SXRD (Silicon X-tal Reflective Display) is Sony's proprietary variant of liquid crystal on silicon, a technology used mainly in projection televisions and video projectors. In the front and rear-projection television market, it competes directly with JVC's D-ILA and Texas Instruments' DLP. Sony has discontinued the production of all of its rear-projection televisions, including those that used SXRD display chips, in favor of flat-panel sets utilizing LCD and OLED displays. Sony has now concentrated SXRD on HD home front-projectors and next generation 4K digital theater projection.
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The following SXRD-branded products have been released or announced:
| Year | Size | Series and model numbers | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A2000 | A3000 | XBR | Qualia | BRAVIA SXRD | ||
| 2004 | Projection | -- | -- | -- | 004 | -- |
| 70" | -- | -- | -- | 006 | -- | |
| 2005 | 50" | -- | -- | KDS-R50XBR1 | -- | -- |
| 60" | -- | -- | KDS-R60XBR1 | -- | -- | |
| Projection | -- | -- | -- | -- | VPL-VW100 | |
| 2006 | 50" | KDS-50A2000 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 55" | KDS-55A2000 | -- | -- | -- | -- | |
| 60" | KDS-60A2000 | -- | KDS-R60XBR2 | -- | -- | |
| 70" | -- | -- | KDS-R70XBR2 | -- | -- | |
| Projection | -- | -- | -- | -- | VPL-VW50 | |
| 2007 | 50" | KDS-50A2020 | KDS-50A3000 | -- | -- | -- |
| 55" | KDS-55A2020 | KDS-55A3000 | -- | -- | -- | |
| 60" | KDS-60A2020
KDS-60A2010 |
KDS-60A3000 | -- | -- | ||
| 70" | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| Projection | -- | -- | -- | -- | VPL-VW60 VPL-VW200 |
|
| 2008 | Projection | -- | -- | -- | -- | VPL-VW40 VPL-HW10 VPL-VW70 VPL-VW80 |
| 2009 | Projection | -- | -- | -- | -- | VPL-HW15 VPL-VW85 |
| 2010 | Projection | -- | -- | -- | -- | VPL-VWPRO1 VPL-VW90 |
While capable of producing good high definition picture quality, Sony have had problems mastering the technology of mass producing the rear projector version of these displays. There has been a high failure rate on the optical blocks of these displays, which results in the need to repeatedly replace the optical blocks on a percentage of these displays. Sony previously settled a class action lawsuit filed by owners of the first generation of the SXRDs, and apparently failed to fix this defect, which has resulted in Sony ceasing production of all SXRD rear projector sets and having new class-action lawsuits filed by owners of most the second generation sets. The second generation class action suits were recently filed and are pending in Federal Court.
As of 2008, the group, 'Brotherhood of Steel' has claimed the idea and is suing for $300,000 USD. The court hearing is set for June 9th, 2012. While Sony denies that the group even exists, they are aware of the sue and plan on fighting back in 'Full Force.'