To Onyx: Stop using e-Ink! Use ClearInk instead!

[mdp]

Originally Posted by andyh2000

Having been bitten by the Jetbook Color debacle I'm not believing colour eInk is viable in a reader until I can hold it in my hands

CLEARink and progeny is not EInk and progeny.

For quick reference, this is the chief quote for this new player:

CLEARink’s technology is based on varying the brightness of a specially designed reflector film by modulating the total internal reflection of ambient light from the film, using a single electrically charged particle suspended in a liquid.

This is that of our Massachusset-Taiwan most esteemed EPD producer:

The two pigment electronic ink system is made up of millions of tiny microcapsules, each about the diameter of a human hair. Each microcapsule contains negatively charged white particles and positively charged black particles suspended in a clear fluid. When a positive or negative electric field is applied, corresponding particles move to the top of the microcapsule where they become visible to the viewer. This makes the surface appear white or black at that spot.

[... make them capsules in different primary colours and find the way to control these individually and you get ACeP.]

[seltzered]

Interesting to see Lenovo investing in Clearink. https://www.clearinkdisplays.com/len...vests-clearink

[mdp]

An interview is pretty fresh of Maria Vetrano of SEMI (global industry association representing the electronics manufacturing supply chain) to Sri Peruvemba, CMO of CLEARink.

Here is an abridgement of the most salient statements:

[C]olor and video [...are] now possible through electrophoretic total internal reflection (eTIR [or] "ePaper 2.0") – a low-power technology that allows devices to work for days instead of hours.
eTIR [...] uses the charged particles in a fluid to modulate the total internal reflected light from the optical structures incorporated into its novel reflector film.
[...] Implementation is pretty much the same as with the LCD or OLED displays currently in use. The interfaces, connections and form factors remain form-, fit-, function-compatible. Only the software/waveforms and drive voltages will change/reduce. This allows the manufacture of our tech., ePaper 2.0, on the old LCD lines that are already in use. You can literally go back and forth between ePaper 2.0 and LCD on a day-to-day basis.
[...] Success requires developing the ecosystem of subcomponent suppliers and peripheral technology providers (like touch and front lights). Partnering with the display fabs that can mass-produce your technology is another important step.
With most emerging technologies, the pursuit of the right customer is the bigger challenge, but for us it has been getting the product into production. Fortunately, we already have customers that have invested in the company and have committed to product volume, so they get early access to our technology.
Now just months away from deploying our eTIR technology as ePaper 2.0, we welcome partnership inquiries as we seek to implement eTIR across a range of previously unserved and underserved display markets.

The interview is linked to a forthcoming presentation of Sri Peruvemba, "ePaper 2.0 — Creating New Markets", at FLEX/MSTC on Tuesday, February 19 at 2:45 pm.

The original source: https://electroiq.com/2019/02/epaper...ctronic-paper/

[-Lesnikus-]

Originally Posted by mdp

Implementation is pretty much the same as with the LCD or OLED displays currently in use. The interfaces, connections and form factors remain form-, fit-, function-compatible.

Wow. Is all this really that near? Hopefully soon we will see a large, eye-safe monitor based on this technology. Maybe Dasung will pay attention to CLEARink? Oh, how I would like to buy a large (21-24 inch) monitor, working in reflected light and capable of showing video.

[whopper]

Originally Posted by -Lesnikus-

Wow. Is all this really that near?

No

It have been "near" for 10 years, still nothing in the street and still nothing announced or even decent prototypes.


Don't expect accessible price wise color e-paper with high dpi enough to read books on the street for at least 5 years, monitors? Probably 10 or never.

[mdp]

Some have a belief that forthcoming technology implementation is not superior than showroom prototypes. Others call such idea, synthetically, unsubstantiated BS.

A new entry in perplexing arguments seems to be that since nothing patently critical has happened up to now even in spite of near misses, then events are far away. Which means, some people are not acquainted with the concept of death.

Originally Posted by -Lesnikus-

Wow.

Yes.

Originally Posted by -Lesnikus-

Is all this really that near?

Eh?
...Possibly?

Originally Posted by -Lesnikus-

Hopefully soon we will see a large, eye-safe monitor based on this technology. Maybe Dasung will pay attention to CLEARink? Oh, how I would like to buy a large (21-24 inch) monitor, working in reflected light and capable of showing video.

