Technology of Electronic Ink
E Ink is the inventor of several types of electrophoretic ink, often called electronic ink. When laminated to a plastic film, and then adhered to electronics, it creates an Electronic Paper Display (EPD). Although futuristic-sounding, electronic ink is actually a straightforward fusion of chemistry, physics and electronics. It’s so much like paper, it utilizes the same pigments used in the printing industry today.
電子ペーパー
ディスプレイの構造
ディスプレイ表面は電子ペーパーの材料であるマイクロカプセルが塗布されたフィルムが貼られた構造となっているため、LCD液晶パネルのように表面割れによるガラスの飛散という心配がありません。
また、マイクロカプセルの材料成分は人体に影響を与えないため安心です。
特徴
画面を更新する時だけ、電力を消費します。一度表示された画像は、次に更新するまで保持され、その間は電力を消費しません。
他の表示デバイスに比べて圧倒的な省電力を実現します。
電子ペーパーはバックライトを持たず、紙と同じように、視野角がほぼ180度の反射型表示で長時間見続けても目に優しく、屋外の明るい場所での視認性も優れています。
フィルム状の前面板と駆動用の背面板を組み合わせるシンプルな構造が、薄くて軽いディスプレイを実現します。
消費電力
屋内の視認性
屋外の視認性
重さ
書き換え
カラー
動画
電子ペーパー
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液晶
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有機EL
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紙
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（かさばる）
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電子ペーパー
消費
電力
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屋内の
視認性
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屋外の
視認性
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重さ
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書き換え
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カラー
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動画
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液晶
消費
電力
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屋内の
視認性
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屋外の
視認性
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重さ
△
書き換え
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カラー
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動画
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有機LE
消費
電力
△
屋内の
視認性
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屋外の
視認性
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重さ
△
書き換え
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カラー
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動画
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紙
消費
電力
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屋内の
視認性
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屋外の
視認性
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重さ
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（かさばる）
書き換え
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カラー
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動画
×
視差ずれが少ない
液晶パネルとは異なり、ペン先とパネル間の距離を最大限薄く出来るので視覚のズレがほとんどありません。
また、専用のデジタイザーペンを使用し、紙に書くような自然な手書き感を実現します。
Principle of two-color electronic ink
E Ink’s two pigment electronic ink system is made up of millions of tiny microcapsules, each about the diameter of a human hair. Each microcapsule contains negatively charged white particles and positively charged black particles suspended in a clear fluid. When a positive or negative electric field is applied, corresponding particles move to the top of the microcapsule where they become visible to the viewer. This makes the surface appear white or black at that spot.
Two-color electronic ink animation
E Ink Kaleido™ 3 (4,096 colors)
Rich Color, Fast Response Time.
This new generation of E Ink Kaleido offers richer colors, along with 16 levels of grayscale and 4096 colors, perfect for displaying colorful images and information on eReaders and eNote devices.
The E Ink Kaleido 3 module is available in various panel sizes, including 7.8-inch, 10.3-inch, and 13.3-inch.
Principle of 3-color electronic ink
E Ink’s Spectra product line utilizes a 3-pigment ink system in a microcup structure. This ink was engineered specifically for Electronic Shelf Labels (ESL) and is offered in black, white and red, and black, white and red. This ink system works similarly to the dual pigment system, in that a charge is applied to the pigments, and to a top and bottom electrode to facilitate movement. However, instead of the use of microcapsules, this system utilizes Microcups®, which are filled with the liquid and sealed.
E Ink also offers a 3-pigment ink system with monochrome plus yellow), which has been increasingly applied to retail stores as electronic shelf labels (ESL) in recent years.
Advanced Color ePaper(ACeP)
In 2016 E Ink showcased a multi-pigment ink system, Advanced Color ePaper (E Ink ACeP™). ACeP™ achieves a full color gamut, including all eight primary colors, using only colored pigments. The ink can be incorporated into either microcapsule or microcup structures. Color is achieved by having all the colored pigments in every pixel, removing the need for a color filter array. ACeP™ maintains the ultra-low-power and paper-like readability under all lighting conditions of regular E Ink ePaper.
E Ink Spectra™ 6
Spectra6™6 achieves a full color gamut, including all six primary colors, using only colored pigments. The ink can be incorporated into microcup structures. Color is achieved by having all the colored pigments in every pixel, removing the need for a color filter array.
E Ink Spectra 6 builds upon the prior generations of the Spectra platform.
E Ink Spectra 6 features an enhanced color spectrum and an advanced color imaging algorithm to provide full color to improve marketing and advertising performance. E Ink Spectra 6 will be offered in a variety of display sizes, allowing customers to choose a suitable size for different application scenarios.
E Ink Spectra 6 display modules are planned for release in 2024.