Apple applies for patent for layered eink/lcd hybrid

Dulin's Books · 04-07-2011, 04:46 PM

The display would be able to switch between all eink, all lcd or even just regional updates for either so that static content could use the eink display and only a portion- video presumably- would be using the lcd

the picture above baffles me. the lcd layer and eink layer should be swapped in my mind. with a transparent lcd on top of the eink. I dont see how they envision it working with the eink above the lcd.

from http://www.appleinsider.com/articles...t_regions.html via http://www.crunchgear.com/2011/04/07...de-ink-iphone/

Dulin's Books · 04-07-2011, 04:51 PM

in fact if you used eink on the bottom, an led "side lit" layer then above that the transparent lcd you could led "back light" the lcd while providing light for the eink. ala the old sony. but with newer higher contrast displays and very clear lcd layers it should be better than the sony.

Ravensknight · 04-07-2011, 09:40 PM

so, basically, the possibility of extending the battery life of an lcd device by incorporating some eink?

I wonder what parameters decide when to use lcd or eink? I think it is a cool idea, just not sure of the feasibility of it...

stickybuns · 04-07-2011, 09:47 PM

Anyone know how this differs from what the screen on a Notion Ink Adam does?

SolRaven · 04-07-2011, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dulin's Books

the picture above baffles me. the lcd layer and eink layer should be swapped in my mind. with a transparent lcd on top of the eink. I dont see how they envision it working with the eink above the lcd.

I was thinking the exact same thing. Weird.

kennyc · 04-08-2011, 07:01 AM

Yep, looks like apple is playing the patent game.

wyndslash · 04-08-2011, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyc

Yep, looks like apple is playing the patent game.

but whyyy, mommy? their Ibookstore here stinks

kennyc · 04-08-2011, 07:38 AM

Methinks it smells of rotten apples...

Nexutix · 04-08-2011, 08:35 AM

So iPad 3 will probably come with this? O. M. G. Cant. Just. Wait.!

Gaurnim · 04-11-2011, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dulin's Books

the picture above baffles me. the lcd layer and eink layer should be swapped in my mind. with a transparent lcd on top of the eink. I dont see how they envision it working with the eink above the lcd.

I agree with you, it seems backward.
I would find it funny if somebody submitted another patent based in this one but with the *correct* (based on what we know) solution.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dulin's Books

in fact if you used eink on the bottom, an led "side lit" layer then above that the transparent lcd you could led "back light" the lcd while providing light for the eink. ala the old sony. but with newer higher contrast displays and very clear lcd layers it should be better than the sony.

I think the problem with the PRS 700 was due to the thickness of the layers on top of the eink. I'm not sure this would work well.

elcreative · 04-11-2011, 11:21 AM

Methinks it smells of the illogical "I hate a company" game again... can't we have a serious discussion without these irrelevant "some company or other stinks comments" unless it is actually to the point... come on, Apple takes out another patent, big deal... take a look at how many Microsoft takes out (or attempts to) or how often they all get clobbered for infringing someone else's patent/copyright/trademark...

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyc

Yep, looks like apple is playing the patent game.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wyndslash

but whyyy, mommy? their Ibookstore here stinks

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyc

Methinks it smells of rotten apples...

Dulin's Books · 04-11-2011, 11:24 AM

sure but with a better contrast and brighter eink layer with a thinner led layer it might be doable

llreader · 04-11-2011, 11:28 AM

As the owner of a Sony Reader with a touch screen, all those layers just say "blurry" to me, although the idea is a good one - like the old cartoon animations - everything would stay the same except the main characters, or the background would repeat.

Not sure how specific the term "e-ink" is, but maybe Apple plans to use some sort of transparent e-ink layer that we haven't seen yet? Not sure how that would work.

grumpy3b · 04-11-2011, 11:34 AM

Do you guys really think the info shown in the design of the layers is good enough to get a patent approved? Meaning the middle layer specifies only e-paper which is pretty darned ambiguous since every type of e-paper layer will require a different technology work around to get it to function. That would mean a significantly different solution for each type and perhaps each brand of e-paper layer each of which could be patented.

Or do I misunderstand how patents really work these days? Not that I have more than a cursory understanding of how specific a patent needs to be.

elcreative · 04-11-2011, 11:39 AM

I thought that the OP material came from Apple Insider (rumour mill) not the Patent Office which may explain the generalities shown, likely to be a lot more detailed in actual patent...

