As a comprehensive solution, electronic paper, also known as e paper display, offers an extensive array of practical applications that are yet to be fully explored. Users across various industries are astounded by the tremendous benefits this innovative technology brings, enabling them to achieve cost reduction, enhance overall production efficiency, and provide an optimal consumer experience. This article aims to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the fundamental principles of electronic paper, acquaint you with its advantages and diverse applications, and help you locate the precise product that meets your requirements.

Introduction to Electronic Paper technology: An amazing e paper display?

What is an Electronic Paper Display?

Electronic paper can at times be referred to as e paper, e-paper or ePaper, and often even seem confusing with other names such as electronic ink, e ink, or e ink display. All this naming, depending on the manufacturer and corporate strategy, actually points to the exact same description of the ingenious mimicry of the presence of traditional ink on paper, because technological innovation has made jotting down words on paper a thing of the past! Images and information can now be clearly retained on electronic paper, with the same degree of crispness, sharpness and readability, if not higher.

How does e paper display technology work?

The purpose and functioning of displaying images on electronic paper, and what makes electronic paper displays superior to high-resolution screens, lie at the core of e paper display technology. Imagine each e-paper display as a pool filled with millions of microscopic capsules, roughly the thickness of a human hair, containing tiny ink particles of various colors swimming in a clear fluid, all encapsulated within a thin film.

In this basic form of an e paper display, the eink display capsules consist of black and white particles. Black pigments, negatively charged and reflective, contrast with positively charged non-reflective white pigments. Electrodes positioned above and below the capsule film apply an electric field to individual electrodes, causing the particles with the corresponding charge to float or sink, resulting in specific colors on the eink display surface.

In essence, these electrically charged particles operate on the principle of electrophoretic display (EPD). The motion of these scattered molecules, rearranged within fluid-filled capsules under the influence of an electric field, paints the surface of a new world, illuminating the advancements in display technology.

After understanding what electronic paper technology is, we can now analyze the advantages of the e paper display to see why this kind of technology becomes a trend. We will list those advantages and further compare Electronic Paper with LCD.

Advantages of Using Electronic Paper: Compare E Paper Display (EPD) with LCD

What are the advantages of Using Electronic Paper?

E paper Display can display without a power source
An EPD further helps resolve the business difficulties and sales challenges experienced by digital signage integrators and commercial companies due to display failures during power shortages or lost internet connectivity, and no more blue screens or error messages since the last uploaded information will always remain on display, even when the screen fails to refresh for any unknown reasons, making a world of difference compared with conventional display technologies.

Electronic Paper is Ultra-low Power Displays

Electronic paper technology does not require continuous energy consumption after displaying, as it consumes power only when the information on screen is being refreshed.This makes electronic paper advantageous in terms of energy efficiency and long-term use, particularly for applications that require prolonged display of information, such as e-book readers, price tags, and public information displays.

E-paper Display High Contrast and Reading Comfort
Greater contrast and reflectivity also give ePaper higher-quality readability. Being a reflective technology means being sunlight readable, and unlike the embedded LCD technologies, ePaper needs no power to light up the screen. Therefore, the ePaper rule of thumb goes like this: If one could read a piece of paper, one can read an ePaper.

Compare between E Paper Display (EPD) and LCD

Different from the molecular-scale characteristics of the more popular liquid crystal displays which requires refreshing about 30 times per second, this micro-particle based EPD technology can achieve ultra-low power DC field addressing, thanks to its nature of bi-stability, meaning that in practice an electronic ink display consumes power only when the information on screen is being modified. Just like ordinary ink on paper, an EPD simply holds an uploaded text or static image on display in perpetuity even without a power source, therefore contributing to amazing battery longevity.

Here is the comparison table of e-paper display and LCD, the reference link is inserted here:

	E-paper Display	LCD
Thickness	E-paper display is about 1 millimeter in thickness	LCD is relatively thicker (approximately 7 millimeters)
Readability in Sunlight	Readable in sunlight	Hard to read in sunlight (needs strong backlight)
Portability	It is easier to carry E-paper due to its light weight	It is relatively difficult to carry LCD due to its heaviness which is because of the glass screen and power systems.
Power Requirements	Only consumes power when the image is changed	Consume power while holding images.
View	A viewing angle of 180 degrees, i.e. it can be viewed from anywhere if you are in front of it.	LCD can be best viewed only from the center front of the screen.
Pixel Visibility	E-paper display uses reflection of light for pixels to be visible	LCD uses back light illumination for pixel visibility.

