MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - e-ink and backlighting

Jack B Nimble · 06-20-2008, 04:43 PM

Scoured, huh? Sounds like you need to scour a bit more.

Battery life is not the (only) reason you do not see backlights on eInk readers. As many have pointed out on this site, eInk panels are opaque -- light does not pass through. Backlighting does not work.

Several people have suggested various solutions for lighting a reader from the front (besides a good old-fashioned, well-lit room), most are variations on either a standard, clip-on book lamp or something similar to the LightWedge. There is also speculation that a later version of the ePaper diplay might be able to use a back-mounted light, but I think that is still just speculation.

For now, there is nothing integrated, and eInk remains BYOLight.

Jack

P.S. I almost forgot. Astak has suggested a book light much like the clip-ons, but it would be attached, and could be turned on or off as needed. Have to wait and see what they release. See https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...870#post199870

06-20-2008, 04:43 PM	#2
Jack B Nimble Groupie Posts: 154 Karma: 672 Join Date: Oct 2006 Device: Tapwave Zodiac, eBookwise 1150	Scoured, huh? Sounds like you need to scour a bit more. Battery life is not the (only) reason you do not see backlights on eInk readers. As many have pointed out on this site, eInk panels are opaque -- light does not pass through. Backlighting does not work. Several people have suggested various solutions for lighting a reader from the front (besides a good old-fashioned, well-lit room), most are variations on either a standard, clip-on book lamp or something similar to the LightWedge. There is also speculation that a later version of the ePaper diplay might be able to use a back-mounted light, but I think that is still just speculation. For now, there is nothing integrated, and eInk remains BYOLight. Jack P.S. I almost forgot. Astak has suggested a book light much like the clip-ons, but it would be attached, and could be turned on or off as needed. Have to wait and see what they release. See https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...870#post199870 Last edited by Jack B Nimble; 06-20-2008 at 04:53 PM. Reason: Added the P.S.