Problems in direct sunlight

-Thomas- · 05-07-2008, 07:04 PM

Hi all,

I found a problem with my iLiad while reading outside. When the screen refreshes while being exposed to direct sunlight, the black ink fades to a very bright gray. Is this a screen fault or normal behaviour?

Unfortunately I don't have a good camera at hand, but I will post pictures as soon as possible.

yokos · 05-08-2008, 08:49 AM

It's the same here.
similiar thread in iRex Forum When reading in the sun the letters fade

Another thing: the blinking LED is useless outside, it is not visible.

-Thomas- · 05-08-2008, 11:55 AM

Thanks for the link, looks like this is normal behaviour. But I would like some officials to confirm it...

JSWolf · 05-08-2008, 12:06 PM

The problem is that the iLiad is using 1st generation eink technology and 1st generation eink technology as used on the iLiad and the PRS-500 do fade in direct sunlight. Vizplex screens (2nd generation) do not fade in direct sunlight. The only way to prevent this fade on the iLiad is to get iRex to change to a Vizplex based screen.

Shaggy · 05-08-2008, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The problem is that the iLiad is using 1st generation eink technology and 1st generation eink technology as used on the iLiad and the PRS-500 do fade in direct sunlight. Vizplex screens (2nd generation) do not fade in direct sunlight. The only way to prevent this fade on the iLiad is to get iRex to change to a Vizplex based screen.

Where did that information come from?

orcinus · 05-14-2008, 08:53 AM

What on earth does the TFT film (which is what VizPlex is) have to do with E-Ink capsules and fading in the sun? o_O

HarryT · 05-14-2008, 08:57 AM

Goodness knows why, but practical experience does suggest that 1st Gen eInk screens fade in bright direct sunlight, whereas VizPlex screens do not. WHY that's the case I don't know.

orcinus · 05-14-2008, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Goodness knows why, but practical experience does suggest that 1st Gen eInk screens fade in bright direct sunlight, whereas VizPlex screens do not. WHY that's the case I don't know.

From what i've experienced and read, it seems this only happens while refreshing the screen (i.e. while the film/electrodes are applying an electrical field), so it really does seem to have something to do with the film. I just don't get what

Except, maybe, if it isn't really (sun)light related, but heat related. Heat could increase the resistance and cause a voltage drop, which could, in turn, cause the capsules to "polarize incompletely" (and turn gray instead of full black).

mvoosten · 06-06-2008, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orcinus

From what i've experienced and read, it seems this only happens while refreshing the screen (i.e. while the film/electrodes are applying an electrical field), so it really does seem to have something to do with the film. I just don't get what

Except, maybe, if it isn't really (sun)light related, but heat related. Heat could increase the resistance and cause a voltage drop, which could, in turn, cause the capsules to "polarize incompletely" (and turn gray instead of full black).

Doesn't look like heat. Try this:
In direct sunlight, hold your hand above the screen with your fingers spread so it cast a shadow of your fingers on the screen.
Now flip the page. You will see a distinct print of the shadow with darker letters then the rest of the screen.
Considering that the shadow is small it should not have a direct huge impact on the temperature.

My thought is that it might have to do with the influence of UV light? Anyway, this is very very annoying and there is no smallprint about this behaviour. Should we consider this as a defect anyway then? Flipping pages in full sunlight makes the tekst barely readable.

sputnik · 06-09-2008, 06:23 PM

is this problem permanent? Does the screen of the iLiad behave normally once you bring it back indoors (or out of the sun)?

Martijn · 06-10-2008, 10:08 AM

As far as I can tell it has had no permanent effect on my iLiad screen.

JSWolf · 06-10-2008, 10:15 AM

What you are seeing is an issue related to the 1st generation eink screen. I had the same thing with my Sony PRS-500. The newer Vizplex screens do not have that problem in direct sunlight. But, when you have your Vizplex screen where it is really cold, it behaves sluggishly till it warms up. I don't recall if 1st generation eink had this issue with cold.

DixieGal · 06-10-2008, 10:18 AM

Did'ja see my vacation tips? A simple solution is to hold the reader in a baseball cap and let the brim shade it. Works like a charm.

05-07-2008, 07:04 PM	#1
-Thomas- Addict Posts: 325 Karma: 1725 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Münster, Germany Device: iRex iLiad v2	Problems in direct sunlight Hi all, I found a problem with my iLiad while reading outside. When the screen refreshes while being exposed to direct sunlight, the black ink fades to a very bright gray. Is this a screen fault or normal behaviour? Unfortunately I don't have a good camera at hand, but I will post pictures as soon as possible.

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05-08-2008, 08:49 AM	#2
yokos Pac-Man caught my iLiad. Posts: 807 Karma: 3595 Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Germany; next to Baltic Sea Device: Boox Max Lumi, iRex iLiad (RIP)	It's the same here. similiar thread in iRex Forum When reading in the sun the letters fade Another thing: the blinking LED is useless outside, it is not visible.

05-08-2008, 11:55 AM	#3
-Thomas- Addict Posts: 325 Karma: 1725 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Münster, Germany Device: iRex iLiad v2	Thanks for the link, looks like this is normal behaviour. But I would like some officials to confirm it...

05-08-2008, 12:06 PM	#4
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,903 Karma: 128597114 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	The problem is that the iLiad is using 1st generation eink technology and 1st generation eink technology as used on the iLiad and the PRS-500 do fade in direct sunlight. Vizplex screens (2nd generation) do not fade in direct sunlight. The only way to prevent this fade on the iLiad is to get iRex to change to a Vizplex based screen.

05-14-2008, 08:53 AM	#6
orcinus Gadgeteer Posts: 222 Karma: 540 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Croatia Device: iRex iLiad, Sony PRS-500, Nokia 770, BB 7200, Samsung i600, iPhone	What on earth does the TFT film (which is what VizPlex is) have to do with E-Ink capsules and fading in the sun? o_O

05-14-2008, 08:57 AM	#7
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Goodness knows why, but practical experience does suggest that 1st Gen eInk screens fade in bright direct sunlight, whereas VizPlex screens do not. WHY that's the case I don't know.

06-09-2008, 06:23 PM	#10
sputnik Enthusiast Posts: 46 Karma: 133388 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: London, Ontario Device: EB 1150, iLiad	is this problem permanent? Does the screen of the iLiad behave normally once you bring it back indoors (or out of the sun)?

06-10-2008, 10:08 AM	#11
Martijn Connoisseur Posts: 68 Karma: 855 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Netherlands Device: iLiad	As far as I can tell it has had no permanent effect on my iLiad screen.

06-10-2008, 10:15 AM	#12
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,903 Karma: 128597114 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	What you are seeing is an issue related to the 1st generation eink screen. I had the same thing with my Sony PRS-500. The newer Vizplex screens do not have that problem in direct sunlight. But, when you have your Vizplex screen where it is really cold, it behaves sluggishly till it warms up. I don't recall if 1st generation eink had this issue with cold.

06-10-2008, 10:18 AM	#13
DixieGal Hi There! Posts: 7,473 Karma: 2930523 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ft Lauderdale Device: iPad	Did'ja see my vacation tips? A simple solution is to hold the reader in a baseball cap and let the brim shade it. Works like a charm.

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