Handheld television
Encyclopedia
A Handheld television is a portable device that usually uses a TFT
LCD or Organic light-emitting diode
color display. Many of these devices resemble handheld transistor radio
s.
~analog mono audio relay to serve them as composite monitor
s; also, some models have mono 1/8" jacks for the broadcast signal that is usually relayed via F connector
on standard television models.
Some include HDMI
, USB and SD
ports.
Screen sizes vary from 1.3 to 5 in (3.3 to 12.7 ). Some handheld televisions also double as portable DVD player
s and USB PVR .
These TVs cannot fit in your pocket, but often run on batteries and includes a car lighter plug.
Pocket
These TVs fit in your pocket
Wearable
These TVs sometimes are made in the form of a wristwatch.
and Sinclair Research released the first TVs which were small enough to fit in a large pocket; called the Panasonic IC TV MODEL TR-001 and MTV-1
. Since LCD technology was not yet mature at the time, the TV used a minuscule CRT
which set the record for being the smallest CRT on a commercially marketed product.
Later in 1982, Sony
released the first model of the Watchman
; a pun
on Walkman
. It had grayscale video at first. Several years later, a color model with an active-matrix
LCD was released. Nowadays, some cell phones have an integrated television receiver feature.
Thin-film transistor
A thin-film transistor is a special kind of field-effect transistor made by depositing thin films of a semiconductor active layer as well as the dielectric layer and metallic contacts over a supporting substrate. A common substrate is glass, since the primary application of TFTs is in liquid...
LCD or Organic light-emitting diode
Organic light-emitting diode
An OLED is a light-emitting diode in which the emissive electroluminescent layer is a film of organic compounds which emit light in response to an electric current. This layer of organic semiconductor material is situated between two electrodes...
color display. Many of these devices resemble handheld transistor radio
Transistor radio
A transistor radio is a small portable radio receiver using transistor-based circuitry. Following their development in 1954 they became the most popular electronic communication device in history, with billions manufactured during the 1960s and 1970s...
s.
Hardware
These devices often have stereo 1/8 in phono plugs for composite videoComposite video
Composite video is the format of an analog television signal before it is combined with a sound signal and modulated onto an RF carrier. In contrast to component video it contains all required video information, including colors in a single line-level signal...
~analog mono audio relay to serve them as composite monitor
Composite monitor
A composite monitor is any analog video display that receives input in the form of an analog composite video signal through a single cable — in contrast to multiple-cable or multiple-wire video sources such as VGA cable...
s; also, some models have mono 1/8" jacks for the broadcast signal that is usually relayed via F connector
F connector
The F connector is a type of coaxial RF connector commonly used for "over the air" terrestrial television, cable television and universally for satellite television and cable modems, usually with RG-6/U cable or, in older installations, with RG-59/U cable. It was invented by Eric E...
on standard television models.
Some include HDMI
HDMI
HDMI is a compact audio/video interface for transmitting uncompressed digital data. It is a digital alternative to consumer analog standards, such as radio frequency coaxial cable, composite video, S-Video, SCART, component video, D-Terminal, or VGA...
, USB and SD
Secure Digital
Secure Digital is a non-volatile memory card format developed by the SD Card Association for use in portable devices. The SD technology is used by more than 400 brands across dozens of product categories and more than 8,000 models, and is considered the de-facto industry standard.Secure Digital...
ports.
Screen sizes vary from 1.3 to 5 in (3.3 to 12.7 ). Some handheld televisions also double as portable DVD player
DVD player
A DVD player is a device that plays discs produced under both the DVD-Video and DVD-Audio technical standards, two different and incompatible standards. These devices were invented in 1997 and continue to thrive...
s and USB PVR .
Size spectrum
PortableThese TVs cannot fit in your pocket, but often run on batteries and includes a car lighter plug.
These TVs fit in your pocket
Wearable
These TVs sometimes are made in the form of a wristwatch.
