By Cyber Era NG Reporter

Pervasive Displays, a specialist developer and supplier of e-paper displays (EPDs), has expanded the range of potential use cases that its products can support with the introduction of its new Armor offering.

EPDs based on the company’s Armor technology will be able to achieve greater mechanical robustness and improved sunlight readability characteristics, which means that they will be able to be deployed in more challenging semi-outdoor environments – with units capable of prolonged operation, while still delivering strong image quality.

Armor is being made available for all Pervasive Displays’ EPD size formats which range up to 12-inch. Among the places where Armor EPDs will be employed are in the designs for handheld equipment, public information systems and digital signage equipment, plus freight container labelling, shop floor conveyer systems and warehousing operations.

The top surface of each module incorporates an optically-bonded cover lens, which is made from either polymethyl-methacrylate (PMMA) or tempered glass, along with a UV filtering layer. The proprietary protective sheet that Pervasive Displays also applies to the EPD construction makes modules ten times more resistant to humidity than solutions from other manufacturers, as well as safeguarding them from scratches.

The thermal properties exhibited by this protective sheet and the accompanying edge sealant (with minimal expansion and contraction) means that cracking due to heat variations will not occur. As a result, the EPDs are said to be not prone to moisture ingress which would otherwise shorten their working lifespan. A resin board is attached to the rear of the module, which alleviates the risk of deformation when the EPD experiences an external impact force.

For Pervasive Displays’ 2.66-inch format EPD, the Armor version can withstand ball drop tests with an impact force of up to 2.105J. This is nearly 40 times more impact resistant than an EPD without Armour which will withstand around 0.053J of impact.

Further elevated levels of protection can be achieved by the series via selection of higher cost materials. The ability to cope with low temperatures (as low as -25°C) allows Armor EPDs to address the needs of food packaging, laboratory and warehouse settings.

“There are a multitude of applications that require an effective way of showing detailed information, but where conventional TFT displays will draw too much current and drain their batteries too quickly. EPDs present an energy efficient alternative,” said President of Pervasive Displays, Alchin Wang.

“However, until now there have been very limited EPD options on the market that are able to deal with difficult operational conditions, as they are prone to deterioration due to UV and humidity exposure, as well as ongoing wear and tear. This has limited the scope of applications that EPDs can be used in. However, Armor now enables us to supply our customers with a ground-breaking solution in terms of robustness, and this will open up new possibilities.”