E Ink
Encyclopedia
E Ink is a specific proprietary type of electronic paper
manufactured by E Ink Corporation
, founded in 1997 based on research started at the MIT Media Lab
. It is currently available commercially in grayscale
and color and is commonly used in mobile devices such as e-reader
s and, to a lesser extent, mobile phones and watches.
was the first magazine cover to integrate E Ink and featured flashing text. The cover was manufactured in Shanghai, China, was shipped refrigerated to the United States for binding and was powered by a nominal 90-day integrated battery supply.
On June 1, 2009, E Ink Corp. announced an agreement to be purchased by one of its primary business partners, Prime View Int'l Co. Ltd (元太科技工業), for US
$215 million. It is predicted that the purchase by this Taiwanese company will put the production of the E-Ink EPD on a larger scale than before, as Prime View also owns BOE Hydis Technology Co. Ltd (京东方海帝士科技) and maintains a strategic partner relationship with Chi Mei Optoelectronics Corp., which is now Chi Mei Innolux Corp. (奇美電子), part of the Hon Hai-Foxconn
Group (鴻海富士康集團). It is noteworthy that Foxconn is the sole ODM
partner for Prime View's Netronix Inc. (振曜科技), the supplier of E-Ink-panel e-readers for rebranding (the end-user products may appear with any of several brands, e.g., Bookeen, COOL-ER, PocketBook, etc.).
DX was the first device announced to use the screen, and the Kindle 3 also incorporates the Pearl display. Sony has also included this technology into its latest release of the Sony Reader
Touch edition. This display is also used in the Nook Simple Touch
, Kobo eReader Touch, Onyx Boox M90 and X61S.
Electronic paper
Electronic paper, e-paper and electronic ink are a range of display technology which are designed to mimic the appearance of ordinary ink on paper. Unlike conventional backlit flat panel displays, electronic paper displays reflect light like ordinary paper...
manufactured by E Ink Corporation
E Ink Corporation
E Ink Corporation is a privately held manufacturer of electrophoretic displays , a kind of electronic paper. E Ink is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and was co-founded in 1997 by Joseph Jacobson, a professor in the MIT Media Lab. Two years later, E Ink partnered with Philips to develop and...
, founded in 1997 based on research started at the MIT Media Lab
MIT Media Lab
The MIT Media Lab is a laboratory of MIT School of Architecture and Planning. Devoted to research projects at the convergence of design, multimedia and technology, the Media Lab has been widely popularized since the 1990s by business and technology publications such as Wired and Red Herring for a...
. It is currently available commercially in grayscale
Grayscale
In photography and computing, a grayscale or greyscale digital image is an image in which the value of each pixel is a single sample, that is, it carries only intensity information...
and color and is commonly used in mobile devices such as e-reader
E-book reader
An e-book reader, also called an e-book device or e-reader, is a mobile electronic device that is designed primarily for the purpose of reading digital e-books and periodicals....
s and, to a lesser extent, mobile phones and watches.
History and manufacturing process
The material is processed into a film for integration into electronic displays, particularly for e-readers. The Motorola F3 was the first mobile phone to employ E Ink technology into its display, taking advantage of the material's ultra-low power consumption. In addition, the Samsung Alias 2 uses this technology as the display on the buttons change. The October 2008 limited edition North American issue of EsquireEsquire (magazine)
Esquire is a men's magazine, published in the U.S. by the Hearst Corporation. Founded in 1932, it flourished during the Great Depression under the guidance of founder and editor Arnold Gingrich.-History:...
was the first magazine cover to integrate E Ink and featured flashing text. The cover was manufactured in Shanghai, China, was shipped refrigerated to the United States for binding and was powered by a nominal 90-day integrated battery supply.
