New video-speed electronic-paper display technology

8 October 2003 Opto-Electronics

Royal Philips Electronics' scientists have presented a novel technology for reflective, paper-like displays. The technology is claimed to be fast enough to display video content and can be used to build a reflective full-colour display that is at least two times brighter than any other technology.

The technology controls the shape of a confined water/oil interface by an applied voltage. With no voltage applied, a coloured oil forms a flat film between the water and a hydrophobic (water-repellent), insulating coating of an electrode, resulting in a coloured pixel. When a voltage is applied between the electrode and the water, the interfacial tension between the water and the coating changes. As a result, the water moves the oil aside. This results in a partly transparent pixel, or, if a reflective white surface is used under the switchable element, a white pixel. Because of the small size of the pixel, the user only experiences the average reflection, which means that a high-brightness, high-contrast switchable element is obtained.

The switching between white and coloured reflection is fast enough to display video content, and the reflectivity and contrast are better or equal to other reflective display types and approach those of paper, says Philips.

www.research.philips.com

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