E Ink and Sharp Display Technology Corporation Collaborate on Oxide Backplanes*1 for Next Generation of ePaper

E Ink Holdings Inc. (E Ink), the originator, pioneer, and global commercial leader in digital paper technology, and Sharp Display Technology Corporation (SDTC), a leading company in the field of displays, today announced the collaboration with each other, and adopt SDTC’s indium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO^*2) backplanes for ePaper modules using in eReader and eNote products.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220927005125/en/

(Photo: Business Wire)

E Ink has been developing the use of oxide thin film transistors (TFTs) for electrophoretic technology for over ten years, and will expand its ePaper product portfolio based on using oxide TFTs. Sharp was the first to mass produce oxide TFTs for displays in 2012. Oxide TFTs have high mobility (a measure of how easily an electron moves in a particular material) and low leak current in the transistors, with a result that smaller transistors can be used to provide the same current. In a display, this means a faster switching speed is possible and lower power consumption, contributing to a sustainable environment. E Ink and SDTC have been working together for two years to bring oxide TFTs for ePaper displays into the market.

“Joining forces with SDTC further demonstrates E Ink’s commitment to enhance ePaper display performance,” said Johnson Lee, CEO of E Ink. “SDTC’s vision is to develop an oxide TFT technology that can service different types of displays and circuits, and SDTC is committed to continue to invest in the development of oxide TFTs. E Ink looks forward to our partnership with SDTC.”

“SDTC is excited that E Ink chose SDTC as an oxide TFT partner to bring the next generation of ePaper displays to market,” said Chien-Erh Wang, President of SDTC. “SDTC is the market leader and pioneer in oxide TFT research and development and is also the first display company that has mass produced oxide TFTs. E Ink is the market leader in ePaper displays, and the joining of these two companies is a natural progression.”

In the past five years, 130 million eReaders have been in use globally, replacing the purchase of paper editions of books. It is estimated that paper books would emit more than 100,000 times CO₂ vs. eReaders would have contributed significantly to the reduction of CO₂ emissions throughout that time. Migrating color content to eReaders would have a large impact on the environment.

Going forward, E Ink and SDTC will explore the use of IGZO for larger sizes for signage applications in retail and transportation. In addition, Sharp Group will also consider collaborative models with E Ink for various ePaper applications.

The Next Generation of ePaper based on this time’s collaboration is scheduled to be exhibited at CEATEC 2022, which will be held at the Makuhari Messe convention center (Mihama-ku, Chiba, Japan) from October 18 to 21 (Tuesday to Friday) of this year.

Exhibits at CEATEC 2022 (planned): Next Generation of ePaper

*1 Board circuit for controlling the display signals.

*2 IGZO is the oxide semiconductor composed of indium, gallium, zinc and oxygen. It is used as a material for thin film transistors that drive liquid crystal displays, etc.

About E Ink

E Ink Holdings Inc. (8069.TWO), based on technology from MIT’s Media Lab, is an ideal display medium for applications spanning eReaders and eNotes, retail, home, hospital, transportation and more, enabling customers to put displays in locations previously impossible. E Ink’s electrophoretic display products make it the worldwide leader for ePaper. It’s low power displays enable customers to reach their sustainability goals, and E Ink has pledged using 100% renewable energy in 2030 and reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2040. E Ink is a member of the Climate Pledge, has joined the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), and has been listed as one of the Asia-Pacific Climate Leaders by the Financial Times, Nikkei and Statista in 2022. Listed in Taiwan's Taipei Exchange (TPEx) and the Luxembourg market, E Ink Holdings is now the world's largest supplier of ePaper displays. For more information please visit www.eink.com. E Ink. We Make Surfaces Smart and Green.

About SDTC

Sharp Display Technology Corporation started business as a new company in October 2020, following the spin-off of the Display Devices Division of Sharp Corporation. Starting with the practical use of LCDs in calculators in 1973, for nearly 50 years, Sharp Group has been leading the evolution of various electronic devices such as notebook PCs, smartphones, and TVs with its cutting-edge display technologies including IGZO technology. In addition to providing such cutting-edge value, it has been also developing business activities that take into consideration environmentally friendly production sites and product manufacturing, aiming to be a company that contributes to society, to the future, and to the global environment. For more information please visit https://sdtc.jp.sharp/

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220927005125/en/