E-paper Display Application in Various Industries

The demand for digitalization drives the improvement of work efficiency and accuracy in information exchange, mitigating risks and enhancing decision-making. However, certain sectors in various industries continue to heavily rely on manually updating whiteboards and data cards for internal communication, leading to increased risks of errors and information omissions alongside longer working hours and heavier workloads. To bring modern signage into the new era, electronic paper displays offer advanced solutions that enable establishments to make better decisions with clear visibility, reducing reliance on outdated manual methods and enhancing overall effectiveness.

E paper Display Application 1: Healthcare Industry

Patient door signs：E-paper door signs can now connect wirelessly to healthcare facilities and hospitals, updating and forwarding patient information in real-time.

Patient care signs：Through wirelessly connecting to the HIS/EHR/EMR systems, e-paper care signs can automatically display medical alerts and relevant patient records such as patient allergy precautions or restrictions. Integrated and swift doctor / patient communication is key to mutual trust and improved healthcare conditions, as well as medical staff efficiency.

Communication boards: Installation of e-paper communication boards inside patient rooms will in real-time assist with all the patient’s medical schedules and treatments, and also serve as a communication portal between the patient, the medical team, the family and friends.

E paper Display Application 2: Retail

Electronic Shelf Labels: E-paper Shelf Labels (ESLs) allow retailers to wirelessly, instantly and efficiently update the content of labels on the shelves, eliminating the need to print labels in paper formats or deploying manual labor for replacement of paper labels on the storefront. Retailers will be able to easily achieve dynamic promotional pricing, price agility, out-of-stock reminders, template switching, special event messages, brand recognition, QR code scanning, omni-channel links, etc. It is easy for the headquarters to remotely control individual labels in every corner of the world if something happens.

Pervasive Displays have also announced a TFT active matrix module that provides a freezer-friendly, easily-readable electronic paper display (EPD) of information down to teeth-gritting temperatures of -25° C (-13 °F). This ultra-low temperature & remarkably low power consumption module is perfectly suitable for labeling, tagging and informational applications in sectors and settings requiring low temperatures such as cold-chain logistics, food packaging, shelf labeling for frozen foods and storage. Its high resolution and high integrability help designers speed up product development.

The magical effects e-paper displays have on the menu boards of restaurants, food stores, and other dining establishments are easily visible in comparison with conventional LCD displays. The natural look and feel of epaper is most ideal in avoiding the unwanted glare and reflections of light, resulting from the glossy front, from reducing readability. Smooth images and sharp texts are what makes food look more delicious and appealing.

E paper Display Application 3: IoT

Digital information boards: Electronic paper provides high-contrast display, centrally updates real-time information and service alerts, and has excellent direct sunlight readability. Connecting sensors and environmental monitoring meters, E-paper display can show key dynamic information and remind managers with its ultra-low energy consumption characteristics. Electronic paper can be used as an excellent display device for the Internet of Things applications.

Notebooks: E-paper is reflective, non-self-illuminating, and eyeball-friendly. Applicable to productivity tools such as computers, and suitable for reading over a long period. Interactive use with LCDs for greater work efficiency.

Taking e-paper notes: The E-paper notepad with handwriting functions gives access to note-taking by hand while reading or during lessons. It contributes to lower consumption of paper and dramatically reduces the weight of schoolbags and the stress on student eyesight when used as teaching or academic research materials at school.

E paper Display Application 4: Industrial 4.0 / Warehousing

Logistics labels: During the process of transportation, the logistics labels can also display the product name, destination, current status and other information on the package, and can be subject to tracking at any time (RTLS, real-time locating system). The electronic paper with ultra-low power consumption and permanent display is an exemplary demonstration of application in the industrial field.

Smart packaging: E-paper displays offer the advantages of flexibility, low energy consumption, and long-lasting images. Even in the case of complete power exhaustion, basic information will still remain on the packaging, proving feasibility for futuristic smart packaging.

