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Old 05-08-2009, 11:32 AM   #1
GntlmnBndt
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eInk and lighting on the Samsung Alias 2

It has been said time and again on these forums that it is not possible to backlight an eInk screen. When a friend of mine told me he was considering a Samsung Alias2, with an eInk keypad that changes for different functions I asked about how it would be used in the dark, which he often needs to do as a plumber working in basements and cramped spaces. He kindly informed me that it was backlit, and pointed me to a video (http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/08/v...pad-in-action/).

Looking at the vid, it does appear to be backlit, yet I thought people had made it clear on these forums that this was not possible. Anyone know what Samsung is doing differently?

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Old 05-08-2009, 11:38 AM   #2
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Are you sure it is e-ink? It looks like the screen of an iphone.
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Old 05-08-2009, 11:51 AM   #3
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Engadget started the EInk "rumour" because the key labels can change (Samsung Phone with EInk Keyboard), but if it has back lighting that seems unlikely.
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Old 05-08-2009, 12:47 PM   #4
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While eInk does not require backlighting to work, nothing really prohibits the eInk from being back lit. I suspect more eInk devices in the future will have some sort of lighting mechanism.

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Old 05-08-2009, 01:04 PM   #5
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I'd always thought that back-lighting required a transmissive display (i.e. one that relied on light passing through it to generate the image), and that e-ink was a reflective display, i.e. that light was reflected from it. Whilst being a reflective display doesn't preclude lighting, I'd assumed that it would not then be a back-lit, but instead a front-lit display (e.g. as the Sony accessory does). Or have I misunderstood something (decidedly possible!)?
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Old 05-08-2009, 04:06 PM   #6
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There are filters/surfaces/film that reflect light on one side and allow light to pass through on another side. It's not far fetch to imaging an eInk device using such a material.

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Old 05-08-2009, 04:30 PM   #7
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My dream screen would be a backlit e-ink screen.
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Old 05-08-2009, 10:09 PM   #8
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Do we know it's not a lightwedge type screen? Lit from the side, like the Sony PRS 700?
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Old 05-08-2009, 10:21 PM   #9
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It appears from the web pages I looked at that they are talking about the keypad being e-ink or e-paper (making the keys changeable), not the screen part. The screen is in color, so probably not e-ink.
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Old 05-08-2009, 11:04 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DixieGal View Post
My dream screen would be a backlit e-ink screen.
It is not possible to backlight an e-INK screen as the light cannot show through since the ink is not transparent. However other e-Paper technologies might be able to support a transparent screen that could be backlit. You would have to study the various techniques, one is bi-stable LCD.

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Old 05-09-2009, 12:50 AM   #11
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Yes, this looks to be a kind of LCD. That is definitely backlighting (look at the dark keys when the lights go on and off).
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Old 05-11-2009, 11:27 AM   #12
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Well, I still don't get it. They are definitely claiming it is eInk, or as they put it: "Magic Keypad with E–Ink Technology." I suppose it could be an illuminated film as =X= suggests. Looks nice. Certainly brings up some interesting possibilities.

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Old 05-11-2009, 01:26 PM   #13
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Is Samsung saying "Magic Keypad with E-Ink Technology" or are reviews/blogs saying that? (I looked around and didn't see a Samsung advert, but I didn't look that hard)

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Old 05-11-2009, 01:30 PM   #14
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Originally Posted by =X= View Post
While eInk does not require backlighting to work, nothing really prohibits the eInk from being back lit.
The fact that an eInk screen is opaque rather does prohibit it .
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Old 05-11-2009, 02:18 PM   #15
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Is Samsung saying "Magic Keypad with E-Ink Technology" or are reviews/blogs saying that? (I looked around and didn't see a Samsung advert, but I didn't look that hard)
The quote is from the details tab on Verizon's product page (I think they are theonly US carrier selling this model). I could not find any information at Samsung either.

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