Hacks PROJECT TO PUT A LIGHT INSIDE KINDLE CASE

vugtitan · 05-30-2011, 02:57 PM

Although external lights are all very well they tend to be unwieldy and not elegant with variable illumination,etc.

A better idea is to a put light inside the actual case between the circuit board and the e-ink display.

A small size flat white light led taken from a cheap garden solar light would be ideal. A resistor in series would control the brightness.

it could be powered by the same circuit taken from the garden solar light or you can use the kindle battery with a resistor in series.

also internal reflection from the very small internal volume of the kindle will amplify the light.

plastic reflective foil can further direct the light to wards the e-ink display.

internal light reflection will even out the light.

i am surprised amazon did not include internal leds similar to mobile key pad leds to provide this.

also leds taken from old mobile phone keypads could also be used but will a bitch to solder.

anyone opened a kindle and explore this possibility?

i do not want to discuss External lights and how wonderful they might be at all.

i want to push the boundaries.

DiapDealer · 05-30-2011, 03:18 PM

Quote:

do not want to discuss External lights and how wonderful they might be at all.

i want to push the boundaries.

Wow! Backlighting an eInk screen. That's so progressive. Aren't you worried about eye-strain, though?

Tome Keeper · 05-30-2011, 05:44 PM

I'm with diapdealer, surely the whole point of e-ink is that it's not backlit.

ardeegee · 05-30-2011, 05:58 PM

Yeah, that's not gonna work. LCDs can be backlit because of the way the crystals are aligned-- random orientation when not powered makes them opaque, aligned along the electric field when powered allows light to pass through. Eink is an utterly unrelated technology. Backlighting an eink display would be similar to backlighting a piece of paper, except less useful. With a backlit piece of paper, you might be able to read it somewhat because the ink printed on the paper makes those areas somewhat less translucent, but with an eink display, the same amount of "ink" is on every part of the paper all of the time-- it is just submerged deeper in the display where you need light areas. A backlit eink display would transmit the same amount of light through it from every point no matter what is displayed on it's surface. Backlighting on eink would be utterly worthless.

crich70 · 05-30-2011, 09:49 PM

If you could lay out a LED panel (ala Star Trek) of some sort opposite the screen (held in the carrying case of your choice) that might be useful though. But first you would have to find someone that makes such led panels (assuming they aren't still Sci. Fi. that is).

DiapDealer · 05-30-2011, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crich70

But first you would have to find someone that makes such led panels (assuming they aren't still Sci. Fi. that is).

If I remember correctly, vugitan rarely lets reality get in the way of his/her grand schemes.

It's been a while vugitan... welcome back!

crich70 · 05-31-2011, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

If I remember correctly, vugitan rarely lets reality get in the way of his/her grand schemes.

It's been a while vugitan... welcome back!

We all have our dreams of what we'd like to have be possible I think. 20 yrs or so ago modern ebook readers were still just a flight of fancy. I still find myself thinking of the P.A.D.D. from STNG whenever I pick up my Kindle 3. lol.

Mario1up · 05-31-2011, 12:59 AM

One problem - aren't eink screens completely opaque? :P

Mark Rehorst · 05-31-2011, 01:42 AM

Using a resistor to control brightness is a waste of power. You want to use a PWM circuit to control brightness. You may find more room and get a better result if you try edge lighting the screen with multiple surface mount LEDs (and that PWM controller).

Or you could leave the Kindle alone and get one of these for reading in the dark: http://www.amazon.com/Lighted-Readin...ref=pd_sbs_a_7

Or this:
http://www.amazon.com/Glasses-Readin...6820437&sr=1-2

Tome Keeper · 05-31-2011, 03:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crich70

I still find myself thinking of the P.A.D.D. from STNG whenever I pick up my Kindle 3. lol.

I'm glad it's not just me then.

vrf · 05-31-2011, 10:53 AM

Is it April 1st?

crich70 · 05-31-2011, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tome Keeper

I'm glad it's not just me then.

And I'm glad I'm not the only one who understands the P.A.D.D. reference. lol. While Kindle isn't quite as versatile as the P.A.D.D. its general shape, size and readability certainly resemble one I think. Of course ST has a history of using props that are based on ideas that later enter the real world.

DiapDealer · 05-31-2011, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Of course ST has a history of using props that are based on ideas that later enter the real world.

