electronic paper display, E Ink, display driver, power management

Dialog Semiconductor and E Ink open up new markets for electronic paper displays

News Release from: Dialog Semiconductor
24/05/2007

Dialog Semiconductor Plc and E Ink Corporation have announced the launch of new products resulting from a strategic partnership which will open up new markets for electronic paper displays (EPD). At the SID 2007 Symposium, the premier annual international gathering of the electronic display industry, Dialog will show the first ever family of dedicated chips designed to drive E Ink's latest segmented displays based on E Ink's Vizplex(TM) Imaging Film targeted at applications such as mobile phones, capacity meters on memory cards, electronic shelf labels, medical devices, smart cards and other consumer devices.

The new product announcement is part of a strategic partnership between the two companies to develop ICs that enhance E Ink’s electronic paper displays, and increase market awareness of the potential for this technology. Jalal Bagherli, CEO of Dialog Semiconductor, said, “With our partnership we hope to open up brand new markets and a whole new set of applications for display technology where displays could not have previously been integrated or even considered. We are committed to working with E Ink to develop solutions comprising their highly advanced electronic paper displays and our integrated display driver ICs.”

Russ Wilcox, CEO of E Ink Corporation commented, “Dialog is leading the way towards adoption of e-paper segmented displays with this family of products. Starting from their expertise with low-power drivers, which are an excellent fit for our low-power displays, Dialog has now integrated a power supply and a serial SPI controller right into the same IC and offers a range of segment drives and die formats. Dialog’s development board and software tools will make it easier for customers to rapidly prototype electronic paper based products. This complete solution will enable product designers to add paper-thin segmented displays easily and efficiently.”

Mr. Bagherli added, “The first ICs we announced jointly last year are already in volume production in a USB flash drive from a leading manufacturer; with our new family of drivers being announced today together with E Ink’s displays, we are expecting a number of new design wins for applications which should go into mass production later this year.”