E-ink and magnets?

Icarusbop · 09-24-2007, 10:15 AM

Hello:
<sorry for the bad placement, I know this is not news but could not think of anywhere else to post, please relocate if you know where it should go>

The internet pages at E-ink say that the display panels use small capsules of ink and move them around with transparent conductors to make the images - this implis to me they are using small magnetic charges to shift the ink capsules. Does anyone know what kind of effect (if any) a solid state magenet would have near the display panel? Theoretically it should make the area exposed either all black or all white, would this then cause permanent damage to the display (like magnets used to cause coloured splodges on tv screens)?

My main reason for asking this is because I intend to get an e-ink device and also have 2 small children.....

Bob Russell · 09-24-2007, 10:26 AM

Good question. I have heard a lot of people discussing how the little capsules of ink are magnetically controlled. Haven't checked the tech specs to see if that's true or a rumor.

There are magnets for the Sony Reader cover closure, so it can't be ultra sensitive. There's also this e-ink product that is attached with a magnet...
http://koolio.wordpress.com/2007/02/...eather-wizard/

But if you take a strong magnet and leave it by the screen - I haven't heard anything specific to indicate whether the screen is at risk.

Even if the magnet affects the screen, you have to wonder if it causes a stuck or reverse pixel type problem ("permanent damage"), or if it is okay after the first page turn (simply affected by the magnet, but "self-healing").

slayda · 09-24-2007, 11:21 AM

Perhaps we could ask one of the people who have suffered a cracked screen that Sony won't replace for free but still has some e-ink functionality left to experiment with a magnetic on that screen.

nekokami · 09-24-2007, 01:24 PM

My understanding was that the particles were electrically charged, not magnetized.

NatCh · 09-24-2007, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nekokami

My understanding was that the particles were electrically charged, not magnetized.

True, but the two effectively overlap a lot of times.

I wondered about the magnet/e-ink thing myself, and asked the folks who had iLiads (the only one out at the time) if a magnet would make any change, the answer was no, magnetics don't affect e-ink-tics. I'll see If I can find the original discussion, but it'll probably take a bit.

NatCh · 09-24-2007, 01:54 PM

Ah, here we go: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...2973#post32973

You'll have to skim down the thread for the answer.

09-24-2007, 10:15 AM	#1
Icarusbop Groupie Posts: 156 Karma: 25846 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: UK Device: PRS505	E-ink and magnets? Hello: <sorry for the bad placement, I know this is not news but could not think of anywhere else to post, please relocate if you know where it should go> The internet pages at E-ink say that the display panels use small capsules of ink and move them around with transparent conductors to make the images - this implis to me they are using small magnetic charges to shift the ink capsules. Does anyone know what kind of effect (if any) a solid state magenet would have near the display panel? Theoretically it should make the area exposed either all black or all white, would this then cause permanent damage to the display (like magnets used to cause coloured splodges on tv screens)? My main reason for asking this is because I intend to get an e-ink device and also have 2 small children.....

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Neodymium magnets in a DIY cover	JeffL	Sony Reader	7	02-23-2011 02:47 AM
Problem with magnets in leather cover	Randy	Sony Reader	34	09-22-2008 06:34 PM
Accessories Kindle and magnets	mdibella	Amazon Kindle	13	05-25-2008 03:05 PM
At Last: Front-Lit E-Ink, Flexible E-Ink and ... E-Ink Watches!	NatCh	News	1	10-27-2007 10:50 AM

09-24-2007, 10:26 AM	#2
Bob Russell Recovering Gadget Addict Posts: 5,381 Karma: 676161 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Device: iPad	Good question. I have heard a lot of people discussing how the little capsules of ink are magnetically controlled. Haven't checked the tech specs to see if that's true or a rumor. There are magnets for the Sony Reader cover closure, so it can't be ultra sensitive. There's also this e-ink product that is attached with a magnet... http://koolio.wordpress.com/2007/02/...eather-wizard/ But if you take a strong magnet and leave it by the screen - I haven't heard anything specific to indicate whether the screen is at risk. Even if the magnet affects the screen, you have to wonder if it causes a stuck or reverse pixel type problem ("permanent damage"), or if it is okay after the first page turn (simply affected by the magnet, but "self-healing").

09-24-2007, 11:21 AM	#3
slayda Retired & reading more! Posts: 2,764 Karma: 1884247 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: North Alabama, USA Device: Kindle 1, iPad Air 2, iPhone 6S+, Kobo Aura One	Perhaps we could ask one of the people who have suffered a cracked screen that Sony won't replace for free but still has some e-ink functionality left to experiment with a magnetic on that screen.

09-24-2007, 01:24 PM	#4
nekokami fruminous edugeek Posts: 6,745 Karma: 551260 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northeast US Device: iPad, eBw 1150	My understanding was that the particles were electrically charged, not magnetized.

09-24-2007, 01:54 PM	#6
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	Ah, here we go: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...2973#post32973 You'll have to skim down the thread for the answer.

Advert

Advert