Color ePaper Display Ditches Batteries for Wireless Power

E Ink screens are known for being easy on the eyes and providing excellent battery life due to their minimal power consumption. However, a new display developed by Digital View operates completely without a battery, drawing power instead from an overhead Wi-Charge wireless power system.

Before avid e-reader fans get too enthusiastic, this innovation has limited usefulness for such devices since the screens won’t refresh or turn pages outside the power transmission range.

Nonetheless, it shows great potential for applications like advertising displays in retail settings, informational kiosks in museums and art galleries, scheduling boards at transportation hubs, and dynamic signage in meeting rooms.

Remote Updates and Wireless Power Keep Always-On Displays Efficient

The onboard Wi-Fi allows for remote updates to the always-on display, while an overhead Wi-Charge module wirelessly powers multiple units at once. Each display reportedly draws about 500 mW for Wi-Fi connection, image or information retrieval, and writing, though it requires much less power in standby mode.

AirCord Power Module Offers Infrared Wireless Charging for ESP6-13 Displays

The product page for the ESP6-13 ePaper monitor lists the puck-shaped AirCord power transmission module as an option, but it requires prior overhead installation in the building where the displays will be used.

According to Wi-Charge, each transmitter uses infrared technology to “beam several watts of power at distances of 30 ft or more to thumb-sized receivers” embedded in the Digital View displays.

E Ink Spectra 6 Display

The 13.3-inch E Ink Spectra 6 color ePaper display offers a resolution of 1,200 x 1,600 pixels and is “highly visible in normal ambient light and bright conditions, making it ideal for public signage.” Each ESP6-13 monitor features an aluminum frame and includes built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and USB-C connectivity.

In a LinkedIn post, Wi-Charge stated, “This innovative display combines Wi-Fi connectivity with wireless power, enabling remote content management and unprecedented placement flexibility, as it requires no wires or battery replacements due to its wireless power source.”

As is common with business-focused technologies, the company has not disclosed pricing details. Companies and institutions seeking more information should contact the company directly.

Read the original article on: New Atlas

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