SCRAM and Samsung Developing Ultra-Thin RPTVs September, 2003 Washington, D. C. - SCRAM Technologies (Dunkirk, MD)(www.scramtech.com) is collaborating with Samsung Electronics (Suwon City, Korea) to develop two new 52" RPTVs. The units will feature Samsung's DLP engine coupled to SCRAM's proprietary screen technology and optics design. RPVs with depths of 12 and 7 inches might well be shown in early 2004. SCRAM has developed both a novel screen technology and an optical system to couple light into the screen. This enables it to be efficiently coupled to existing or slightly-modified light valve engines. At 7 inches in depth, the display will be the slimmest RPTV currently in existence. It will be driven by TI's HD2 chip set, which delivers 1280x720 pixels - similar or identical to the engine used to drive Samsung's current line of DLP RPTVs. With SCRAM Technologies' SCRAMscreen, ambient light viewability, as well as high contrast and black levels, will be possible. The incredibly thin depth profile of these sets is sure to catch the attention of potential customers and others within the industry. This has been one of the promises of microdisplay-based RPTVs, and developing platforms that are ultra-thin is needed to compete with flat-panel TV alternatives. The second set will be aimed at commercial users where the <12" depth will offer advantages too. It is being designed with a very thin bezel that is smaller than those on PDP TVs. "In production, we think this bezel will be less than 1/4" wide with a 3" wide bezel at the bottom for a standalone unit," said Ray Kwong, president and CEO of SCRAM Technologies. "As a videocube, there might be 3" wide bezels at top and bottom." "At a minimum, it is the goal of both companies to achieve performance comparable to current DLP RPTVs from Samsung," continued Kwong. "The next milestone would be to optimize the design for mass production." SCRAM expects to deliver the sets to Samsung at the end of October. The SCRAMscreen is constructed from a series of polymer light guides. To produce the screen, four alternating layers of polymer sheets are laminated together. On either side of the clear polymer core layer, a cladding layer is added. Outside of this, matching black polymer sheets have a lower index of refraction to create a light guide within the clear polymer. The black layers also help absorb ambient light and increase the apparent contrast of the screen. The thickness of the waveguides varies, says Kwong, but that there are always more waveguide layers than projector rows so as not to compromise resolution. To make the screen, large flat stacks of these laminated layers are assembled and then cut into thin screens. Each screen then contains a cross section of these light guides. A diffuser is bonded to the front of the screen to disperse the outgoing light. SCRAM doesn't say much about how light is coupled into the screen, but a Fresnel lens may be used, depending upon the depth requirements of the RPTV. At last June's Projection Summit, SCRAM showed two screen process demonstrators. One smaller diagonal screen was hand assembled to show the improvements the company has made in screen brightness, contrast and clarity. The demo was impressive with respect to these aspects, despite the flaws evident from the hand assembly process. The second screen was a 50" model that was produced using the manufacturing of the company's partner, located in Massachusetts. This screen showed very good uniformity, but had poor image quality because is used an older process. Currently, SCRAM is working to implement the advances of the new technology into the manufacturing line of its partner and should begin limited production in September. "By early 2004, we should be ready to produce 10K 52" or smaller screens per month on the manufacturing line using the new screen process," says Kwong. Kwong is confident the screens will be successful in products, and SCRAM is now planning how it will increase capacity beyond the current 10K/month rate to meet expected demand. Chris Chinnock, Senior Editor/Analyst, Insight Media About SCRAM Technologies, Inc. SCRAM Technologies, Inc. was founded in 1998 to develop, manufacture and market a revolutionary, passive display technology that provides high contrast, high brightness, interactivity, wide viewing angles, modularity and more. This technology, which the Company has designated as "SCRAMscreen® Technology" is a versatile, multifunctional, display technology. SCRAMscreens® can be used for everything from traditional rear projection displays to cutting edge HDTV/Digital flat panel displays; from seamless, tiled outdoor display applications to curved, interactive, high-contrast dashboards and instrumentation panels. Whether it is a curved viewing environment, or a simultaneous multi-imagery projection display, SCRAMscreen® technology provides a performance enhancing, cost effective, platform for innovation in display applications. SCRAM Technologies' corporate offices are located at 2827 Chesapeake Beach Rd., Dunkirk, MD 20754. Other information about SCRAM Technologies is available via the World Wide Web at http://www.scramtech.com.