LG Electronics develops world's first 50-inch single scan PDP  

This should help to continue putting downward pressure on Plasma TV pricing. Expect other Manufacturers to follow.

http://www.physorg.com/news3946.html

"LG Electronics has developed world’s first 50-inch XGA-type PDP modules with the application of single scan technology, and is set to begin its full production and sales in May.

LG Electronics successfully developed an XGA-type PDP module with the application of single scan technology last June, and world’s first 42-inch single scan plasma TV the following month.

The single scan technology applied to the XGA-type PDPs can reduce plasma TV costs by about 20%, versus the existing dual scan technology."

Looks like Rogo was right. Here is a little more info.

LG Cebit 2005


"Meanwhile, LG Electronics developed and unveiled world's first single-scan driving technology-based 42-inch plasma TV in the XGA class. This single-scan driving technology, compared to the dual-scan driving technology applied to XGA models, drastically reduced components, and improved performance, thus significantly boosting price and technological competitiveness.

The single-scan driving technology, which is being commercialized in VGA-class models, was considerably difficult to implement with XGA-class models due to an inability to secure appropriate driving time following an increase in the number of pixels, to ensure complicated driving circuits, and to enhance product reliability. LG Electronics successfully commercialized the technology, the first of its kind, and unveiled the technology-based plasma TV in the third quarter of 2004, and thus this will likely advance the time when the PDP industry will adopt single-scan driving technology for XGA-class PDPs."

Also, Panasonic has been using single scan driving in their ED displays since the 5UY. This is one of the reasons why the HD panels are more expensive to manufacture. Maybe some 4uy/5uy owners may remember this change.

And here is one more explanation.

Plasma Technology

"Achieving High Resolution

While conventional technology, as found in standard VGA resolution screens, uses 2 display electrodes for each horizontal line, applying the same method to achieve higher resolution (>1000 horizontal lines) brings inherent problems. Firstly, the number of electrodes would need to be doubled which would require very high precision production processes. Secondly, the cell aperture ratio would reduce resulting in lower brightness. In addition, the driving scheme would either have to operate with double the speed, again introducing significantly higher cost or a dual-scan technique would have to be introduced. With dual-scan, twice as many driving ICs would be required. In summary, implementing high resolution with conventional technology would result in lower brightness and increased costs."

It took them 3 years to transfer the technology from 480p to 720p. I wouldn't expect it anytime soon.