Quadrant Lab, in collaboration with the ePaper Industry Alliance (EPIA) has launched the Quadrant.ePaper weekly bulletin, aiming to provide readers with insights on global industry innovations and the latest news on the ePaper industry and connecting the global IoT ecosystem.

01 LaiBao Hi-Tech Invests $1.2 billion in Micro Electric-Chamber Display(MED) Technology

LaiBao Hi-Tech has announced its plan to join forces with the local government of Nanxun District, Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province, China, for an investment in micro electric-chamber display(MED) technology, entailing a total investment of 9 billion yuan (approximately $1.25 billion USD). The project entails leasing portions of pre-existing, sophisticated industrial plants and auxiliary facilities within the ‘Made in China 2025 Industrial Park’ situated in the Nanxun Economic Development Zone in Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. The objective is to inaugurate new production lines for micro-electric chamber displays, with sizes ranging from 7.8 inches to 55 inches, featuring a monthly throughput of 180,000 square meters of glass substrates. The production sequence is set to be comprehensive, including driving backplanes, reflective color films, encapsulation, final product packaging, module assembly, and the fusion of touch display functionalities.

Micro Electric-Chamber Display (MED), also known as “plasma display,

is classified under the microcavity electronic paper display devices segment, also a variant of ePaper and operates as a reflective display apparatus that capitalizes on the reflection of ambient light for information display. It negates the necessity for a backlight or polarizing layer, capable of achieving bistability (where it can hold a static image without power supply, consuming electricity solely during image update), pure reflectivity, full-color display, paper-like aesthetics, high contrast, high resolution, and a display with minimal bezels.

In 2023, LaiBao Hi-Tech secured a 20-year extended authorization for the MED patents and exclusive technology, alongside a consistent provision for plasma materials from its collaborative entity, Wuxi Vision Peak Technology Co., Ltd.

02 Adobe Unveils Dress with Transformative Patterns

Adobe, a company renowned for its multimedia creation and creative software, showcased a color-transformative dress at the Adobe Max 2023 conference. This dress, capable of altering its pattern style and design instantaneously, has been named Project Primrose. It utilizes Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal (PDLC) materials combined with a reflective light diffusion module to actualize a non-emissive, flexible display system. As demonstrated live, the dress can project contents created from Adobe Firefly, Adobe After Effects, Adobe Stock, and Adobe Illustrator onto the entire surface of the scale dress, rapidly adding animations and effects. Moreover, this dress can sense the wearer’s movements, allowing the patterns to change in sync with their motions.

The Adobe team believes that by integrating this technology into the surfaces of various products, including clothing and furniture, designers can explore an infinite array of design possibilities. For instance, individuals could effortlessly download and “wear” the latest designs from their favorite designers.

03 Artframe: The E Ink Display Frame That Changes Pictures with a Wave of Your Hand

Produced by Frame Labs, Artframe is an electronic photo frame utilizing E Ink display technology, available in three sizes: 6 inches, 9.7 inches, and 13.3 inches, with prices set at 369 Euros, 459 Euros, and 899 Euros respectively. There is also potential for the release of a 31.2-inch version in the future. The most prominent feature of Artframe is its ability to change the displayed picture simply by hovering a hand over the frame. Frame Labs indicates that Artframe can connect to a web setup interface via Wi-Fi, allowing for customized image refresh modes. Currently, Artframe can provide users with access to 7,000 images and support local storage of 100 images.

04 MAPTATTOO: An E Ink Navigation Device Designed for Small Boats

After embarking from Port Townsend, Washington, on a 20-foot boat bound for Alaska, the developers of MAPTATTOO recognized several drawbacks to using an iPhone for navigation on a small vessel: difficulties in reading under direct sunlight, short battery life, and challenges in operating in damp conditions.

Consequently, they initiated the design of MAPTATTOO’s hardware and software from scratch to optimize the usability and power consumption of the navigation device. The adoption of an ePaper display was essential, as it allows MAPTATTOO to be perfectly visible under any conditions and from any angle. In addition, the special algorithms enable the device with intelligent refresh modes to significantly reduce the power consumption. MAPTATTOO currently supports navigation within the United States and Canada, offers a battery life of 50 hours, and is IP68 waterproof.

References：

https://www.eet-china.com/mp/a260240.html

https://www.yankodesign.com/2023/10/12/adobes-magical-color-changing-dress-helps-you-get-a-wardrobe-makeover-in-seconds/

https://goodereader.com/blog/technology/artframe-e-ink-picture-frame-changes-picture-just-by-the-wave-of-a-hand

https://www.maptattoo.com/