Electronic ink technologygenerates a paper-like, low-power display for e-readers like the AmazonKindle.

The first patent for e-ink was lodged in 1996 at the MIT Media Lab, where initial research on the technology was conducted. Currently, the technology is owned by the Massachusetts-based E Ink Corporation, which was acquired in 2009 by the Taiwanese company Prime View International.

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How does E-Ink function?

Tiny microcapsules are suspended in a liquid enclosed by a film layer in e-ink technology. The microcapsules, which are roughly the width of a human strand, contain both positively and negatively charged white and black particles.

The white particles rise to the surface when a negative electrical field is applied. In contrast, the black particles rise to the surface when a positive electrical field is applied. E-ink creates a monochromatic text display by applying different fields to distinct areas of the screen.

E-ink displays are particularly popular due to their resemblance to printed paper. In addition to being easier on the eyes than other display varieties, e-ink uses less energy, particularly when compared to backlit liquid crystal display (LCD) screens.

Due to these advantages and the early adoption of e-ink by major e-reader manufacturers such as Amazon and Sony, e-ink dominated the early e-book reader market.

Applications of E-Ink

In the early 2000s, the Amazon Kindle, Barnes Noble Nook, Kobo eReader, and Sony Reader were the most prominent e-readers to use e-ink. It was lauded for its visibility in direct sunlight. It is still available on some Kindle and Kobo e-readers, but other screen technologies have largely taken over the market.

A few early mobile phonesfeatured E-ink technology. It expanded to include applications such as traffic signage, electronic shelf signage, and devices.

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Disadvantages of E-Ink

Despite its widespread use, e-ink technology is limited. Before recently, e-ink was incapable of displaying color. In addition, unlike conventional LCD displays, typical e-ink displays lack backlighting, making them difficult to read in dim environments. They cannot exhibit video as well.

E Ink Corporation worked to enhance its technology in response to competition from rival display technologies, such as reflective LCD. It added touch-screen capabilities, introduced its first color display at the end of 2010, and manufactured limited color screens until 2013.

Superior Color ePaper

Advanced Color ePaper (ACEP), which exhibits thousands of colors, was introduced by E Ink Corporation in 2016. Each pixel contains all the pigments required to reproduce any color, making the technology a significant advancement.

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This color technology is primarily intended for the signage industry. E-ink technology, which first garnered prominence in the market for e-book readers, has expanded into the manufacturing, architecture, and product labeling industries, among others.