AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 24, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Austin, Texas based Applied Nanotech, Inc. ("ANI"), a subsidiary of Nano-Proprietary (OTC BB:NNPP), today announced that it completed its proof of concept of a high resolution, full color, 14-inch diagonal carbon nanotube (CNT) TV (160 x 160 color lines or pixels). This is a necessary preliminary step in demonstrating a high resolution, full color, 25-inch diagonal CNT TV (200 x 280 color lines or pixels) with the same pixel size and pitch as the 14-inch diagonal CNT TV.
Work on the 25-inch display is in progress and is being performed by a consortium of Japanese firms. Both displays are designed in anticipation of a 60-inch diagonal advanced TV (ATV) with the following characteristics: aspect ratio 16:9; active area 53" x 30"; ATV format with 480 x 852 color lines; 256 gray levels; and brightness of at least 1000 Nits. The Company expects to have the 25-inch display, which will prove that scalability is not an issue, complete no later than the end of the year.
"This proof of concept is a critical achievement in that the processes, including printing-like processes, used in creating the display will allow manufacturers to dramatically reduce the capital investment needed to produce CNT TVs," said Dr. Zvi Yaniv, Chief Executive Officer of Applied Nanotech. "This capital investment is expected to be approximately 80% less than that for large area LCD and Plasma televisions. Given this low level of investment, it is expected that a 60-inch CNT TV will sell for less than $1,200 in full volume production," continued Yaniv.
As the industry moves from ATV format to HDTV format (720 x 1280 lines), the 14-inch diagonal concept proves that ANI CNT technology is fully capable of HDTV format on 80-inch diagonal TVs (defined by the Japanese National Broadcasting Corporation NHK as the main target for consumer TVs).
A demonstration video of the proof of concept in operation is available to view on the Company's website, www.nano-proprietary.com, under the ANI tab by selecting Demonstrations. As the Company continues to improve the picture quality, the website will be updated accordingly. The video clip clearly shows that the video image does not suffer from the "ghost images", that can be observed in large LCD and plasma TVs as a tail of the image moving across the screen. As expected, the image and its characteristics are similar to the cathode ray tube, since CNT TVs are a flat and thin extension of the CRT technology.
"Although we are obviously not television manufacturers, I am extremely proud of our team's accomplishment of perfecting the processes necessary for the production of CNT TVs," said Marc Eller, Chief Executive Officer of Nano-Proprietary, Inc.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties concerning Nano-Proprietary's business, products, and financial results. Actual results may differ materially from the results predicted. More information about potential risk factors that could affect our business, products, and financial results is included in Nano-Proprietary's annual report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003, and in reports subsequently filed by Nano-Proprietary with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). All documents are available through the SEC's Electronic Data Gathering Analysis and Retrieval system (EDGAR) at www.sec.gov or from Nano-Proprietary's web site listed below. Nano-Proprietary hereby disclaims any obligation to publicly update the information provided above, including forward-looking statements, to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.
About Nano-Proprietary, Inc.
Nano-Proprietary, Inc. is a holding company with two operating subsidiaries. Applied Nanotech Inc. is a premier research and development organization dedicated to developing applications for nanotechnology with an extremely strong position in the field of electron emission applications from carbon film/nanotubes. Electronic Billboard Technology, Inc. (EBT) possesses technology related to electronic digitized sign technology. Nano-Proprietary's website is www.nano-proprietary.com.