Jan van de Kamer

13.2: Development of Active Matrix Electronic Ink Displays for Handheld Devices

Interest in the use of electrophoretic displays for smart handheld applications has grown tremendously over the past few years. Since the launch of the Philips and E Ink joint development effort in February 2001, material parameters, TFT backplane, electronic hard- and software and modulisation skills have been developed to make this promising display concept into a real product and to build working commercial prototypes.

High-quality images on electrophoretic displays

— High-resolution micro-encapsulated active-matrix electrophoretic displays showing 2-bit gray-tone images and text with high contrast and high reflectance are commercially available. Methods of realizing high-quality images on these displays will be covered in this paper.

Development of active‐matrix electronic‐ink displays for handheld devices

Interest in the use of electrophoretic displays for smart handheld applications has grown tremendously over the past few years. Since the launch of the Philips and E Ink joint development effort in February 2001, material parameters, TFT backplane, electronic hardware and software and modulization skills have been developed to make this promising display concept into a real product. The first commercial launch of active-matrix electronic-ink display modules is planned for mid 2004.

The present and future of electronic paper

— With the rise of electrophoretic-display media from several sources, the world is opening up for new uses of electronic displays. Where “immersive reading” used to be a task strictly reserved for paper, displays can now fulfill that role. Many challenges still remain, such as full-color photograph-like performance and video speeds. However, in view of recent accomplishments showing near-video-speed switching and potential for full color, after electrophoretic displays obtain a slice of the reading market, application of these developments will take us a significant step towards full-color animated paper-like displays. The developments that have led to the presence of electronic paper in the market today will be described, and developments that are about to happen will be discussed.

56.1: Invited Paper: High Quality Images on Electronic Paper Displays

High-resolution micro-encapsulated active matrix electrophoretic displays showing 2-bits graytone images and text with high contrast and high reflectance are commercially available. Methods of realizing high quality images on these displays will be covered in this paper.