What They Say
E Ink and Sharp said that they have been collaborating for two years on the development of Sharp’s IGZO backplane technology to support E Ink’s EPDs. A new 8″ display with 300 ppi and 0.35 second update speed (B/W) has been developed and is to be shown at Ceatec from October 18th to 21st.
The technology will be used to reduce power consumption and support bigger displays in retail and transportation.
What We Think
Hmmm… It’s not immediately obvious to me why you would want the extra cost and complication of IGZO for an EPD application, if you could avoid it. Perhaps E Ink can’t avoid it, but I will have to reach out to the firms to see if I can be illuminated on this topic. In the case of a transmissive display, smaller transistors mean a larger aperture ratio which is helpful and in an emissive display better transistors allow more current and higher brightness, but here? We’ll see – I’m sure E Ink has its reasons! (BR)
