Because it is paper, writing and recording are its main uses; and because paper is its size, it has its own merits in any size and range. Books, magazines, notebooks, printed matters, note paper, wallpaper and photo paper, its silhouette Can be said to be everywhere.
Figure 1: Yuan Tai Technology Division senior director Zhang Zhiming product integration
"It is our main goal to replace paper," said Zhang Zhiming, senior director of product division of the company, breaking the myth of e-paper applications.
People will have such stereotypes in fact extenuating, to blame can only blame the Amazon Kindle too successful, so that the market for the understanding of e-paper only connected to boxy e-book reader, and one can not access And watching the board of the movie. So, nothing else.
Jump off e-book framework into multiple applications
To tell the truth, this is actually a crime of non-war. In the context of time and space (about 2000), not only were the technological capabilities of the semiconductor industry limited, but the materials and industrial design skills were still inadequate. Even the best ideas and ideas, Are very difficult to practice.Therefore, e-paper technology has long been with the e-book reader together with the load.
Until 2009, YTD, a subsidiary of the Yung Fung Yu Group, acquired the then E Ink Company for 215 million U.S. dollars. The landmark project, which was born at the MIT Media Lab in the United States, has finally begun With new opportunities for development.
Such a combination, when some people may feel puzzled, but now it is a natural fit, after all, Yuen Foong Yu is to start a paper, and only it really understand the paper, the ability to e-paper appropriately to play out, and even Beyond the imagination of most people.
"It's like a kind of belief. We believe that paper must have its market space, and it will not easily be replaced by other products. After all, it has existed for more than a thousand years," said Zhang Zhiming.
After all, E-paper is not a real paper after all. Although it has the visual effect of paper, its core principle is still very "electronic." Therefore, to make a "good" electronic paper, the electronic behind it Control technology must not be underestimated.
Zhang Zhiming pointed out that when there are many manufacturers of electronic paper technology competition, but the real mass production and launch of the only one of our products and now E Ink's e-paper technology is no longer the same, through advanced semiconductor control IC and materials Process technology, E Ink electronic ink particle control has been very precise and subtle, and even introduced a colorful and four-color version of the e-paper products, so that the application of electronic paper more widely.
Figure 2: Director Zhang Zhiming loves to use his own technology, with a handwritten tablet of electronic paper, watches (this is not a branch, this is a new generation of Sony FES Watch U), and the use of electronic paper smart credit card.
In particular, Cheung has engaged in the development of reflective LCD products to better understand the delightful display quality of E Ink e-paper. "Currently no one in the reflective display field should exceed the quality of E Ink. He said with confidence.
In combination with excellent production technology and deep understanding of paper applications, E-Tech's e-paper products are beginning to emerge from the framework of e-book readers and gradually extend their footprint to all "paper" products used, including electronic labels, Handwriting boards, billboards, identification cards, financial cards, interior design and architectural applications, transformed into the most forward-looking display technology.
Figure 3: Yuan too visitor identification card also uses electronic paper, not only reusable, and very representative.
In addition to giving full play to the characteristics of the paper, E Ink electronic paper also began to cross-cutting combination, not only for display and record, but also to the fashion and medical industries.
Stationary reflective display applications to expand the full-color market
At this year's Touch Taiwan, Metso has applied its "Prism" color-changeable electronic paper to clothing and high heels to provide fashion designers with a completely new design concept. In the wearable category, Too much cooperation to launch a new generation of FES Watch U electronic paper watch, this is a subversion of the traditional creative watch, consumers can define their own watch appearance.
In the healthcare industry, we are also partnering with Lohmann-Therapie Systeme AG, a manufacturer and supplier of percutaneous therapeutic systems, to launch "Smart Patch" which enables the use of electronic paper Real-time display is accurately pasted on the skin, but also shows the time of the next dose of medication to remind medical staff to patch removal and replacement.
Zhang Zhiming said several of the most important features of E Ink electronic paper is: reflective display, wide viewing angle, thin, flexible, will not be broken, ultra-low power consumption, no heat, and can be arbitrarily cut, used in a variety of Size and size, especially its low power consumption and non-heat characteristics, ideal for public space furnishings.
Figure 4: Advanced Color ePaper (ACeP) is a new meta-new weapon, is a high quality total reflection of the color electronic paper display.
Recently, the National Palace Museum in Taiwan has also partnered with Taiyuan to launch the e-paper display area entitled "The Formation of the National Treasure - Painting and Calligraphy Exhibition". The reason behind this is that it has taken a fancy to the electronic paper reflective display and the non-heat-generating features. Fully meet the needs of its display.
Although Metso is currently the only e-paper market, its focus on developing new products and improving performance continues. One of its development directions is full-color display applications. The Advanced Color ePaper (ACeP) is the Their new weapon. ACeP is a high-quality, all-reflective, color electronic paper display containing yellow, blue and red ink particles in four colors. Through the meticulous TFT backplane electronic voltage control, eight The full color gamut of the primary colors shows the effect, but ACeP is able to present a very delicate and rich color through this CMYK-printed technology.
Zhang Zhiming pointed out that ACeP technology does not require color filters, so can have better visibility, and regardless of the viewing angle and power consumption, are far better than the LCD display. And this product is expected Will be launched next year.
However, Cheung Chih-ming still stressed that the introduction of full-color products is not to compete with the LCD display is still focused on the "paper" -based application, that is, through the introduction of high-quality full-color products, bringing customers closer Printing effect of the product, expanding customer application space.
"E-paper and LCD are not competing, but complementary and cooperative, and they work with each other, and our positioning is clear and reflective," said Cheung Chih-ming.