Display Technology
Rapid changes in display technology offer a myriad of possibilities for businesses
CIE Magazine speaks to Felix Karlsson, director of strategy and marketing, Ynvisible T
he future of displays is here, and it’s revolutionizing how we interact with technology. Ynvisible, a manufacturer of energy-efficient printed displays, has created
displays suitable for low-power, cost- sensitive applications, such as digital signage, smart labels, and retail labels and signage. The technology is based on conductive electrochromic polymers that change colour with only 1.5 volts, which is said to be thinner and more flexible than existing LCD, LED, and electrophoretic e-paper displays. This not only makes them a suitable alternative, but also enables a wide range of new applications for visual interfaces. CIE: How has display technology evolved in recent years? And how are printed electrochromic polymers changing display technology? Felix Karlsson: Display technology has come a long way since the early days of CRT (cathode-ray tube) monitors and bulky TVs. Today, we have sleek, high-resolution screens that can display lifelike images with stunning detail. Ynvisible is a manufacturer of printed displays that are designed for low-power, cost- sensitive applications. But what makes these displays so special is their energy efficiency and flexibility.
Ynvisible’s displays are made with Printed Electrochromic Polymer (PEP) technology, a type of material that changes its colour or transmittance when an electrical voltage is applied. Common applications of PEPs include smart windows, where they can be used to control the amount of light and heat entering a building, or for the development of ultra- low-powered electrochromic displays. These displays are reflective, meaning they reflect ambient light, and are produced using screen- printing and lamination processes, resulting in thin and flexible displays that are also non- toxic and ITO-free.
The displays are highly customizable and versatile, as they can be used for a variety
58 September 2023
When compared to electrochromic displays, electrophoretic displays have a few similarities but also some key differences. electrophoretic displays use graphics whereas electrochromic displays use segments; electrophoretic displays uses a matrix and electrochromic displays have a direct drive; and electrochromic displays are monochrome with colour filters available while electrophoretic displays can use different colours. Moreover, electrophoretic displays are fully bistable, meaning the image can be retained without electricity, whereas electrochromic displays have an image retention capacity of up to five minutes.
of applications and industries, such as signs, indicators, labels, and card applications. The printing process ensures customers can attain a degree of customization not available with other display technologies. Furthermore, the displays are ultra-low power, with a recommended driving voltage of ±1.5V and approximately 1-2 µW/cm2 for an always- on display. The displays also have an image memory up to several minutes without any power, and are simple to drive, requiring minimal additional components. CIE: What specific materials and technologies are now coming to the fore? What challenges and opportunities face the display technology market? Felix Karlsson: The e-paper market, worth billions of dollars, includes traditional retail and signage, alongside newer, rising markets. Our team is doubling down on this sector this year with standard products such as 7-segment and dot matrix displays for both indoor and outdoor applications.
Components in Electronics
This includes retail, city information and passenger information signs. Additionally, we are creating custom, large-format electronic shelf label displays which are cost- effective and low energy. Our tech offers dynamic information when existing solutions are too costly and where no power exists. Customers approach us for ultra-low power displays, where other available options are too expensive.
Other options, often referred to as EPDs, e-paper, electronic paper, and electrophoretic displays, provide ultra-low power requirements, image memory, and a slower response time. They employ microcapsules filled with black and white particles which move to the top or bottom of the capsules to create a visible image when an electric field is applied. E-ink is the primary provider of such displays and they are widely used in eReaders, electronic shelf labels and some emerging applications such as dynamic CVC on credit cards and smart labels for pharmaceutical containers.
Electrophoretic technology is better suited for markets requiring high resolution, colours and bistability, while electrochromic technology is more cost-effective for basic, low resolution, and low information density interfaces. CIE: What are your predictions for the display technology market in the short and medium term, in terms of customer requirements and innovation? Felix Karlsson: Our team is continually striving to perfect our e-paper technology, which is a printed segmented display type that allows for custom design with symbols, shapes, and alphanumerical characters. Our efforts have resulted in improved performance, added features, integration, and scalability. However, due to the printing process used to create the displays, there are some limitations in terms of resolution and small feature sizes. This is an area the team is actively working on to optimize. The future of displays is sure to be revolutionized by the versatile and efficient displays offered by PEP technology. With low- power, durable, and reliable solutions, these displays are quickly becoming the go-to choice for many businesses and consumers.
https://www.ynvisible.com/
www.cieonline.co.uk.uk
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