Flex Lighting illuminates e-reader displays with built-in film (video)

DonaldL. · 12-14-2011, 11:47 AM

Flex Lighting illuminates e-reader displays with built-in film (video)

Quote:

A new film could greatly improve lighting on electronic paper devices. In the video below, Flex Lighting demonstrates the system, which works by distributing light from one or two LEDs across a very thin light guide laminated to the surface of the screen.

pilotbob · 12-14-2011, 01:31 PM

Very interesting. Of course the question is, how much does this "thin" film obscure the text. IIRC that was the major complaint of the Sony device that tried to light theirs. Although it could have been more due to the touch screen than the lighting system. Not sure why they didn't try something with the lighting system and the IR touch. Perhaps the while light would ruin the IR layer.

BOb

Prepper · 12-14-2011, 02:48 PM

Put this on a Nook Simple Touch and it's instant upgrade for me and my wife.

pidgeon92 · 12-14-2011, 02:56 PM

There's an older thread about this:

Innovative solution for e-Ink screen lighting

mersfire · 12-14-2011, 04:42 PM

I thought this would be an add-on to existing devices, but it seems like it will have to be designed in by the manufacturer. Light guide films are great technology and I'm glad there are companies that are paying attention to the needs of the e-reader community.

Historically, light guide films will have bright spots in them if there are any scratches or defects, so I wonder how these films were perform in the real world.

jocampo · 12-14-2011, 08:32 PM

Promising.

Add color to the eink device and would be my perfect ereader!

Dylrob · 12-14-2011, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Very interesting. Of course the question is, how much does this "thin" film obscure the text. IIRC that was the major complaint of the Sony device that tried to light theirs. Although it could have been more due to the touch screen than the lighting system. Not sure why they didn't try something with the lighting system and the IR touch. Perhaps the while light would ruin the IR layer.

BOb

By its nature a light diffuser would reduce the sharpness of the display. Resistive touch screens in my experience don't have much if any affect here. They just reduce the total brightness.

Also it might have made the device too thick. Since it would have the diffuser and then a raised bezel above that to house the IR sensors.

RainingLemur · 12-14-2011, 10:18 PM

I think this sounds like a cool idea.

SteveEisenberg · 12-14-2011, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Very interesting. Of course the question is, how much does this "thin" film obscure the text.

The company web site claims not at all.

Not addressed on the company web site is the question of whether and when millions could be produced at uniform quality -- the issue that seems to be holding back color electronic ink displays.

I do hope they can commercialize this before color tablets kill off black and white readers (speaking here as a temperamentally pessimistic person). I wouldn't rush out to buy, but it would be nice to pick up on clearance in a few years. It does sound like a strong justification for a new device generation.

SeaKing · 12-14-2011, 11:31 PM

I sometimes would want to read in very dark conditions without using a light that will mess with my night vision. On occasion I actually just close one eye to maintain night vision in it. That can cause problems because in the dark the eye that was exposed to the light may have a residual halo effect in it.
A flashlight or lamp has a bright bulb usually and can be a problem if the eye catches the bulb. A screen that can be dimmed isn't as bad, and this might come under that heading.
Anyway, I would like to try it. It would be really neat if it could be manufactured as a add on for the old Kindles.

Lbooker · 12-15-2011, 03:50 AM

It would be perfect if we could set the quantity of light.

kartu · 12-15-2011, 05:02 AM

Uhm, forward to the past?

We've been there seen that, sorry:

1) Sony PRS 700 had it built-in, screen was washed out by "lightning" layer, no thanks
2) Sony's covers with light

Both have failed miserably and that's why now we have it old way, which doesn't degrade the screen:

Ken Maltby · 12-15-2011, 06:04 AM

Well I guess this beats reading with a flashlight, under the covers, when you are
supposed to be asleep. But once you are grown you should be able to find a properly
lit place to do your reading. A nice stuffed chair with a good "reading lamp" has been
a common feature of most literate people's homes for a century, at least. I find that
I can easily read my JBL in the same lighting conditions that I used for reading paper
books.

Luck;
Ken

SteveEisenberg · 12-15-2011, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kartu

We've been there seen that, sorry:

Your large image shows side lighting, while the thread is about illuminated flexible film. What evidence do you have that they are similar?

ProDigit · 12-15-2011, 06:57 AM

It looks to me like some kind of transparent plastic with chemical substances in them that respond to blacklight.

The only thing you'll notice is that black-blacks will become more greyed out.
When shining a blacklight of upto 0.5W on such a screen should provide you enough light for reading at night.

