Electronic Paper : How e-paper Works

Electronic Paper is a display technique that has the appearance of ink and color on paper. E-paper reflect light like ordinary paper, there is no passive light. In this context, function of Organic Light Emitting Diode Display (OLED Display) can be reminded to the readers.  Electronic Paper is also known as e-paper, often making a new user confused with web version of News Paper.

Technology behind Electronic Paper

Although there are various methods for producing electronic paper now, most of the companies uses the phenomenon of electrophoresis.  Xerox first developed electronic paper. It was called Gyricon and consisted of small, static charged balls. Electronic paper contains microcapsules having an average diameter of about 40 microns, where the  white particles  are positively charged and black particles are negatively charged  in a transparent viscous polymer. Driving the pixels is done at segment displays using passive matrix displays. The depiction of gray levels on Electronic Paper is controlled by the timing of the applied voltage. Originally, eight gray levels were displayed, the current Electronic Paper displays are working with 16 shades of gray.

Advantages and disadvantages of Electronic Paper

Electronic Paper is very thin and light and with the appropriate design and flexible. Electronic Paper can be manufactured in all sizes and shapes. Also they requires little energy.

The disadvantages of Electronic Paper compared to print media such as paper is the smooth reflecting surface of the transparent cover. Color range of color displays is relatively limited in Electronic Paper.

Usages of Electronic Paper

Numerous vendors for electronic books producing them as OEM units with their own firmware. This is currently the main use of electronic paper. Some Cellular Phone Manufacturers, Pen Drive Manufacturers uses Electronic Paper, although the mainstream market still has not accepted the usage over OLED. Esquire Magazine’s Electronic Paper cover went a hit big on Internet, but was quickly panned.