Warehouse management labels: The e-paper warehouse label system plus LED flashing prompts makes identification and positioning of packages more convenient, while giving warehouse personnel greater latitude in terms of pick-ups and speed; with temperature and humidity sensors, products can be monitored in special storage environments. Connecting the warehouse label wirelessly to the management system through the front and back ends in series is the realization of real-time update of inventory and improvement to management efficiency.

Introducing Pervasive Display: A choice for E paper Display Products

Who is Pervasive Display?

Pervasive Displays is the leader in e paper displays for IoT applications, it designs, manufactures and markets e paper displays that deliver high resolution, ultra-thin form factor, sunlight readability and ultra-low power consumption. Pervasive Displays provides suitable solutions for businesses which hope to gain use of Electronic Paper Display technology.

Popular Electronic Paper Display Products of Pervasive Display: EPD development kit

The 2.71” or 3.7” Projected Capacitive Touch panel is laminated on a monochrome e-paper display (EPD) with internal Timing Controller and partial update driving waveform embedded to provide the high resolution image quality and fast refresh . The sub 5” EPDs also provide a wide range of various use cases above to enable diverse applications.

With this new offer of the 2.71”-Touch EPD, the 3.70”-Touch EPD and the EPDK-Touch kit, combined with the Pervasive Displays Library Suite (PDLS) and the available documentation, Pervasive Displays further facilitates the use of the e-paper technology.

The new EPD touch panels and EPDK-Touch kit provide a simpler way of evaluating the many features and benefits of EPD technology for human machine interface (HMI) applications. Embedded fast and partial updates ensure responsive interactions. Engineers can evaluate HMI with e ink e-paper display and develop applications easier and faster for users to experience the visual enjoyment of interaction.

The EPDK-Touch helps engineers to discover and assess e-paper technology, compare it to other display technologies, test different host micro-controllers and memory configurations, evaluate different screen sizes, before making final decisions.

Pervasive launchs a new large range of wide temperature eink displays from the existing dimensions for small and medium sizes in 2023, including < 6”，1.54”, 2.13”, 2.66”, 2.71”, 3.7”, 4.2”, 4.37” and 5.8”. The purpose is for developers and rolled out products can be directly upgraded or transferred without any mechanical changes so that the launched products can be directly operated in wider temperature range.Pervasive will launch new size range of wide temperature eink displays for large sizes in the second quarter of 2023, including > 5”, 7.4”, 9.7” and 12”.

Sizes and Colors of Pervasive Display Electronic Paper

With more colors in the family, we continue to provide improved multi-color platforms with various options of display sizes on which incredible and versatile projects can be and realized. Users can now drive the EPD with embedded OTP LUT(One-Time Programmable LookUp Table). now including “small” sizes ranging from 1.54“, 2.13“, 2.66“, 2.7“, and 2.87“ all the way to 4.2“, mid-sizes 5” to 7“, and large 9.7” to 12″ available for the extensive use of different industries and purposes. The e paper display (EPD) T-con embedded single driver, with the major SPI control interface, has such high resolution that it is able to display fine patterns with relative ease. The host sends both the setting commands and the display images to the driver through the SPI bus.

Due to its bi-stable nature, the EPD panel requires very little power to update and needs no power to maintain an image. And images now come in a line of compact black, white, and red colors, giving product and service designers greater flexibility with a combination of colors.

Currently Pervasive supports an entire range of iTC ultra-low power e-paper displays, monochrome and tri-color (black-white-red), from the 1.54” Aurora to the 12” Spectra, opening a whole new dimension for EPDs, so instead of being passive, they can now act as input devices for human machine interface (HMI). This is a perfect configuration for ultra-low power IoT remote controls. Our connectors specifically placed for the 2.71” and 3.70” EPD display with touch focus on ease of use and simplify connections by keeping only the active signals and reducing the number of pins in the initial board. The different kit features offer just the kind of help engineers need to discover and assess E ink e-paper technology, compare it to other display technologies, test different host micro-controllers and memory configurations, and evaluate different screen sizes and colors, before making final decisions.

