Colour e-paper displays integrate controller electronics

21st November 2017

Enaie Azambuja

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Pervasive Displays has announced samples available for four new, small size, high resolution, three colour, TFT active matrix EPD modules with iTC. The additions to the range are the 1.54-inch (E2154FS091), 2.13-inch (E2213FS091), 2.66-inch (E2266FS092) and 2.71-inch (E2271FS091) EPD modules. The displays’ extremely low power consumption, clarity and ease-of-integration make them ideal for signage and labeling in sectors such as retail, public displays and healthcare.

Typical applications include electronic shelf labels (ESL), e-POP/signage, electronic bulletins, office automation, navigation displays and other IoT applications. These highly integrated EPDs accelerate time to market by integrating features to simplify the product design process.

“The breathtaking clarity of these new, small format, colour EPDs really has to be seen to be believed,” said Scott Soong, CEO of Pervasive Displays. “And I think developers are going to be delighted with the reduced costs and faster development time that are possible now we’ve brought the timing controller and other support circuits onto the panels themselves with chip-on-glass technology.”

The EPD modules are based around TFT active matrix three-pigment, black, white, and red E Ink display panels. Each display’s pixel density of 103 dpi provides crisp, clear text and graphics.

The EPD module technology provides a vibrant natural light-readable display which, due to its bi-stable nature, requires very little power to update an image and no power to maintain the image.

Depending on application demands, the small size modules can operate for extended periods of weeks or months on a single small battery. The three colour design brings eye catching pizzazz to adverts and promos, and allows stronger highlighting of critical details in informational displays.

Among the outstanding design features that put each new EPD module ahead of the field is the integrated chip-on-glass (CoG) timing controller. This cuts component costs and slashes application development time by minimising peripheral circuitry and software programming demands.

The timing controller’s one time programmable look up table holds driving waveforms, which control the series of electrical impulses that change the colour of the e-paper display’s pixels. Pervasive Displays’ stored driving waveforms simplify programming, and help ensure the best possible image quality, display update speed, and reliability for each EPD.

As well as the integrated timing controller, the CoG design includes a booster circuit and makes possible a remarkably thin profile EPD. The slim size of the panel enables a smaller product form factor and allows for larger batteries in mobile applications.