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A6 size electronic paper from Epson
Ilse Jurriën : June 21th 2006 - 00:10 CET
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 A6-size electronic paper from Epson : Seiko Epson Corp. ("Epson") has successfully developed A6-size (7.1 inches on the diagonal) electronic paper using a plastic substrate. Drawing on Epson’s original SUFTLA technology, the new electronic paper achieves Quad-XGA resolution (1536 x 2048 pixels) - the world’s highest - and shows the potential for increasing screen size. The development was announced on June 9 at the Society for Information Display (SID) international symposium held in San Francisco. Epson has long been working to develop and manufacture low-power-consumption, space-saving electronic devices. At the cutting edge of these efforts, R&D has focused on thin, light and flexible devices that can be reshaped as needed.
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 Epson electronic paper
In the course of such development, Epson has amassed a range of proprietary technologies including low temperature polysilicon thin film transistors (LTPS-TFT) and SUFTLA, which enables the transfer of TFT circuits to flexible substrates. As outlined below, the new electronic paper draws on a number of original Epson technologies and has a range of features suited to portable displays.
Epson electronic paper
1. World’s highest resolution : LTPS-TFT formed on a plastic substrate using SUFTLA technology gives this electronic paper Quad-XGA resolution - the highest in the world. This ensures that even the smallest letters on a portable display are fully visible.
2. High contrast guaranteeing high-quality display : With a contrast ratio of 10:1, the new technology achieves the same levels of visibility as images printed on ordinary paper.
3. Narrow border and simple interface : Forming peripheral drive circuits with LTPS-TFT creates a simple structure with very few external terminals, that result in a borderless flexible display, even with the drive circuits included.
4. Low power consumption : Data display does not require power - a memory function ensures that information does not disappear even if the power is turned off. Maximum drive voltage even for editing information is just 6 volts, showing that the display itself consumes very little power.
5. Larger screen : The expanded screen size, from around 2 inches in existing models to A6 size (7.1 inches on the diagonal), is evidence of potential for even bigger screens in the future.
Epson A6-size electronic paper - Research development
Epson is proud to announce these research results, which reveal a technology highly suited to making electronic paper a reality. Epson will examine the potential of a range of applications for the technology and conduct further research and development with a view to its practical use.
Prototype outline
• Size: A6 (7.1 inches on the diagonal), 0.47 mm thick
• Resolution: QXGA (1536 x 2048 pixels)
• Drive circuit: LTPS-TFT (Low temperature polysilicon thin film transistor)
• Maximum drive voltage: 6 V
• Display type: Electrophoretic
About Epson
Epson is a global leader in imaging products including printers, 3LCD projectors and small- and medium-sized LCDs. With an innovative and creative culture, Epson is dedicated to exceeding the vision and expectations of customers worldwide with products known for their superior quality, functionality, compactness and energy efficiency.
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