Development Kits with 2.71” or 3.70” touch panels are available at Mouser and Digikey from June 2022. The EPDK-Touch bundle combining an EXT3-1, EXT3-Touch, 3.7” touch panel and Raspberry Pi Pico will also be available at Amazon and SparkFun this July.

Pervasive is set to launch a four-color electronic paper product in the second quarter of 2023, featuring black, white, yellow, and red.

 

Electronic Paper technology can not only display without a power source, but also provides High Contrast and Reading Comfort. This technology is not a future thing. Healthcare Industry, retail, IoT and so many other fields are making use of E paper Display. To understand more about Pervasive Display, click the link below.

 

Introducing Pervasive E-paper Display Products

Popular Electronic Paper Display Products

The 2.71” or 3.7” Projected Capacitive Touch panel is laminated on a monochrome e-paper display (EPD) with internal Timing Controller and partial update driving waveform embedded to provide the high resolution image quality and fast refresh . The sub 5” EPDs also provide a wide range of various use cases above to enable diverse applications. 

With this new offer of the 2.71”-Touch EPD, the 3.70”-Touch EPD and the EPDK-Touch kit, combined with the Pervasive Displays Library Suite (PDLS) and the available documentation, Pervasive Displays further facilitates the use of the e-paper technology.

The new EPD touch panels and EPDK-Touch kit provide a simpler way of evaluating the many features and benefits of EPD technology for human machine interface (HMI) applications. Embedded fast and partial updates ensure responsive interactions. Engineers can evaluate HMI with e ink e-paper display and develop applications easier and faster for users to experience the visual enjoyment of interaction.

The EPDK-Touch helps engineers to discover and assess e-paper technology, compare it to other display technologies, test different host micro-controllers and memory configurations, evaluate different screen sizes, before making final decisions.

Pervasive launchs a new large range of wide temperature eink displays from the existing dimensions for small and medium sizes in  2023, including < 6”，1.54”, 2.13”, 2.66”, 2.71”, 3.7”, 4.2”, 4.37” and 5.8”. The purpose is for developers and rolled out products can be directly upgraded or transferred without any mechanical changes so that the launched products can be directly operated in wider temperature range.Pervasive will launch new size range of wide temperature eink displays for large sizes in the second quarter of 2023, including > 5”, 7.4”, 9.7” and 12”.

Sizes and Colors

With more colors in the family, we continue to provide improved multi-color platforms with various options of display sizes on which incredible and versatile projects can be and realized. Users can now drive the EPD with embedded OTP LUT(One-Time Programmable LookUp Table). now including “small” sizes ranging from 1.54“, 2.13“, 2.66“, 2.7“, and 2.87“ all the way to 4.2“, mid-sizes 5” to 7“, and large 9.7” to 12″ available for the extensive use of different industries and purposes. The e paper display (EPD) T-con embedded single driver, with the major SPI control interface, has such high resolution that it is able to display fine patterns with relative ease. The host sends both the setting commands and the display images to the driver through the SPI bus.

Due to its bi-stable nature, the EPD panel requires very little power to update and needs no power to maintain an image. And images now come in a line of compact black, white, and red colors, giving product and service designers greater flexibility with a combination of colors. 

 

Currently Pervasive supports an entire range of iTC ultra-low power e-paper displays, monochrome and tri-color (black-white-red), from the 1.54” Aurora to the 12” Spectra, opening a whole new dimension for EPDs, so instead of being passive, they can now act as input devices for human machine interface (HMI). This is a perfect configuration for ultra-low power IoT remote controls. Our connectors specifically placed for the 2.71” and 3.70” EPD display with touch focus on ease of use and simplify connections by keeping only the active signals and reducing the number of pins in the initial board. The different kit features offer just the kind of help engineers need to discover and assess E ink e-paper technology, compare it to other display technologies, test different host micro-controllers and memory configurations, and evaluate different screen sizes and colors, before making final decisions.

Development Kits with 2.71” or 3.70” touch panels are available at Mouser and Digikey from June 2022. The EPDK-Touch bundle combining an EXT3-1, EXT3-Touch, 3.7” touch panel and Raspberry Pi Pico will also be available at Amazon and SparkFun this July. 

Pervasive is set to launch a four-color electronic paper product in the second quarter of 2023, featuring black, white, yellow, and red.