"This book aims to provide an update to some of the most exciting new areas in electronic paper technology. In this introductory chapter, we aim to focus primarily on electrophoretic displays (EPDs), and how they became synonymous with electronic paper. The story starts in the early 1970's, with the proposal and first demonstration of the use of the electrophoretic movement of charged particles to make an optical effect. After a period of intense effort, the technology was mostly abandoned, only to be resurrected by a startup company, E Ink. Several key, and somewhat improbable, inventions had to be made in order to develop a technology competitive to the dominant liquid crystal technology. Finally, the right application and ecosystem, the Amazon Kindle electronic book, was necessary to cement commercial success. The field of reflective displays is very rich. The many other chapters in this book, and recent reviews [ 1,2] provide a wealth of resources for understanding the many technologies that have beendeveloped in the quest to achieve a paper-like display. In this chapter, we will examine the following: a description of print-on-paper, and how the optics of real paper compare with potential electronic paper competitors, hierarchical summary of the different technical approaches for reflective displays, and a detailed look at the historical development of electrophoretic displays, starting with the invention the technology and ending at the introduction of the Amazon Kindle. Looking at the various developments in the context of its times, the EPD story offers some lessons in what it takes for a technology to transition from the laboratory to commercial success"--
E-PAPER DISPLAYS An in-depth introduction to a promising technology, curated by one of its pioneering inventors
Electronic paper (e-paper) has one of the most promising futures in technology. E-paper’s potential is unlimited, as the displays require extremely low power and imitate the aesthetic of ink on the page. This allows e-paper devices to have a wider range of viewing angles than traditional LED products and are capable of being viewed in direct sunlight—and without any additional power. As a result, e-paper displays create less eye strain, have a greater flexibility in their use, and have the potential to be used in place of paper for billboard advertising, educational applications, and transport signage, and more.
In E-Paper Displays, editor Bo-Ru Yang and his team of experts present a detailed view into the important technologies involved in e-paper displays, with a particlular emphasis on how this technology’s unique properties make possible a wide range of personal and professional electronic products. As climate change makes efficient energy use more important than ever, e-paper can become an essential tool for future products on a large scale. As we rely more and more on technology, having lightweight devices with long battery life will become critical. This book provides engineers and innovators with an introduction to this important technology and shows new pathways for development.
E-Paper Displays readers will also find:
- The editor is one of the leading pioneers in this technology
- Contributions from an international team of experts in e-paper technology
- Descriptions of many advanced display types that rely on different principles than the widely used LCD and OLED types
- Another innovative title from Wiley-SID (Society for Information Displays) series
As we enter a new stage in our industrial development, E-Paper Displays is an essential reference for computer engineers and developers, as well as innovators and scientists, and their students.
