Scheme of the
E Ink technology.
| Legend | Item |
|---|
| 1 | Upper layer |
| 2 | Transparent electrode layer |
| 3 | Transparent micro-capsules |
| 4 | Positively charged white pigments |
| 5 | Negatively charged black pigments |
| 6 | Transparent oil |
| 7 | Electrode pixel layer |
| 8 | Bottom supporting layer |
| 9 | Light |
| 10 | White |
| 11 | Black |
E Ink (electrophoretic ink) is a specific proprietary type of electronic paper manufactured by E Ink Corporation, founded in 1997 based on research started at the MIT Media Lab. Joseph Jacobson and Barrett Comiskey are listed as inventors on the original patent filed in 1996.[1]
It is currently available commercially in grayscale and colour[2] and is commonly used in mobile devices such as e-readers and, to a lesser extent, mobile phones and watches.
Corporate history
 iLiad e-book reader equipped with an e-paper display visible in the sunlight  Macro photograph of Kindle 3 screen; microcapsules are evident at full size  Macro photograph of Kindle 3 screen, focused just below the surface; microcapsules are clearly visible at full size |
On June 1, 2009, E Ink Corp. announced an agreement to be purchased by one of its primary business partners, Prime View Int'l Co. Ltd (元太科技工業), for US$215 million.[3] It is predicted that the purchase by this Taiwanese company will put the production of the E-Ink EPD on a larger scale than before, as Prime View also owns BOE Hydis Technology Co. Ltd (京东方海帝士科技) and maintains a strategic partner relationship with Chi Mei Optoelectronics Corp., which is now Chi Mei Innolux Corp. (奇美電子), part of the Hon Hai-Foxconn Group (鴻海富士康集團). It is noteworthy that Foxconn is the sole ODM partner for Prime View's Netronix Inc. (振曜科技), the supplier of E-Ink-panel e-readers for rebranding (the end-user products may appear with any of several brands, e.g., Bookeen, COOL-ER, PocketBook, etc.).
Technology
The material is processed into a film for integration into electronic displays, particularly for e-readers. The Motorola F3 was the first mobile phone to employ E Ink technology into its display, taking advantage of the material's ultra-low power consumption. In addition, the Samsung Alias 2 uses this technology as the display on the buttons change.[4] The October 2008 limited edition North American issue of Esquire was the first magazine cover to integrate E Ink and featured flashing text. The cover was manufactured in Shanghai, China, was shipped refrigerated to the United States for binding and was powered by a nominal 90-day integrated battery supply.[5][6]
E Ink Vizplex
E Ink Vizplex is the internal name of E Ink's current line of display technologies.[7] Each version/model of Vizplex technology is marketed under different brand names, as detailed below. Vizplex is sometimes used to refer to specifically the first-generation of the line, in order to distinguish it from further generations, though properly speaking, Pearl and Triton are also types of Vizplex displays, as indicated by the text "E Ink Vizplex" at the bottom of startup screens for those displays.
E Ink Pearl
E Ink Pearl, announced on July 31, 2010, is the second generation of E Ink Vizplex displays, a higher contrast screen built with E Ink Pearl Imaging Film.[8] The updated Amazon Kindle DX was the first device announced to use the screen, and the Kindle 3, Kindle 4, and Kindle Touch also incorporate the Pearl display.[9][10] Sony has also included this technology into its latest release of the Sony Reader Touch edition.[11] This display is also used in the Nook Simple Touch,[12] Kobo eReader Touch,[13] Onyx Boox M90[14] and X61S.[15]
E Ink Triton
E Ink Triton announced on November 9, 2010 the third generation of E Ink Vizplex displays: a colour display that is easy to read in high light. The Triton is able to display 16 shades of gray, and 4096 colours.[16] E Ink Triton is being used in commercially available products such as the Hanvon colour eReader,[17] or JetBook Color made by ectaco.
Fourth generation
In January 2013, at the International CES, it was announced that the next generation of E Ink devices will feature 768 by 1024 resolution on 6-inch displays, with 212 ppi (Pixel density).[18]
See also
References
- ^ US filing date 25-Oct-1996 5930026, Joseph Jacobson, Barrett Comiskey, "Nonemissive displays and piezoelectric power supplies therefor"
- ^ Carmody, Tim (November 9, 2010). "How E Ink’s Triton Color Displays Work, In E-Readers and Beyond". Wired.com.
- ^ E-Ink's Sale Clears Path for Color Kindle in 2010 from FastCompany.com
- ^ Motofone Makes Its Global Debut Introducing Stylish Connectivity For Everyone[dead link]
- ^ "Esquire Becomes First Magazine To Merge Digital Technology With Printed Pages | Ford Motor Company Newsroom". Media.ford.com. 2008-07-21. http://media.ford.com/article_display .cfm?article_id=28680. Retrieved 2012-10-10.
- ^ Esquire's E-Ink Cover, Esquire.com website, September 8, 2008. Retrieved 2009-08-23.
- ^ Miller, Paul (2007-05-10). "E Ink Corp. announces "Vizplex" tech to speed, brighten displays". http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/10/e- ink-corp-announces-vizplex-tech-to-sp eed-brighten-displays/. Retrieved 2012-05-11.
- ^ "E Ink: Technology: Display Products: E Ink Pearl Imaging Film". http://www.eink.com/display_products_ pearl.html.
- ^ "E Ink explains the new Pearl display used in the updated Kindle DX". http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/01/e- ink-explains-the-new-pearl-display-us ed-in-the-updated-kindle/.
- ^ "Kindle Wireless Reading Device, Wi-Fi, Graphite, 6" Display with New E Ink Pearl Technology". http://amazon.com/kindle.
- ^ "Reader Touch Edition™". http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/s tores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId= 10151&catalogId=10551&langId= -1&productId=8198552921666257815# specifications.
- ^ "Nook Simple Touch Reader technical specifications". http://www.barnesandnoble.com/nook/fe atures/techspecs/index.asp.
- ^ "Kobo eReader Touch technical specifications". http://kobobooks.com/touch_tech.
- ^ "Onyx Boox M90 technical specifications". http://www.onyx-boox.com/onyx-boox-m9 0/specifications.
- ^ "Onyx Boox X61S review (in Polish)". http://technowinki.onet.pl/wiadomosci /premiera-ekonomiczny-e-reader-onyx-b oox-x61s,1,4804928,artykul.html.
- ^ http://www.eink.com/Triton_Press_Rele ase_Final.pdf
- ^ Taub, Eric A. (November 7, 2010). "Color Comes to E Ink Screens". The New York Times.
- ^ E Ink's future foretold at CES: Next-gen will be high-res, support color (video)
External links
