Stand-alone monitors

	Neway's CL1042NT is a 10.4in standalone car touchscreen monitor with VGA input.

TV tuners and more input ports expand functionality. Large-screen versions of up to 12.1in are in the pipeline.

Mainstream standalone car monitors from China consist of 7in, 8in and 8.5in models and are classified mainly as midsize models. Versions with 4:3 aspect ratio support a resolution of 800x400 pixels, while widescreen 16:9 models have a resolution of 480x234 or 1440x234 pixels. These monitors are enhanced with touchscreens, built-in analog TV or DVB-T tuners and more interfaces. The models are PAL/NTSC-compliant while SECAM support is optional. Large-size standalone monitors in 10.4in, 11in and 12.1in are in the pipeline for makers.

Growth in the in-car monitor/TV market, which is forecast for a 10 percent y-o-y increase in 2009, is driving the standalone car monitors line. The trend is also boosting orders for midsize TFT-LCD panels, which iSuppli expects to reach by 30 million units next year.

China standalone monitor makers source their TFT-LCD panels from HannStar, CMO, CPT, AUO, Innolux, Sanyo, Toshiba, LG, Samsung and Sharp.

Despite the rising cost of raw materials and the appreciation of the yuan against the dollar, China makers still predict price cuts in the next 12 months.

	The CL-8513 from Shenzhen Chelong has an 8.5in TFT LCD and a human sensor switch that enables auto MPEG-4 playback for advertising application.

Compared with other in-car/TV monitors that focus only on A/V entertainment, standalone car monitors from China emphasize enhanced functionality via touchscreen displays and built-in TV or DVB-T tuners, and wider interface through VGA, A/V, S-Video and RS-232C inputs, as well as SD memory card slots and USB ports.

An example is Shenzhen Chelong Electronics Technology Co. Ltd’s CL-8513 standalone monitor. The model has an 8.5in TFT-LCD panel and a human sensor switch that enables playback of advertising MPEG-4 files when human presence is detected. The company’s R&D staff will center its attention on developing models that support VGA and DVB-T in the next 12 months.

Everise Industries (SZ) Ltd has released the EV-7081T, a 7in standalone monitor with a TV tuner, built-in speaker, SD memory card slot and USB port. The unit has a backlit widescreen LED display with 480x234 pixel resolution. It supports auto switching between PAL and NTSC systems.

The K7004A, Shenzhen OceanStar Electronic Technology Co. Ltd’s latest offering, is a 7in standalone car monitor with a 2-channel video input and built-in PAL/NTSC/SECAM-compliant TV tuner. Its brightness and contrast ratio can be adjusted up to 250cd/m2 and 400:1, respectively.

Waysion Technology (Xiamen) Co. Ltd’s hybrid DT-700W has built-in DVB-T and analog TV tuners, and supports EPG and MPEG-2 video format. The model has a 7in TFT LCD with 480x234 pixel resolution.

The company’s 15-strong R&D team is working on adopting Panasonic tuners and NEC chipset solutions for enhanced performance in its new models.

The CL1042NT from Neway Industrial Ltd is a 10.4in standalone touchscreen monitor with 800x600 pixel resolution. It supports VGA input and comes with a full-function infrared (IR) remote control.

Neway sales manager Tony Yang said that it takes the company about a year to roll out new models. At present, the maker’s 25-engineer R&D team focuses on improving its production processes as it accelerates the development of standalone car monitors with large screens.

Although faced with increasing raw material costs and yuan valuation, China suppliers are optimistic that prices of standalone car monitors will go down by 5 to 15 percent in the next 12 months.

Basic 7in models in the region are quoted from $40 to $60, while those with TV function are priced $10 higher. Neway’s standalone car monitors under its own brand are priced from $140 to $200. Prices range from $45 to $90 at Shenzhen Chelong and $75 to $120 at Waysion. Shenzhen OceanStar’s K7004A is priced from $48 to $58.

Leading automotive display makers in China, such as Haier, Hisense, Konka and Skyworth, market their products under their own brand names, while 80 percent of the region’s in-car monitor/TV makers’ output are shipped as OEM/ODM orders, mostly to the US and the European Union, and the rest to other overseas markets.