Like disposable ensigns?

vugtitan · 05-31-2011, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ardeegee

Yeah, that's not gonna work. LCDs can be backlit because of the way the crystals are aligned-- random orientation when not powered makes them opaque, aligned along the electric field when powered allows light to pass through. Eink is an utterly unrelated technology. Backlighting an eink display would be similar to backlighting a piece of paper, except less useful. With a backlit piece of paper, you might be able to read it somewhat because the ink printed on the paper makes those areas somewhat less translucent, but with an eink display, the same amount of "ink" is on every part of the paper all of the time-- it is just submerged deeper in the display where you need light areas. A backlit eink display would transmit the same amount of light through it from every point no matter what is displayed on it's surface. Backlighting on eink would be utterly worthless.

thin plastic or thin e-ink sheet is translucent.you do realize that?

just get a torch and a thin yogurt cup.

or put a light behind thin skin of your hand.see how light comes through.

get a typed paper put light behind it.do you see?

thin sheets of plastic let light thorough!!!

a backlit display would improve contrast by firing light from every point of the display at your eye with the blackballs and whiteballs creating the pattern.

by the whiteballs reflecting light back into the case while blackballs absorb light.

crich70 · 06-01-2011, 12:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Like disposable ensigns?

lol. Actually I meant like medical sensors, 3.25" computer disks, cell phones and the like. Of course they did have consultants that they got ideas from though back then of course many of the ideas were still probably in the visionary stage (i.e. no one knew how to make them yet). Our world has certainly changed in recent decades.

05-30-2011, 02:57 PM	#1
vugtitan Addict Posts: 299 Karma: 1042776 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: none	PROJECT TO PUT A LIGHT INSIDE KINDLE CASE Although external lights are all very well they tend to be unwieldy and not elegant with variable illumination,etc. A better idea is to a put light inside the actual case between the circuit board and the e-ink display. A small size flat white light led taken from a cheap garden solar light would be ideal. A resistor in series would control the brightness. it could be powered by the same circuit taken from the garden solar light or you can use the kindle battery with a resistor in series. also internal reflection from the very small internal volume of the kindle will amplify the light. plastic reflective foil can further direct the light to wards the e-ink display. internal light reflection will even out the light. i am surprised amazon did not include internal leds similar to mobile key pad leds to provide this. also leds taken from old mobile phone keypads could also be used but will a bitch to solder. anyone opened a kindle and explore this possibility? i do not want to discuss External lights and how wonderful they might be at all. i want to push the boundaries.

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05-30-2011, 05:44 PM	#3
Tome Keeper Addict Posts: 355 Karma: 1001201 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: UK Device: Kindle 3 Keyboard, Surface Tablet, Android Smartphone, Laptop, Netbook	I'm with diapdealer, surely the whole point of e-ink is that it's not backlit.

05-30-2011, 05:58 PM	#4
ardeegee Maratus speciosus butt Posts: 3,292 Karma: 1162698 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: PRS-350	Yeah, that's not gonna work. LCDs can be backlit because of the way the crystals are aligned-- random orientation when not powered makes them opaque, aligned along the electric field when powered allows light to pass through. Eink is an utterly unrelated technology. Backlighting an eink display would be similar to backlighting a piece of paper, except less useful. With a backlit piece of paper, you might be able to read it somewhat because the ink printed on the paper makes those areas somewhat less translucent, but with an eink display, the same amount of "ink" is on every part of the paper all of the time-- it is just submerged deeper in the display where you need light areas. A backlit eink display would transmit the same amount of light through it from every point no matter what is displayed on it's surface. Backlighting on eink would be utterly worthless.

05-30-2011, 09:49 PM	#5
crich70 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,306 Karma: 43993832 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Monroe Wisconsin Device: K3, Kindle Paperwhite, Calibre, and Mobipocket for Pc (netbook)	If you could lay out a LED panel (ala Star Trek) of some sort opposite the screen (held in the carrying case of your choice) that might be useful though. But first you would have to find someone that makes such led panels (assuming they aren't still Sci. Fi. that is).

05-31-2011, 12:59 AM	#8
Mario1up Connoisseur Posts: 53 Karma: 374 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Kindle 3/G	One problem - aren't eink screens completely opaque? :P

05-31-2011, 01:42 AM	#9
Mark Rehorst was engr, now dentist Posts: 143 Karma: 18558 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Riverside, Ca Device: Kindle DXG	Using a resistor to control brightness is a waste of power. You want to use a PWM circuit to control brightness. You may find more room and get a better result if you try edge lighting the screen with multiple surface mount LEDs (and that PWM controller). Or you could leave the Kindle alone and get one of these for reading in the dark: http://www.amazon.com/Lighted-Readin...ref=pd_sbs_a_7 Or this: http://www.amazon.com/Glasses-Readin...6820437&sr=1-2

05-31-2011, 10:53 AM	#11
vrf Addict Posts: 218 Karma: 1300000 Join Date: Dec 2004 Device: Oasis 2, Voyage, Paperwhite 2, Kindle Touch, Kindle Keyboard, iPad Pro	Is it April 1st?