Controller IC for electronic paper displays enables faster navigation

Seiko Epson Corp., its subsidiary Epson Electronics America Inc., and E Ink Corp., jointly developed a display controller IC that enables new capabilities for E Ink's Vizplex-enabled electronic paper displays. EPD low-power consumption screen technology is driving an emerging class of new mobile applications, such as eBooks, eNewspapers, tablet PCs, laptop secondary displays, eNotebooks, and eDictionaries.

The EPD controller IC brings greater functionality to EPDs using E Ink technology by speeding up the user interface via seamless navigation, drop down/popup menus, responsive cursors and real-time keyboard entry. The controller enables the display to perform up to 16 tasks in parallel, and supports smooth and responsive pen input devices for annotations and sketches.

The controller IC's functionality is fully enabled when integrated into a display solution utilizing a host controller, tuned waveforms, and Vizplex-enabled active matrix electrophoretic displays. Its ability to perform regional updates contributes to a more responsive screen for both input and output usage.