E Ink Corp., the developer and marketer of electronic ink technology for paper-like displays, has introduced a new product platform for character and segmented display cells (www.eink.com/cs) used in consumer electronics, portable equipment, signage, fashion accessories, and a broad range of commercial and industrial products. The first products will begin shipping later this year to select OEMs. The company also announced immediate availability of an evaluation kit for product designers and engineers.
"E Ink is now marketing its electronic ink-based displays to three distinct market segments," said Russ Wilcox, vice president and general manager of E Ink. "We already offer simple Ink-In-Motion animation displays for advertisers and high-resolution flat panel screens for smart handheld devices through our partner Philips Components. The new character and segmented display platform builds the middle range of our product offerings with a medium-resolution capability. Combined, this three pronged approach opens electronic ink to a wide array of customers."
E Ink's character and segmented display platform offers a fresh alternative to OEMs currently using traditional segmented liquid crystal displays (LCDs), light emitting displays (LEDs) and vacuum fluorescent displays (VFDs).
"Electronic ink uses less power than a reflective LCD display," said Mark Basler, vice president of E Ink's character and segment display platform, "but it's five times brighter and easy to read in all lighting conditions and at any angle. We package all that in a paper-thin and shatterproof display cell, enabling better product ergonomics and new product design possibilities."
E Ink is offering a development kit to product designers, developers and engineers interested in evaluating the visual and mechanical characteristics of the character and segmented platform. The kit, which demonstrates how to directly drive low segment count electronic ink display cells, includes devices for basic product mock-ups; a user programmable, segmented module; and some basic technical documentation. For more information, contact E Ink at [email protected].
"The Character and Segment Evaluation Kit gives design engineers their first opportunity to evaluate direct drive electronic ink display cells and drive techniques," said Basler. "Many people have heard about electronic ink and 'digital paper.' Now E Ink is making available early access to electronic ink for those who want to explore the technology to develop novel product solutions."
E Ink is actively looking for OEMs and manufacturing partners interested in jointly developing solutions and licensing electronic ink for their applications. For more information about joining E Ink's partner program, go to www.eink.com/cs/partners.
E Ink Corporation was founded in 1997 to create a new medium for visual communications. E Ink's electronic ink display technology helps unleash the full power of our connected world by uniquely combining a paper-like reading experience with the ability to access information anytime, anywhere. E Ink's technology delivers the look, form and utility of paper encompassing broad design freedom, manufacturing flexibility and the ultimate in readability and portability. The company markets three types of displays: Ink-In-Motion displays for advertising and promotions; character and segmented displays for everything from signage to portable consumer products; and active-matrix graphical displays for smart handheld devices.
E Ink is a private corporation that includes among its investors and strategic partners TOPPAN Printing Company, Philips Components, Motorola, Inc., Lucent Technologies, Creavis GmbH, The Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc., Havas (a division of the Vivendi Group in France), Langenscheidt Verlag, The Hearst Corporation, Atlas Venture, Applied Technology and Solstice Capital. E Ink is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts and has an office in Tokyo, Japan.
For additional information, visit www.eink.com.