Quote:

Originally Posted by grumpy3b

Do you guys really think the info shown in the design of the layers is good enough to get a patent approved? Meaning the middle layer specifies only e-paper which is pretty darned ambiguous since every type of e-paper layer will require a different technology work around to get it to function. That would mean a significantly different solution for each type and perhaps each brand of e-paper layer each of which could be patented.

Or do I misunderstand how patents really work these days? Not that I have more than a cursory understanding of how specific a patent needs to be.

04-07-2011, 04:46 PM	#1
Dulin's Books Wizard Posts: 2,806 Karma: 13500000 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Portland, OR Device: Boox PB360 etc etc etc	Apple applies for patent for layered eink/lcd hybrid The display would be able to switch between all eink, all lcd or even just regional updates for either so that static content could use the eink display and only a portion- video presumably- would be using the lcd the picture above baffles me. the lcd layer and eink layer should be swapped in my mind. with a transparent lcd on top of the eink. I dont see how they envision it working with the eink above the lcd. from http://www.appleinsider.com/articles...t_regions.html via http://www.crunchgear.com/2011/04/07...de-ink-iphone/

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04-07-2011, 04:51 PM	#2
Dulin's Books Wizard Posts: 2,806 Karma: 13500000 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Portland, OR Device: Boox PB360 etc etc etc	in fact if you used eink on the bottom, an led "side lit" layer then above that the transparent lcd you could led "back light" the lcd while providing light for the eink. ala the old sony. but with newer higher contrast displays and very clear lcd layers it should be better than the sony.

04-07-2011, 09:40 PM	#3
Ravensknight Serpent Rider Posts: 1,123 Karma: 10219804 Join Date: Jun 2009 Device: Sony 350; Nook STR; Oasis	so, basically, the possibility of extending the battery life of an lcd device by incorporating some eink? I wonder what parameters decide when to use lcd or eink? I think it is a cool idea, just not sure of the feasibility of it...

04-07-2011, 09:47 PM	#4
stickybuns Evangelist Posts: 405 Karma: 479729 Join Date: Feb 2011 Device: Kindle 3, Kindle Paperwhite 2	Anyone know how this differs from what the screen on a Notion Ink Adam does?

04-08-2011, 07:01 AM	#6
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,891 Karma: 119230421 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2; Kindle Fire	Yep, looks like apple is playing the patent game.

04-08-2011, 07:38 AM	#8
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,891 Karma: 119230421 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2; Kindle Fire	Methinks it smells of rotten apples...

04-08-2011, 08:35 AM	#9
Nexutix Reading and reading Posts: 582 Karma: 8250144 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Infibeam Pi, iPod Touch 4G, iPad Air 2, iPad mini 2, Oneplus One	So iPad 3 will probably come with this? O. M. G. Cant. Just. Wait.!

04-11-2011, 11:24 AM	#12
Dulin's Books Wizard Posts: 2,806 Karma: 13500000 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Portland, OR Device: Boox PB360 etc etc etc	sure but with a better contrast and brighter eink layer with a thinner led layer it might be doable

04-11-2011, 11:28 AM	#13
llreader Mesmerist Posts: 331 Karma: 506558 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Spain Device: PRS-600 Silver. Much nicer than I expected.	As the owner of a Sony Reader with a touch screen, all those layers just say "blurry" to me, although the idea is a good one - like the old cartoon animations - everything would stay the same except the main characters, or the background would repeat. Not sure how specific the term "e-ink" is, but maybe Apple plans to use some sort of transparent e-ink layer that we haven't seen yet? Not sure how that would work.

04-11-2011, 11:34 AM	#14
grumpy3b Banned Posts: 246 Karma: 14967 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Kindle 2 (x2), Kindle 1, a couple old PDAs	Do you guys really think the info shown in the design of the layers is good enough to get a patent approved? Meaning the middle layer specifies only e-paper which is pretty darned ambiguous since every type of e-paper layer will require a different technology work around to get it to function. That would mean a significantly different solution for each type and perhaps each brand of e-paper layer each of which could be patented. Or do I misunderstand how patents really work these days? Not that I have more than a cursory understanding of how specific a patent needs to be.

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