On June 1, 2009, E Ink Corp. announced an agreement to be purchased by one of its primary business partners, Prime View Int'l Co. Ltd (元太科技工業), for US
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
$215 million. It is predicted that the purchase by this Taiwanese company will put the production of the E-Ink EPD on a larger scale than before, as Prime View also owns BOE Hydis Technology Co. Ltd (京东方海帝士科技) and maintains a strategic partner relationship with Chi Mei Optoelectronics Corp., which is now Chi Mei Innolux Corp. (奇美電子), part of the Hon Hai-Foxconn
Foxconn
The Foxconn Technology Group is a multinational business group anchored by the Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd. , a Taiwan-registered corporation headquartered in Tucheng, Taiwan...
Group (鴻海富士康集團). It is noteworthy that Foxconn is the sole ODM
Original Design Manufacturer
An original design manufacturer is a company which designs and manufactures a product which is specified and eventually branded by another firm for sale. Such companies allow the brand firm to produce without having to engage in the organization or running of a factory...
partner for Prime View's Netronix Inc. (振曜科技), the supplier of E-Ink-panel e-readers for rebranding (the end-user products may appear with any of several brands, e.g., Bookeen, COOL-ER, PocketBook, etc.).
E Ink Pearl
On July 31, 2010, E Ink announced a second generation of E-ink displays, a higher contrast screen built with E Ink Pearl Imaging Film. The updated Amazon KindleAmazon Kindle
The Amazon Kindle is an e-book reader developed by Amazon.com subsidiary Lab126 which uses wireless connectivity to enable users to shop for, download, browse, and read e-books, newspapers, magazines, blogs, and other digital media...
DX was the first device announced to use the screen, and the Kindle 3 also incorporates the Pearl display. Sony has also included this technology into its latest release of the Sony Reader
Sony Reader
The Sony Reader is a line of e-book readers manufactured by Sony. It uses an electronic paper display developed by E Ink Corporation, is viewable in direct sunlight, requires no power to maintain a static image, and is usable in portrait or landscape orientation.Sony sells e-books for the Reader...
Touch edition. This display is also used in the Nook Simple Touch
Nook Simple Touch
The Nook Simple Touch is the second generation of the Nook e-book device by Barnes & Noble. It features an 800x600 E Ink screen that has a touchscreen using a network of infrared beams slightly above the screen surface...
, Kobo eReader Touch, Onyx Boox M90 and X61S.
E Ink Triton
On November 9, 2010, E Ink announced a third generation of E-ink displays: a color display that is easy to read in high light. The E Ink Triton will display 16 shades of gray, and 4096 colors. E Ink Triton is being used in commercially available products such as the Hanvon color eReader.See also
- List of e-book readers
- Amazon KindleAmazon KindleThe Amazon Kindle is an e-book reader developed by Amazon.com subsidiary Lab126 which uses wireless connectivity to enable users to shop for, download, browse, and read e-books, newspapers, magazines, blogs, and other digital media...
- Barnes & Noble NookNookNook may refer to a small corner formed by two walls.Nook may also refer to:*A slang name for a person reading; also known as a "book nook"*"Nook", a science-fiction TV series Lexx episode...
- Kobo eReaderKobo eReaderThe Kobo eReader is an e-book reader produced by Toronto-based company Kobo Inc. The original version was released in July 2010 and was marketed as a minimalist alternative to the more expensive e-book readers available at the time. , fifty-eight percent of Kobo Inc is owned by Indigo Books & Music...
- Plastic LogicPlastic LogicPlastic Logic is a spin-off company from Cambridge University's Cavendish Laboratory and specializes in polymer transistors and electronics.The firm was founded in 2000....
- Electronic paperElectronic paperElectronic paper, e-paper and electronic ink are a range of display technology which are designed to mimic the appearance of ordinary ink on paper. Unlike conventional backlit flat panel displays, electronic paper displays reflect light like ordinary paper...
- Sony ReaderSony ReaderThe Sony Reader is a line of e-book readers manufactured by Sony. It uses an electronic paper display developed by E Ink Corporation, is viewable in direct sunlight, requires no power to maintain a static image, and is usable in portrait or landscape orientation.Sony sells e-books for the Reader...
External links
- Official Site of E Ink Corporation
- Howstuffworks review on Electronic Ink
- ZDNet Definition for: E Ink (includes illustrations and product photos)
- Epson and E Ink developing 2400x1650 pixel display.