I'm only saying it's blacklight, it could be regular light too. But blacklight also works well with certain white plastics, that may be used as lcd back!

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12-14-2011, 01:31 PM	#2
pilotbob Grand Sorcerer Posts: 19,832 Karma: 11844413 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Tampa, FL USA Device: Kindle Touch	Very interesting. Of course the question is, how much does this "thin" film obscure the text. IIRC that was the major complaint of the Sony device that tried to light theirs. Although it could have been more due to the touch screen than the lighting system. Not sure why they didn't try something with the lighting system and the IR touch. Perhaps the while light would ruin the IR layer. BOb

12-14-2011, 02:48 PM	#3
Prepper Connoisseur Posts: 72 Karma: 183156 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Castle Rock, CO Device: Kobo Forma	Put this on a Nook Simple Touch and it's instant upgrade for me and my wife.

12-14-2011, 02:56 PM	#4
pidgeon92 Wizard Posts: 3,144 Karma: 8426142 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Chicago, IL Device: Kindle PW2, Kindle Voyage, Kindle DXG, Boox M90, Kobo Aura HD	There's an older thread about this: Innovative solution for e-Ink screen lighting

12-14-2011, 04:42 PM	#5
mersfire Member Posts: 16 Karma: 18897 Join Date: Dec 2011 Device: Kindle	I thought this would be an add-on to existing devices, but it seems like it will have to be designed in by the manufacturer. Light guide films are great technology and I'm glad there are companies that are paying attention to the needs of the e-reader community. Historically, light guide films will have bright spots in them if there are any scratches or defects, so I wonder how these films were perform in the real world.

12-14-2011, 08:32 PM	#6
jocampo Layback feline Posts: 3,034 Karma: 6980745 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: USA Device: Oasis 2nd gen, Sony DPTS1, iPad Pro 10.5"	Promising. Add color to the eink device and would be my perfect ereader!

12-14-2011, 10:18 PM	#8
RainingLemur Spork Connoisseur Posts: 2,355 Karma: 16780603 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Nook Color	I think this sounds like a cool idea.

12-14-2011, 11:31 PM	#10
SeaKing Frequent Flier Posts: 1,282 Karma: 2058993297 Join Date: Oct 2011 Device: KB kindle aboard, Galx Tab 7.0 Plus, trying out Droid 1 as mini-tab	I sometimes would want to read in very dark conditions without using a light that will mess with my night vision. On occasion I actually just close one eye to maintain night vision in it. That can cause problems because in the dark the eye that was exposed to the light may have a residual halo effect in it. A flashlight or lamp has a bright bulb usually and can be a problem if the eye catches the bulb. A screen that can be dimmed isn't as bad, and this might come under that heading. Anyway, I would like to try it. It would be really neat if it could be manufactured as a add on for the old Kindles.

12-15-2011, 03:50 AM	#11
Lbooker Addict Posts: 316 Karma: 1021312 Join Date: Jun 2009 Device: Sony PRS-T1	It would be perfect if we could set the quantity of light.

12-15-2011, 05:02 AM	#12
kartu PRS+ author Posts: 1,637 Karma: 2446233 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Sony PRS-300, 505, 600, 650, 950	Uhm, forward to the past? We've been there seen that, sorry: 1) Sony PRS 700 had it built-in, screen was washed out by "lightning" layer, no thanks 2) Sony's covers with light Both have failed miserably and that's why now we have it old way, which doesn't degrade the screen:

12-15-2011, 06:04 AM	#13
Ken Maltby Wizard Posts: 4,465 Karma: 6900052 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: The Heart of Texas Device: Boox Note2, AuraHD, PDA,	Well I guess this beats reading with a flashlight, under the covers, when you are supposed to be asleep. But once you are grown you should be able to find a properly lit place to do your reading. A nice stuffed chair with a good "reading lamp" has been a common feature of most literate people's homes for a century, at least. I find that I can easily read my JBL in the same lighting conditions that I used for reading paper books. Luck; Ken

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12-15-2011, 06:57 AM	#15
ProDigit Karmaniac Posts: 2,553 Karma: 11499146 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Miami FL Device: PRS-505, Jetbook, + Mini, +Color, Astak Ez Reader Pro, PPW1, Aura H2O	It looks to me like some kind of transparent plastic with chemical substances in them that respond to blacklight. The only thing you'll notice is that black-blacks will become more greyed out. When shining a blacklight of upto 0.5W on such a screen should provide you enough light for reading at night. I'm only saying it's blacklight, it could be regular light too. But blacklight also works well with certain white plastics, that may be used as lcd back!