Designed primarily for applications that display information or advertisements in public areas, Tokyo-based Fujitsu Laboratories, Fujitsu Frontech, and Fujitsu Ltd. unveiled a film substrate-based, bendable colour electronic paper display that contains an image memory function.

This electronic paper, jointly developed by the companies, is meant to display vivid colour images that are unaffected even when the screen is bent. The image memory function, or bistable display, allows continuous display of the same image without electricity, with very low power required to change screen images.

Fujitsu pointed out that electronic paper is especially convenient for use on curved surfaces, such as columns, and can also be used in conjunction with mobile devices as a portable display device.

From a technology perspective, the electronic paper is constructed of three displaying layers - red, blue, and green. Since no colour filters or polarising layers are required, Fujitsu said the device can display colour that is more vivid than conventional reflective-type LCDs.

Further, because the screen image does not require repetitive updates to be maintained, the screen does not flicker, the company reported.

Other applications for the device include transit advertising on trains, information displays on curved surfaces, and other public display applications. Information displayed could be updated based on the time of day, for more effective advertising and informational signage.

The device could also be used for electronic shelf display tags, point-of-purchase displays, restaurant menus, and other in-store uses such as pricing displays or product information displays.

Text or images from mobile phones or other mobile devices can be transferred wirelessly to larger displays for easy viewing and use in the home could allow digital-media devices that can be carried from room to room.

Fujitsu said it would conduct test marketing and practical-use testing, targeting commercialisation within its fiscal 2006 (April 2006 to March 2007).

Numerous R&D efforts are in progress in the field of electronic paper. However, Fujitsu believes there are no other colour electronic papers that use flexible film substrate capable of being bent without affecting the screen image and are bistable.

For instance, in March, Intel Capital invested an undisclosed amount in E Ink Corp., a developer and marketer of electronic paper display technology.

Also, Philips Polymer Vision reported in March that it has developed a 5-inch roll-up display with contrast similar to that of plain paper, which should be in production within two years.

When not in use, Philips said its 100µm-thick display can be rolled up into a housing with a radius of just 7.5mm, the company said, with each pixel able to produce up to 4 gray scales – an adequate contrast ratio for daytime viewing.

Fujitsu said its electronic paper would be shown at its Fujitsu Forum 2005, to be held July 14 and 15 at Tokyo International Forum.

www.labs.fujitsu.com/en/