Extension kit supports evaluation and development of e-paper displays

The kit can be also used as a bridge to replace an existing display while developing a new application, easing the design task and speeding time to market.

The EPD driving interface and open-source driving code provided by the EXT2 kit expedites the design of EPDs while the board provides FPC connector types that support the majority of PDi’s e-paper displays.

The board also features a socket that allows it to be directly stacked on various Texas Instruments (TI) LaunchPad development kits through the standardized BoosterPack plug-in module to enable different applications. The EXT2 kit supports connections to the MSP-EXP430F5529LP LaunchPad kit and MSP-EXP432P401R LaunchPad kit for ultra-low power applications as well as the EK-TM4C123GXL LaunchPad kit. It will support the SimpleLink Wi-Fi CC3200 LaunchPad kit, the CC2650 Bluetooth Low Energy wireless LaunchPad kit and the SimpleLink Sub-1GHz CC1310 LaunchPad kit for IoT-enabled e-Paper designs soon. Designers can also use the on-board headers of EXT2 to bridge with a current product design or any other development kit. Additionally, the EXT2 provides on-board driver circuits to support applications with EPDs that use External or Internal Timing Controllers (eTC or iTC) and builds with different material films.

“Our aim with this EPD extension kit is to kick-start the development of e-paper display applications,” explained Charming Su, Pervasive Displays’ Director of Product and Field Applications. He said, “We have included the open source driver code and design files to eliminate any barriers to design. We also offer comprehensive technical support with a custom troubleshooting and design-in service for developers to add e-paper to their design, across various end equipment categories, from IoT, reusable transit items, HMI, identification, badges, home and factory automation, industrial and more.”

The EXT2 is available from Digi-Key and other local distributors, priced at $25.

E-paper is the lowest power display technology. Energy is only consumed when the display changes and it requires no energy to display information - enabling exceptionally long battery life, even from tiny coin cells.