In the mid-2000s, Sharp was a leader in the production of large-format television panels, controlling more than half of the LCD panel market. This segment was generating substantial profits for the company, and Sharp invested heavily in its development. In the early 2010s, the company’s research and development department introduced a new concept: adding a fourth pixel to the standard three-color display matrix. This technology was called YRGB or RGBY, but most people knew it by its commercial name, Quattron.
YRGB Technology (4 Colors)
YRGB technology was based on adding a yellow subpixel to the standard configuration of red, green, and blue. This four-color structure offered a number of notable advantages, the main one being improved reproduction of skin tones, which naturally contain yellow components. Additionally, it contributed to an overall increase in panel brightness.
At the time, Sharp TVs had one limitation: relatively low peak brightness. This was a deliberate technical choice aimed at improving contrast.
Using a four-subpixel structure required an additional image processing module, as the yellow subpixel needed separate control. These panels were more expensive to manufacture and were intended exclusively for high-end models. Special TCON display control modules were developed for them.
The decline of Sharp’s Four-Color technology
Despite its advantages, YRGB technology faced serious challenges. The main issue was high production costs: adding a fourth subpixel and developing a specialized T-CON board for display control significantly increased manufacturing expenses. After Samsung and LG opened new LCD panel manufacturing plants, demand for Sharp panels began to decline. In 2014, Sharp exited the TV market, losing its primary sales market for these panels. Production continued for some time, but was not very successful, as the panels were mainly used in TVs manufactured by third-party companies under the Sharp brand. Other companies saw no point in purchasing such panels, as they were manufactured in Japan and were more expensive.
In 2024, Sharp officially ceased production of large LCD panels, closing its Sakai plant on August 21. The company announced plans to sell all remaining inventory by March 2025, noting that a significant number of panels had been produced in advance. This marked the end of the era of Sharp’s four-color LCD panels. It is worth noting that Chinese companies are experimenting with the fourth pixel in LED panels today, following their acquisition of factories from LG and Samsung.
