So have we gotten over....

NatCh · 08-22-2006, 11:59 AM

I haven't heard anything about it here lately, but I ran across the topic several other places recently -- BackLighting.

I've been thinking about it and it seems to me that there just isn't any way to backlight e-ink. I'm pretty sure the stuff is opaque (perhaps Arivero can comment, as he has a loose piece of it

).

The particles are always in the little bubbles, whether at the front or the back, and I think they'd block light equally well from both positions, so it'd be about like trying to backlight a piece of plywood.

It also seems like maybe this community has gotten over that little detail, but I'm wondering if we're just grumbling on about it quietly to ourselves.

So, what are y'all thinking/planning as far as in the dark reading goes?

I'm thinking I'll try to come up with a home-made LightWedge type of thing. If that doesn't work, I may try the USB light thing, or I may try tapping power from one of the memory card slots. According to the various memory card pinouts, they provide power in the correct general range.

Anyway, what are the rest of you thinking? Surely amongst such clever folks as frequent MobileRead there are at least a few brilliant ideas. (pun-intended

)

diabloNL · 08-22-2006, 12:18 PM

I will browse the many websites of Chinese manufactors and try to find some neat light. It will probably be something like a low voltage fluorescent light. Power from the USB is not going to work because it's non powered. So maybe a battery powered mini fluorescent light?

NatCh · 08-22-2006, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diabloNL

Power from the USB is not going to work because it's non powered

Where'd you pick that tidbit up, diabloNL? I've been trying to dig that out for a while now....

diabloNL · 08-22-2006, 12:33 PM

Well because the USB port on the Sony reader is a mini USB that will connect to your PC. Your PC's USB puts 5 Volts on the port so there is no power on the Reader's port. At least it doesn't seem logic to me.

Look at the iLiad. You can read a USB stick with the iLiad but you can't connect it to your PC without the (travel)hub.

NatCh · 08-22-2006, 12:53 PM

Oh, I thought you could connect the iLiad to a USB port directly if you wanted, but that the Hub was needed for charging. (shrug) The Sony comes with a cradle, but I don't know if that makes a difference for what we're talking about. I don't remember off-hand if the iLiad can charge straight from the USB connection. I know the Sony will, that might be more evidence for your logic chain.

On the other hand, I don't see any inherent problem with the port both taking and giving power, the circuitry just has to be designed to handle it, not a big challenge, necessarily. Of course that doesn't get us anywhere....

Of course, there is still the power in the Memory Stick and SD card slots (it has to be there or the cards don't work), if we can just reach it, and if it's always available.

diabloNL · 08-22-2006, 01:45 PM

I think it will be just as easy to use a battery powered device. I will try to find something and post it here if i do. I posted some light on this forum before but I can't seem to find it no more.

bingle · 08-22-2006, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NatCh

Anyway, what are the rest of you thinking? Surely amongst such clever folks as frequent MobileRead there are at least a few brilliant ideas. (pun-intended

)

I think you're right about the impossibility of backlighting e-ink. And that's fine with me; backlighting apparently places a lot of strain on the eyes compared to reflected light. I prefer my e-reader to be as close to the paper version as possible.

I don't even think I'll be buying any sort of USB lamp or anything - I don't carry a light with me when I take books out currently, and the loss of portability and battery life wouldn't make it worthwhile to me.

Basically, I'm happy with paper's abilities on this front!

NatCh · 08-22-2006, 03:04 PM

I'm sure we'll be able to find something that works.

I'm thinking about trying to cobble together a panel light of my own. Between the local mega-sized hobby store and the local electronics supply store, I should be able to come up with something that will work well enough.

Kosst Amojan · 08-22-2006, 03:15 PM

Christ people, go to a bookstore and pick up a book light that will just clip on.

diabloNL · 08-22-2006, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kosst Amojan

Christ people, go to a bookstore and pick up a book light that will just clip on.

Neh...that would be to simple.

NatCh · 08-22-2006, 04:11 PM

Just clip on!?!?!

That's just crazy talk.

yvanleterrible · 08-22-2006, 05:40 PM

Hey guys ! I'm on two designs of a travel box for the Sony. As soon as I have the precise measurements of it I'll build them.

One will be like a jewelry box that will sit in the library, just to keep dust out of if ( I guess it won't have time to settle cause I'll be using it daily).

The other will be for travel. It'll be rigid against bumps, have ajustable angle rest, an opening lid with integral lighting (rechargeable battery powered), space for accessories, maybe with some marquetry on it but mostly tropical woods.

It'll be worth more than the Sony.

NatCh · 08-22-2006, 05:52 PM

Now that sounds more the thing, yvanleterrible. "Clip on" indeed!

Kosst Amojan · 08-23-2006, 09:18 AM

I might just go to Hobby Lobby and pick up a large piece of nice black leather. I'm pretty decent with sewing so stitching up a case shouldn't be that much of a problem.

yvanleterrible · 08-23-2006, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NatCh

Now that sounds more the thing, yvanleterrible. "Clip on" indeed!

