on the front of the display for easy diagnosis.

The Industrial Display Group of Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. is the leading provider of plasma and video display products for business use.  Pioneer introduced the industry’s first 50-inch high definition plasma display in 1997 and continues to deliver innovative display solutions for professional audio/video, information technology, trade show, broadcast, legal, medical, education and transportation applications.  In an effort to provide the highest quality of customer care, Pioneer professional plasma displays that are purchased through an authorized dealer, include a one-year warranty with convenient on-site service and technical support.

Pioneer Electronics’ headquarters is located in Long Beach, Calif., and its U.S. Web address is www.pioneerelectronics.com.  Its parent company, Pioneer Corporation, is a leader in optical disc technology and a preeminent manufacturer of high-performance audio, video, computer and cable television equipment for the home, car and business markets.  The company focuses on four core business domains including DVD, display technologies, Digital Network Entertainment™ and components.  Founded in 1938 in Tokyo, Pioneer Corporation (NYSE:PIO) employs more than 35,000 people worldwide.  Its shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange.