SERELEC, Plastic Logic Introduce ZED – A Low-Power Outdoor Digital Signage Solution

SERELEC, a leading supplier of digital signage, and Plastic Logic, have collaborated to develop an innovative, low-power outdoor digital signage solution based on Plastic Logic’s flexible plastic displays. The ZED (Zero Energy Display) will be unveiled on the Plastic Logic booth (number 8-F195) at the Integrated Systems Europe Show (ISE 2013) in Amsterdam from Jan. 29-31, 2013.

Each ZED unit consists of a pair of Plastic Logic’s tiled display modules integrated in a slim metal housing, specifically created for the application. Each of these “two-up” modules consists of two 10.7″ monochrome flexible plastic displays, which have been seamlessly tiled together to create a larger flexible display (15.4″ diagonal)with 150 dpi at a fraction of the weight of standard glass-based displays (merely 115g). The finished unit measures less than one cm in thickness and is rated IP54. It also contains a temperature regulator, resulting in an increased unit operational range from -15°C to +50°C. The integration of a front-light is optional. The unit is fully compliant with public and transport standards.

The inherent bi-stability of Plastic Logic’s displays (the image is maintained even when there is no power) has enabled the ZED units to be designed with very low power consumption. As such, they can be completely solar-powered. Furthermore, because the displays are reflective, they can not only be ready in any lighting conditions, including bright sunlight, but also from almost any angle – just like the paper they will be replacing in a large number of cases.

The very first ZED units will ship during the second quarter of 2013. Initial applications will include signage for public transportation (electronic timetables at bus-stops and tram-stops as well as in underground stations) and large-area advertising, both indoors and out (mounted on the exterior of trams and buses, for example). The content can be updated wirelessly (3G, GPRS etc.) using the integrated connection. Future applications will include colour displays, further increasing the potential for usage.

“SERELEC maintains its leadership through the continued research and development of digital products and we are, therefore, extremely pleased to cooperate with Plastic Logic on this innovative outdoor signage solution,” said Valérian Wauthier, R&D manager at SERELEC. “The thin and lightweight form factor of these displays has enabled us to design an extremely slim and low-power, daylight-readable digital signage module combining SERELEC’s extensive expertise in digital products with Plastic Logic’s cutting edge display technology.”

“We are delighted to be presenting the first outdoor signage solution using Plastic Logic’s large-area plastic displays together with SERELEC at ISE 2013,” Plastic Logic’s CEO Indro Mukerjee stated. “This module is just one of the many exciting and varied applications of our plastic flexible displays, which not only enable particularly light and thin end applications, but also revolutionary form factors, such as wearable and mobile devices.”