What Is Electronic Paper?
Electronic paper, also known as electronic ink, is a technology that imitates the appearance of traditional ink on paper. It works by arranging millions of tiny capsules in a thin film. Each tiny capsule is filled with a clear fluid that contains charged pigment particles. When an electric field is applied, the pigment particles move within the capsules (i.e., electrophoresis), causing the e-ink paper to display a specific image. This image remains static until another electric field is applied
Key Characteristics of Electronic Paper
Electronic paper has two main characteristics that set them apart from other displays:
Paper-like Display
E ink display technology provides a paper-like reading experience by reflecting ambient light rather than emitting it. The E paper technology helps reduce eye fatigue. It also enables a wide viewing angle and high readability under sunlight.
Bi-stable Display
Electronic paper is bi-stable, meaning the E ink display technology doesn’t require continuous power to maintain an image. The E ink tech results in great energy savings. It also contributes to the shared goal of reducing carbon emissions.
Essential Technical Support in Electronic Paper Industry
Mainboard Solution Support
The mainboard of electronic paper should be tailored to actual usage scenarios. For example, embedded systems are typically preferred for single-function uses, while Android systems are more suitable for scenarios that demand multitasking.
Operating Software Support
The operating software of electronic paper refers to the specialized software used to publish, manage, and update display content. It should support features such as remote content updates, content scheduling and management, multi-device synchronization, etc.
Multi-size Models Support
Suppliers should provide differently-sized electronic paper models for diverse usage scenarios, including electronic notebooks, billboards, transportation signage, and more.
Low-cost TFT Resource Support
TFT primarily controls the charge distribution of each pixel point on the E-paper screen to achieve image refresh. Access to low-cost TFT resources makes electronic paper displays more affordable and accessible.
Color and Wide Temperature Range Support
Electronic paper displays should be capable of displaying colors beyond black and white and functioning reliably across a broad range of temperatures to meet diverse customer needs.
Narrow Bezel Support
Narrow bezel designs aim to decrease the overall screen size for space savings and enhance aesthetics. It also facilitates modularity, making it easier to piece together multiple screens for advertising walls or large displays.
High Refresh Rate Support
High refresh rate support ensures the capability for rapid screen refresh, which is crucial for accommodating the display needs of dynamic content.
Multiple Interfaces Support
Electronic paper solutions should support various interfaces, such as SPI, I²C, UART, and USB. Broad compatibility ensures seamless integration with different hardware devices.
E Ink Technology Roadmap
Electronic paper has two main characteristics that set them apart from other displays:
Integrates color filter layer jetting technology
Capable of displaying 4096 colors (0-50℃) / 8 basic colors (-15~0℃ & 50~65℃)
Working temperature between -15℃ to 65℃, suitable for outdoor environments
Rapid refresh time of less than 1 second
The stronger the ambient light, the better the color display
Spectra 6 displays black, white, red, green, yellow, and blue
Working temperature between 0℃~50℃
Meets the needs of color advertising to a large extent
Supports partial refresh (for 25.3-inch models)
Display various colors as well as dynamic images
Wins 2024 CMF Design Gold Award
SEEKINK E Paper Usage Scenarios
Display Pain Points in Transportation
- High energy consumption
- High labor cost
- Delayed content refresh
- Limitations in product upgrade
- Nighttime display issues
What SEEKINK Offers
- Energy-efficient E paper transportation signs
- User-friendly products
- Timely content updates
- Future-proof solutions
- Clear displays at night
Display Pain Points in Advertising
- Repeated tearing and replacing of old stickers
- High energy cost
- Glare in the outdoors
What SEEKINK Offers
- Remote and fast content updates
- Energy-efficient products
- Clear display even in sunlight
Display Pain Points in Workplace
- Paper waste and labor-intensive replacement from using paper signs
- Increased energy cost from using LCD solutions
What SEEKINK Offers
- Eco-friendly and easy-to-manage display solutions
- Cost-saving products due to energy-efficient E ink display technology
Display Pain Points in Hospital
- Light pollution
- Content updates being laborious
- Common displays not suitable for complex healthcare scenarios
What SEEKINK Offers
- No light pollution and glare due to paper-like displays
- Easy content updates and management
- Waterproof and anti-fouling
Display Pain Points in Consumer Electronics
- Must be plugged for display
- Glare in sunlight
- High energy consumption
What SEEKINK Offers
- Convenience with no plugging needs
- Clear display solutions
- Energy efficiency
- Modern and sleek appearance
SEEKINK Transmission Method
When an image update request is sent from terminal devices, it is first uploaded to a cloud server. Then, it is relayed to the electronic paper device through a gateway. The signal is then transmitted to the T-con boards via USB connections. The T-con board controls the E Ink screen to fulfill the request.