History
In the 1970s and early 1980s, PanasonicPanasonic
Panasonic is an international brand name for Japanese electric products manufacturer Panasonic Corporation, which was formerly known as Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd...
and Sinclair Research released the first TVs which were small enough to fit in a large pocket; called the Panasonic IC TV MODEL TR-001 and MTV-1
MTV-1
The MTV-1 was the first model of a near-pocket sized television. It was developed by Clive Sinclair and was released in 1978.The MTV-1 used a minuscule 2" CRT; making it the smallest CRT built onto a commercially marketed product....
. Since LCD technology was not yet mature at the time, the TV used a minuscule CRT
Cathode ray tube
The cathode ray tube is a vacuum tube containing an electron gun and a fluorescent screen used to view images. It has a means to accelerate and deflect the electron beam onto the fluorescent screen to create the images. The image may represent electrical waveforms , pictures , radar targets and...
which set the record for being the smallest CRT on a commercially marketed product.
Later in 1982, Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
released the first model of the Watchman
Sony Watchman
The Sony Watchman is a line of portable pocket televisions trademarked and produced by Sony.-FD-210:The initial model was introduced in 1982 as the FD-210, which had a grayscale five centimeter display. The device weighed around 650 grams, with a measurement of 87 x 198 x 33 millimeters. The device...
; a pun
Pun
The pun, also called paronomasia, is a form of word play which suggests two or more meanings, by exploiting multiple meanings of words, or of similar-sounding words, for an intended humorous or rhetorical effect. These ambiguities can arise from the intentional use and abuse of homophonic,...
on Walkman
Walkman
Walkman is a Sony brand tradename originally used for portable audio cassette, and now used to market Sony's portable audio and video players as well as a line of Sony Ericsson mobile phones...
. It had grayscale video at first. Several years later, a color model with an active-matrix
Active-matrix liquid crystal display
An active matrix liquid crystal display is a type of flat panel display, currently the overwhelming choice of notebook computer manufacturers, due to low weight, very good image quality, wide color gamut and response time...
LCD was released. Nowadays, some cell phones have an integrated television receiver feature.
Notable brands and models for handheld televisions
- CasioCasiois a multinational electronic devices manufacturing company founded in 1946, with its headquarters in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan. Casio is best known for its electronic products, such as calculators, audio equipment, PDAs, cameras, musical instruments, and watches...
- Citizen Watch Co.Citizen Watch Co.is the core company of a Japanese global corporate group based in Tokyo, Japan. The company was originally founded as Shokosha Watch Research Institute in 1918 and is currently known as the manufacturer of CINCOM precision lathe machine tools as well as CITIZEN watches. The trade name originated...
- NECNEC, a Japanese multinational IT company, has its headquarters in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. NEC, part of the Sumitomo Group, provides information technology and network solutions to business enterprises, communications services providers and government....
TurboExpressTurboExpressThe TurboExpress or PC Engine GT in Japan was a portable version of the TurboGrafx-16/PC Engine , released by NEC in 1990 for $249.99 .It was the most advanced handheld of its time and could play all the TurboGrafx-16's games The TurboExpress or PC Engine GT (Game Tank) in Japan was a portable...
game console - SegaSega, usually styled as SEGA, is a multinational video game software developer and an arcade software and hardware development company headquartered in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan, with various offices around the world...
Game Gear TV tuner accessory - SonySony, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
WatchmanSony WatchmanThe Sony Watchman is a line of portable pocket televisions trademarked and produced by Sony.-FD-210:The initial model was introduced in 1982 as the FD-210, which had a grayscale five centimeter display. The device weighed around 650 grams, with a measurement of 87 x 198 x 33 millimeters. The device...
Similar types
Some handheld televisions are wearable; a few models are in the form of a wristwatch.External links
- History of the pocket TV
- Vintage Micro Television http://www.visions4.net/journal/time-line/