I think current aim is towards 9.7'' ; it is just normal that "reflectivity" is primarily matched with "mobility".
Again: I fail to see how Dasung can be high in the list of relevant players. If controllers for eTIR are not that different from LCD, then the production of monitors can be done somehow effortlessly through any mainstream factory...

[mdp]

CLEARink announced partnership with display manufacturer Tianma to produce the eTIR displays and kits.

Under the partnership framework, Tianma will develop TFT backplane and module assemblies for CLEARink’s next generation ePaper displays for tablets and other applications [...]
Tianma has been a manufacturing and technology leader in small to medium size displays for over three decades. [...]
CLEARink’s ePaper 2.0 technology has been trial manufactured and tested and the company will soon ship sample kits to select customers to commence the next phase of design

[mdp]

I am finding very informative the very new article at
https://www.displaydaily.com/article...-power-display

A few of the most intriguing points:

• «using TIR ... the movement of the [electrophoretic] particle can be very small, and therefore much faster than other EPD approaches»
• The 9.7" panel has achieved 16:1 contrast for colour and 20:1 for monochrome [E-Ink Pearl is 10:1, Carta «can reach 15:1»]
• Colour gamut has been pushed to 19% of NTSC
• Frame rates can currently reach 24Hz or 30Hz (I interpret)
• Voltages: 3V to drive and 1V to hold (end of Feb 2019 breakthroughs); «Finding the NRE charges or persuading a driver company to invest to make driver chips are often very substantial hurdles. Getting the drive voltage down to those already widely used will be very helpful to Clearink which is continuing to work on optimising the driving waveforms»
• A TIR based device is currently expected to run for around 150 hours per charge

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by mdp

A TIR based device is currently expected to run for around 150 hours per charge

From the article, that was with the old high-voltage (4V change/2V hold) driver. They now have that down to (3V/1V).

I must admit to feeling a little bit excited about ClearInk.

[mdp]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

From the article, that was with the old high-voltage (4V change/2V hold) driver. They now have that down to (3V/1V)

I did take that into account, and I miscalculated. Now that I am properly doing the computations to explain why I stated 150 hours (I intended with the new voltages in mixed use), I see that my mental sketches were too gross.
They stated 100hrs of video or 150 of "reading" (interpolated) with the old specs, which may become 133hrs of video or 300 of "reading" with the new specs. So it is more like, very tentatively, 200 hours of mixed use (60% active and 40% static or simply the geometric mean).

Duly: with an undefined average battery (3000mAh?), an undefined average board etc.

EDIT: Although I am not sure about how optimistically the board consumption was estimated: I guess I would already be impressed if a good board lasted for 50 hours of mixed use without a display attached, with a single charge...

[mdp]

This week (12-16 May) will be the Society for Information Display (SID)’s DisplayWeek 2019. CLEARink will be there showcasing the ePaper 2.0 reflective displays.

The company further announced that it has signed MOU/LOI for over $300M worth of business from four leading tablet makers. [...]

CLEARink’s demos at SID’s DisplayWeek 2019, will showcase industry best 9.7” reflective displays with front light, 1:16 contrast ratio, 4096 colors, 19.5% NTSC color gamut, 3V/1V drive/hold voltages in a 227 dpi display playing nearly 30 frames/sec video.

“We have developed state-of-the-art reflective displays for tablet and other applications, secured customer commitments for $300M in business, continued to trial manufacture in depreciated LCD factories and are building an eco-system,” said Frank Christiaens, Chairman and CEO of CLEARink Displays

(from: businesswire 20190509006029)

[assuZenfor]

I might be interested; if good price and good quality ...

[mdp]

Originally Posted by assuZenfor

I might be interested; if good price and good quality ...

Price should be very competitive (modification of standard processes).
Quality: that's probably what most of us are waiting to assess. In a few days we should get some documented demonstration out of the Display Week.

[viceant]

Does anyone has seen this video of Papercast?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIcHU8hPgIQ

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by viceant

Does anyone has seen this video of Papercast?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIcHU8hPgIQ

I hadn't seen it, but it didn't look very impressive to me. I've seen video on E-Ink before, although at smaller sizes. The problem is the power it takes.