eink technology

jbcohen · 07-20-2011, 11:02 AM

There is something about eink that I need to learn. I have dealt with LCD's for many years and I am told that one needs to have a screen blanker on to avoid screen burn in. Some electronic readers with eink don't ever blank the screen instead will put an image on the screen when its turned off. Does eink get screen burn in like LCD does? What am I missing?

HarryT · 07-20-2011, 11:36 AM

No, electrophoretic displays ("eInk") do not suffer from burn-in.

Hellmark · 07-20-2011, 11:43 AM

Modern displays, LCD or eInk, are not susceptible in the way that CRTs are for burn in.

LCD and eInk do have ghosting, or image retention, though. For LCD screens, it takes an extremely long time, and often simply leaving the display off for a while will correct this. eInk takes care of it by inverting colors inbetween page turns. The black flicker you see when you hit the next page button, is this. For neither display should image retention be a permanent issue that you need a "screen blanker" for.

Dave_S · 07-20-2011, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbcohen

There is something about eink that I need to learn. I have dealt with LCD's for many years and I am told that one needs to have a screen blanker on to avoid screen burn in. Some electronic readers with eink don't ever blank the screen instead will put an image on the screen when its turned off. Does eink get screen burn in like LCD does? What am I missing?

There is no active light generation with eInk, so "burn-in" is a physical impossibility. Image retention is a bit of a phenomena with eInk but it does not have long term effects like phosphor "burn-in" with CRT displays. Many eInk controllers use a black flash during page changes to eliminate the ghosting caused by the short term image retention. In any case, static displays are nothing to worry about with eInk.

HarryT · 07-20-2011, 11:46 AM

The so-called "screen saver" on eInk devices serves no other purpose than to give the user a visual indication that the device is turned off. It certainly doesn't "save" the screen in any way whatsoever.

Rainmaker · 07-20-2011, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

The so-called "screen saver" on eInk devices serves no other purpose than to give the user a visual indication that the device is turned off. It certainly doesn't "save" the screen in any way whatsoever.

Upload to someone's Kindle the current page they are reading as a screensaver ......

Shaggy · 07-20-2011, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rainmaker

Upload to someone's Kindle the current page they are reading as a screensaver ......

Opinions go back and forth on that. The main issue is that it may become confusing for people to tell whether or not the device was turned off. Personally, I think an eInk screensaver is silly, but I'm about 50/50 on whether it would be better with a blank screen or the current page.

Pinecone · 07-21-2011, 07:21 AM

THAT was his point.

To drive them nuts.

07-20-2011, 11:02 AM	#1
jbcohen Wizard Posts: 3,032 Karma: 11196738 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Where am I? Device: Kindle Paperwhite Signature edition and a Samsung S24 Ultra	eink technology There is something about eink that I need to learn. I have dealt with LCD's for many years and I am told that one needs to have a screen blanker on to avoid screen burn in. Some electronic readers with eink don't ever blank the screen instead will put an image on the screen when its turned off. Does eink get screen burn in like LCD does? What am I missing?

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07-20-2011, 11:36 AM	#2
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	No, electrophoretic displays ("eInk") do not suffer from burn-in.

07-20-2011, 11:43 AM	#3
Hellmark Wizard Posts: 2,592 Karma: 4290425 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Foristell, Missouri, USA Device: Nokia N800, PRS-505, Nook STR Glowlight, Kindle 3, Kobo Libra 2	Modern displays, LCD or eInk, are not susceptible in the way that CRTs are for burn in. LCD and eInk do have ghosting, or image retention, though. For LCD screens, it takes an extremely long time, and often simply leaving the display off for a while will correct this. eInk takes care of it by inverting colors inbetween page turns. The black flicker you see when you hit the next page button, is this. For neither display should image retention be a permanent issue that you need a "screen blanker" for.

07-20-2011, 11:46 AM	#5
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	The so-called "screen saver" on eInk devices serves no other purpose than to give the user a visual indication that the device is turned off. It certainly doesn't "save" the screen in any way whatsoever.

07-21-2011, 07:21 AM	#8
Pinecone Guru Posts: 902 Karma: 1660722 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Maryland Device: PRS-650, PRS-600, PRS-350	THAT was his point. To drive them nuts.