E Ink Announces Next Generation Custom And Standard Segmented Display Cells

E Ink Corporation announces general availability of its next generation segmented display cells (SDC). The SDC products are simple digit, icon and alpha-numeric displays, offering exceptional readability in a paper-thin form factor that uses minimal battery power.

The new SDCs are 40% thinner with a wider operational temperature range and increased flexibility for repetitive 3-D bends or 2-D conformable solutions. Applications include consumer electronics, PC-accessory, display smartcards, capacity indicators, electronic shelf labels, signage and communications applications. The SDC displays use the same E Ink Vizplex technology that is shipping in popular electronic book devices such as the Amazon Kindle, SONY Reader and iRex iLiad.

“When you need information to make a decision, an E Ink SDC display lets you see it quickly and clearly from any angle,” said Russ Wilcox, president and CEO, E Ink Corporation. “With a paper-thin and flexible plastic display that can be cut to any shape, innovative product designs are limited only by the imagination of the designers”

“After an extensive review of display technologies, Delphi chose E Ink’s segmented electronic paper displays for our wireless, bi-directional key fob that has been designed to offer car-to-user and user-to-car communication over an extremely long range,” said Joe DiCarlo, director of engineering for controls and security in North America, Delphi. “The groundbreaking fob offers packaging flexibility and does not consume much power. Because it provides drivers valuable vehicle information and control, it is imperative that its display can be read in bright sunlight. Thanks to E Ink, that is possible.”

“E Ink has enabled us to offer superior display solutions to the world’s leading producers of smart cards for bank card and OTC token applications” said George Ou, CEO of Smart Displayer. “E Ink’s displays are flexible, extremely thin, sunlight readable and consume very little power.”

Thinner, more flexible and wider operation ranges all highlight the performance increase of the latest generation of E Ink SDCs. Three height levels are available, depending on backplane configuration: thin PET 330 microns, PET 380 microns, or PI 375 microns. PET options provide 200 micron design rules for the art work or space and trace of 8 mils by 8 mils. The finer pitch PI option uses 100 micron design rules for 4 mils by 4 mils. Increased temperature ranges with operations from -10°C to 60°C, and storage from -25°C to 75°C. Organic non-rectangular unique shapes are possible, including holes, curves, and other non-standard designs.

Additionally, E Ink’s SDC platform provides viewable angle of nearly 180° and can be viewed under a variety of lighting conditions from direct sun to low-level ambient light. E Ink’s Vizplex based electronic paper solutions are bistable, reflective displays which enable the image to remain for over a year with zero power.

Custom rapid product development is easy with E Ink’s SDC “Design to Mass Production” program. Starting from a customer-supplied CAD file, E Ink typically can supply production-ready samples within eight weeks after artwork approval and enter mass production within twelve weeks. E Ink has partnered with several chip suppliers, including Dialog Semiconductor, Epson Semiconductor, Solomon-Systech, and Citizen who have developed compatible segmented display driver ICs.