Indeed clip on but don't forget that the Prs is already kind of "big".

Imagine what people might think of someone wearing a lunchbox.

Anything else I should include ?

Wilh little modification the box will do well for the Iliad also.
Anyone interested ?

08-22-2006, 11:59 AM	#1
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	So, have we gotten over.... I haven't heard anything about it here lately, but I ran across the topic several other places recently -- BackLighting. I've been thinking about it and it seems to me that there just isn't any way to backlight e-ink. I'm pretty sure the stuff is opaque (perhaps Arivero can comment, as he has a loose piece of it ). The particles are always in the little bubbles, whether at the front or the back, and I think they'd block light equally well from both positions, so it'd be about like trying to backlight a piece of plywood. It also seems like maybe this community has gotten over that little detail, but I'm wondering if we're just grumbling on about it quietly to ourselves. So, what are y'all thinking/planning as far as in the dark reading goes? I'm thinking I'll try to come up with a home-made LightWedge type of thing. If that doesn't work, I may try the USB light thing, or I may try tapping power from one of the memory card slots. According to the various memory card pinouts, they provide power in the correct general range. Anyway, what are the rest of you thinking? Surely amongst such clever folks as frequent MobileRead there are at least a few brilliant ideas. (pun-intended ) Last edited by NatCh; 08-22-2006 at 12:06 PM. Reason: typo

08-22-2006, 12:18 PM	#2
diabloNL Gadget Force® Posts: 705 Karma: 2733 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The Netherlands Device: Sony PRS-300 + Cybook with funny screen :P	I will browse the many websites of Chinese manufactors and try to find some neat light. It will probably be something like a low voltage fluorescent light. Power from the USB is not going to work because it's non powered. So maybe a battery powered mini fluorescent light?

08-22-2006, 12:33 PM	#4
diabloNL Gadget Force® Posts: 705 Karma: 2733 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The Netherlands Device: Sony PRS-300 + Cybook with funny screen :P	Well because the USB port on the Sony reader is a mini USB that will connect to your PC. Your PC's USB puts 5 Volts on the port so there is no power on the Reader's port. At least it doesn't seem logic to me. Look at the iLiad. You can read a USB stick with the iLiad but you can't connect it to your PC without the (travel)hub.

08-22-2006, 12:53 PM	#5
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	Oh, I thought you could connect the iLiad to a USB port directly if you wanted, but that the Hub was needed for charging. (shrug) The Sony comes with a cradle, but I don't know if that makes a difference for what we're talking about. I don't remember off-hand if the iLiad can charge straight from the USB connection. I know the Sony will, that might be more evidence for your logic chain. On the other hand, I don't see any inherent problem with the port both taking and giving power, the circuitry just has to be designed to handle it, not a big challenge, necessarily. Of course that doesn't get us anywhere.... Of course, there is still the power in the Memory Stick and SD card slots (it has to be there or the cards don't work), if we can just reach it, and if it's always available.

08-22-2006, 01:45 PM	#6
diabloNL Gadget Force® Posts: 705 Karma: 2733 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The Netherlands Device: Sony PRS-300 + Cybook with funny screen :P	I think it will be just as easy to use a battery powered device. I will try to find something and post it here if i do. I posted some light on this forum before but I can't seem to find it no more.

08-22-2006, 03:04 PM	#8
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	I'm sure we'll be able to find something that works. I'm thinking about trying to cobble together a panel light of my own. Between the local mega-sized hobby store and the local electronics supply store, I should be able to come up with something that will work well enough.

08-22-2006, 03:15 PM	#9
Kosst Amojan Addict Posts: 207 Karma: 19597 Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Northern Virginia Device: Nook Glowlight Plus	Christ people, go to a bookstore and pick up a book light that will just clip on.

08-22-2006, 04:11 PM	#11
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	Just clip on!?!?! That's just crazy talk.

08-22-2006, 05:40 PM	#12
yvanleterrible Reborn Paper User Posts: 8,616 Karma: 15446734 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Que Nada Device: iPhone8, iPad Air	Hey guys ! I'm on two designs of a travel box for the Sony. As soon as I have the precise measurements of it I'll build them. One will be like a jewelry box that will sit in the library, just to keep dust out of if ( I guess it won't have time to settle cause I'll be using it daily). The other will be for travel. It'll be rigid against bumps, have ajustable angle rest, an opening lid with integral lighting (rechargeable battery powered), space for accessories, maybe with some marquetry on it but mostly tropical woods. It'll be worth more than the Sony.

08-22-2006, 05:52 PM	#13
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	Now that sounds more the thing, yvanleterrible. "Clip on" indeed!

08-23-2006, 09:18 AM	#14
Kosst Amojan Addict Posts: 207 Karma: 19597 Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Northern Virginia Device: Nook Glowlight Plus	I might just go to Hobby Lobby and pick up a large piece of nice black leather. I'm pretty decent with sewing so stitching up a case shouldn't be that much of a problem.

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