Nikkei Electronics Asia -- August 2009
Cover Story -- Part 2: Electronic Paper
New Types of ePaper, More Reader Concepts

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Aug 21, 2009 00:00 Takuya Otani, Phil Keys

Most eBook readers use electronic paper (ePaper) from E Ink Corp of the US, but the situation is changing as a number of alternative technologies reach the commercial level. This means more choice for terminal manufacturers, and opens up a variety of possible reader characteristics.

The main feature of eBook readers is that they use electronic paper (ePaper). Compared to conventional displays such as liquid crystal display (LCD) panels, ePaper offers characteristics, such as character visibility close to that of paper, and low power consumption, making it essential in dedicated eBook readers.

Until now, however, terminal manufacturers have been using only one type of ePaper, for all effects and purposes: the black-and-white ePaper developed by E Ink Corp of the US. E Ink has been the only company to commercialize ePaper suitable for use in eBook readers.

As a result, almost all of the tens of eBook readers in the market, including the Kindle from Amazon.com Inc of the US and the Reader from Sony Corp of Japan, use ePaper manufactured by E Ink. And perhaps because of that, many of the specifications of available readers resemble each other closely, often making it difficult to tell one from another on the market. For the terminal manufacturer, it has been very difficult to make their products stand out from the crowd without some way to make their ePaper look different from that of the competition.

More Choices

This situation will change significantly from 2009 through 2010, because it seems likely there will be a sudden increase in the number of ePapers available (Fig 1). Depending on which specific ePaper a manufacturer of readers chooses, it will be possible to totally change reader characteristics, and finally manufacturers will be able to roll out their own unique product concepts. This will mean an escape from E Ink's monopoly.

Several companies including Bridgestone Corp of Japan and SiPix Imaging Inc of the US will begin supplying ePaper for eBook readers. Deliveries will also start for the LCD panel with a display mode designed for eBooks, developed by high-tech start-up Pixel Qi of the US.

This has led to an increase in the range of performance variation, too. For example, it has become possible to select color models instead of being limited to black-and-white as in the past.

Cost competitiveness is also changing. According to Itsuo Tanuma, manager, Electronic Paper, Development Department of Bridgestone, "The price of ePaper from pioneer E Ink was, of course, a reference point in setting our own prices." The price of a 6-inch ePaper module made with E Ink technology is currently about US$60.00, making it the priciest component in an eBook reader. The ePaper in the Kindle 2, for example, accounts for about one-third of total parts cost. Lower prices for ePaper is good news for reader manufacturers!