With the world focusing on saving energy and reducing carbon emissions, many electronics are becoming more energy-efficient. This has led to growing interest in color e-paper technology. When used for outdoor displays, it can save energy and produce clearer, more vibrant images in sunlight.
We will share the advantages of using outdoor color e-paper, enabling you to select more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly outdoor electronic paper displays.
Demand for outdoor e-paper
A color e-paper suitable for outdoor use should possess the following characteristics:
- Low power consumption - e-paper consumes virtually no power when displaying static images, making it ideal for outdoor signage that updates static content. Compared to traditional high-brightness LCDs, e-paper does not need to increase brightness to compete with sunlight, resulting in lower power consumption.
- Sunlight readability - e-paper relies on ambient light to display images, remaining clear and visible even under direct sunlight.
- Wide operating temperature range - outdoor displays often need to withstand a wide range of temperatures. Only wide-temperature displays that can operate from -20°C to 70°C or above are suitable for outdoor use.
- Full color - only full-color e-paper with 16 million colors can replace traditional digital displays such as LCD and LED.
- Environmental friendliness - the combination of solar panels and the low power consumption of color e-paper enables energy-efficient displays to operate independently of the power grid.
- No light pollution - e-paper does not emit glaring light, hence its application in outdoor signage does not cause light pollution.
When R, G, B subpixels mix together perfectly, the LCD can reveal more than 16 million colors, creating vivid color displays in mobile phones, TVs and laptops.
How IRIS's ChLCD outdoor e-paper works
Cholesteric liquid crystal (ChLCD) e-paper has three layers of displays that reflect red, green, and blue respectively. The eletric field alters the rotation of the liquid crystals that is bistable between the two states:
- The planar state has the liquid crystal particles lined up uniformly to reflect specific wavelengths of light, to form unique colors.
- The focal conic state lines up the liquid crystal particles in a way to let light pass through, displaying the colors underneath.
By independently adjusting the states of the three RGB liquid crystal layers, ChLCD can perfectly reproduce more than 16 million colors, creating a rich color image comparable to LCD.
The only full-color e-paper with a wide operating temperature
Outdoor displays face harsher conditions like extreme temperatures, humidity, and direct sunlight. Wide-temperature liquid crystals are essential for ensuring traditional displays work reliably in all weather.
Because ChLCD is based on liquid crystal technology, it can withstand outdoor temperature variations. It is the only color e-paper on the market with an operating temperature range of -20°C to 70°C. Even in direct sunlight, ChLCD can maintain vivid colors and is not affected by extreme heat or cold.
When combined with an IP56 or higher, UV-resistant enclosure, IRIS Optronics' ChLCD e-paper can withstand wind, rain, and other outdoor elements. Whether it's a freezing ski resort, a hot and humid beach, or a sunny golf course, the cholesteric liquid crystal display can deliver vibrant colors.
Sunlight-readable full-color e-paper
When we place the two screens in direct sunlight, the window-facing setting (20,000 lx) and partially cloudly outdoor (75,000 lx), the iPad's backlight is overpowered by the sun, with hardly any visible detail.
In contrast, IRIS Optronics' cholesteric liquid crystal display offers more vibrant colors in sunlight, making them more suitable for outdoor commercial signage than traditional LCDs.
Traditional displays significantly increase brightness and power consumption to combat sunlight in outdoor environments, and they also need more powerful cooling systems. However, e-paper displays reflect ambient light to create images, making them up to 99% more energy-efficient than traditional LCDs in outdoor applications.
Outdoor e-paper display to combat light pollution
Light pollution is environmental pollution caused by excessive artificial lighting. As urbanization accelerates and nighttime illumination increases, the once dark night sky is replaced by artificial light sources, that:
- Disrupts the circadian rhythms of animals and attracts insects, leading to ecological imbalances.
- Interrupts human sleep patterns, increasing the risk of insomnia, depression, and other chronic diseases.
- The brightness of urban night skies obscures starlight, severely impacting astronomical observations.
Lightpollutionmap.info has compiled a satellite map of the global night sky, revealing that developed countries are inundated with artificial light.
Simply replacing outdoor displays, such as those used in smart transportation and smart retail, with reflective ChLCDs can reduce the need for artificial lighting at night, saving energy and restoring the beauty of the starry sky.
Infinity Display is self-powered with renewable energy
IRIS Optronics' ChLCD reflects different colors while also allowing about 30% of light to pass through to the bottom layer. By embedding solar panels in this bottom layer, the display can generate its own renewable energy, creating a self-sustaining Infinity Display with zero carbon emissions.
For low-refresh outdoor digital signage, the Infinity Display can operate on its own generated renewable energy, eliminating the need for additional cables and outlets.
Infinity Display reduces the installation costs of outdoor displays
The most significant cost in installing outdoor digital displays is often attributed to the installation of new electrical cables. In the United States, for instance, adding an extra 100 feet of cable can cost anywhere between USD 1,000 and USD 2,500.
| Length of run | Underground cost | Aboveground cost |
| 50 feet | USD 500~1,250 | USD 250~350 |
| 100 feet | USD 1,000~2,500 | USD 500~700 |
| 200 feet | USD 2,000~5,000 | USD 1,000~3,000 |
| 300 feet | USD 3,000~7,500 | USD 1,500~4,500 |
| 500 feet | USD 5,000~12,500 | USD 4,000~7,500 |
| 1,000 feet | USD 10,000~25,000 | USD 8,000~15,000 |
Therefore, by harnessing the ability of Infinity Display to generate renewable energy and incorporating an adequate battery, we can reduce labor costs associated with installation. This enables the deployment of outdoor displays in more locations without existing power infrastructure, expanding smart transportation and smart retail display applications.
If you would like to know more about color e-paper applications, please get in touch with us.