E Ink and Fujitsu Semiconductor have announced the joint development of a reference design board for battery-less ePaper tags. The solution adopts E Ink's low voltage ePaper module and Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited's UHF FRAM RFID LSI, creating an "ideal" combination to enable battery-less ePaper tag applications.
According to the announcement this was a collaborative effort between E Ink, Fujitsu Semiconductor, and Toppan Printing. The reference design board enables data transfer distances of up to 20 cm, enabling the tag to be updated at any time without data storage restrictions.
Toppan is developing and plans to produce battery-less tags initially for Japanese convenience store chains and then for the general logistics and manufacturing sectors.
The battery-less ePaper tag solution will be targeted in applications such as logistics tags, ePaper badges, ID cards or electronic shelf labels.
The reference design board will be exhibited at Toppan Printing's booth (West Hall No.4 D-05) and Denso Wave's booth (West Hall No.4 G-20) in the "AutoID & Communication Expo" at Tokyo Big Sight.
"E Ink is continuously working to improve and develop new power saving ePaper solutions."
"Combining two major trends in the electronics industry, battery-less and energy harvesting, this unique logistics ePaper tag will be a game changer in the logistics management industry. Japanese convenience store chains have already noticed the environmentally friendly value the ePaper tag brings, and are expected to deploy ePaper logistics tag solutions to replace paper tags in Japan."
Johnson Lee, President of E Ink Holdings Inc
"The technology collaboration by E Ink and Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited resulting in a battery-less ePaper solution."
"The reference design board enables maintenance free performance and the inclusion of FRAM allows for low power consumption, fast writing speeds and a non-volatile system. This enables the tag to be updated at any time without data storage restrictions. This technology will generate innovative applications in new markets."
Masato Matsumiya, VP Head of System Memory Company of Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited
"The combination of E Ink technology and the UHF band, widely used in the logistics industry, is a world's first and has promising potential."
"We are working towards early commercialization of this combination."
Shinji Ooi, General Manager of Business Development Center of Toppan Printing Co., Ltd.