E Ink’s technology provides a convincing argument for the validity of electronic paper (or e-paper). The technology has been described as relatively simple. Each display consists of millions of tiny microcapsules that each contain positively charged white capsules and negatively charged black capsules. When a negative electric filed is applied, the white capsules move to the top where they can be seen by the viewer.

To form an E Ink electronic display, the ink is printed onto a sheet of plastic film laminated to a layer of circuitry which forms patterns of pixels that are controlled by a display driver. These microcapsules are suspended in what is known as a liquid “carrier medium” that allow them to be printed via existing screen printing processes onto any surface, like glass, plastic, fabric, and paper.

Key development in the success of technology has been the decrease of costs of some of the material used in production of e-paper and this drives down the cost of the product. E-paper is also eco-friendly in that it removes the need to print documents, recycle newspaper and magazines. The biggest growth market in 2007 was electronic shelf labels in supermarkets. A typical department store has between 20,000 and 40,000 labels and retailers want control over them.

However, no United Kingdom outlets sell the Sony Reader, a much ballyhooed e-book reader. For e-paper to thrive it needs to be embraced by the domestic market.

Tags: electronic paper

Trackback from your own site.