Context:
Recently, unlocked the science behind the ingenious displays and explored why E Ink still hasn’t conquered all our screens despite its advantages.
E Ink Displays:
- Special type of screen technology.
- Used in e-readers like the Amazon Kindle, Kobo eReader, and Sony Reader
- Originally developed in 1990s at MIT but now owned by E Ink Corporation.
- Technology – working Principle –
- The screens work using tiny microcapsules filled with positively charged white particles and negatively charged black ones suspended in fluid inside the display.
- By applying positive or negative electrical charges to different areas of the screen, the white or black particles can be made to rise to the surface, creating the text and images on the display.
- Easy reading and lower distraction factor, some startups are exploring E Ink in smartphones.
- Eg- BlackBerry – like Minimal Phone – cut down screen time and help users focus on communication and productivity.
LCD or LED vs. E Ink Display:
| LDC or LED Display | E Ink Display |
| Uses a backlight | Reflect light – just like paper |
| Hard on eyes due to use of backlight- not much readable under bright sunlight. | Easier on eyes for long reading under brighter lighting |
| More power consumption | Less power needed – energy use only when image changes |
| Low battery life | Long battery life |
| Less refresh time suitable for video watching. | Longer refresh time makes unsuitable for video or animation. |
| Not much limitation on colour and resolution. | Limitations on colour and resolution |
E Ink vs. E Paper:
- E Paper – broad term for any display designed to mimic the appearance of real paper.
- Eg – Pebble smartwatch – gadget uses a low-power LCD with a reflective layer to look like paper, which is different from E Ink.
- E Ink – specific type of E Paper display that uses millions of tiny microcapsules filled with positively charged white particles and negatively charged black particles suspended in a clear fluid.
Source: Indian Express
Previous Year Question
With reference to street-lighting, how do sodium lamps differ from LED lamps?1. Sodium lamps produce light in 360 degrees but it is not so in the case of LED lamps.2. As street-lights, sodium lamps have longer life span than LED lamps.
3. The spectrum of visible light from sodium lamps is almost monochromatic while LED lamps offer significant colour advantages in street-lighting.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2021 Prelims]
(a) 3 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (c)
Explanation:
Statement 2 is not correct:
LED lifespan can be greater than 100,000 hours, i.e. more than four times that of sodium lamps.
