The Future of E-Paper

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Amazon's Kindle e-book reader is selling well. Rollable e-paper displays will be on the market this year. Serious progress is being made towards color e-paper displays. Clearly, e-paper is now well on its way to becoming a viable consumer technology. This report from NanoMarkets analyzes the new market environment for e-paper, assesses the latest technology and provides a quantitative and qualitative forecast for shipments of e-paper products of all kinds ranging from book readers and flexible mobile displays to signage and smart shelving.

This new NanoMarkets report also examines the many uncertainties and challenges that beset the e-paper market. With e-paper now well into the commercialization phase, one key objective of this report will be to project performance improvements expected over the next eight years and assess the marketing importance of such factors as flexibility, system architecture, resolutions, backplane switching speeds, and color capability.

The report also examines which e-paper technologies will be successful and why. Many of the successes of e-paper to date have come from offerings using electrophoretic technology. So what is the future of the many competing technologies such cholesteric LCDs or electrochromic. Also, many of the products being designed with e-paper are entirely novel and have no established markets. How can these markets be successfully created and new supply chains built?

NanoMarkets has been covering the e-paper market for almost four years and this report is a follow-on from our successful 2007 e-paper report. It provides our views on the latest product announcements and provides special focus on the future of color e-paper and flexible displays. We also examine in-depth the latest thinking on manufacturing processes and materials used to get e-paper to the market. Finally, the report provides strategic profiles of the leading providers of e-paper and a detailed eight-year market forecast of e-paper markets, broken out by application, materials and technology.

• Executive Summary
  • E.1 Introduction
  • E.2 E-Paper Capabilities
  • E.2.1 Optical Performance
  • E.2.2 Color
  • E.2.3 Power
  • E.2.4 Speed
  • E.2.5 Manufacturing Cost
  • E.3 Key Players and Technologies
  • E.3.1 Evolution of an E-Paper Supply Chain
  • E.4 E-Paper Markets
  • E.4.1 Electronic Signage
  • E.4.2 Portable Electronics
  • E.4.3 Disposable Electronics
  • E.5 Summary of Eight-Year Forecasts
• Chapter One: Introduction
  • 1.1 Towards a Definition of E-paper
  • 1.2 A Growing Slate of Technologies, and Competitors
  • 1.3 Why E-Paper Now?
  • 1.4 E-Paper Applications
  • 1.5 Technology Directions for E-Paper
  • 1.6 Objectives and Scope of this Report
  • 1.7 Methodology of this Report
  • 1.8 Plan of this Report
• Chapter Two: Technical Trends in E-Paper
  • 2.1 Introduction: The Rise of E-Paper
  • 2.2 A Class Called E-Paper
  • 2.3 Many Paths to E-Paper
  • 2.4 Performance Metrics
    • 2.4.1 Optical Characteristics
    • 2.4.2 Cranking Out Color
    • 2.4.3 The Power Picture
    • 2.4.4 The Speed Story
    • 2.4.5 Other Metrics
  • 2.5 E-Paper Varieties
    • 2.5.1 EPDs
    • 2.5.2 Electrochromic Displays (ECDs)
    • 2.5.3 Cholesteric Liquid Crystal Displays (ChLCDs)
    • 2.5.4 Bistable Nematic LCDs
    • 2.5.5 Electrowetting Displays (EWDs)
    • 2.5.6 Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) Displays
  • 2.6 Key Points in this Chapter
• Chapter Three: E-Paper Market Analysis
  • 3.1 Introduction
  • 3.2 Tags, Labels and Signage
    • 3.2.1 Information Signs
    • 3.2.2 Smart Tags and Labels
    • 3.2.3 Advertising and Promotional Signs
    • 3.2.4 Billboards
  • 3.3 Mobile Displays
    • 3.3.1 E-Book Readers
    • 3.3.2 Niche Handheld Applications
    • 3.3.3 Mobile Phones
  • 3.4 Disposable Products
    • 3.4.1 Smartcards
    • 3.4.2 Smart Packaging
  • 3.5 Clocks and Watches
  • 3.6 Other E-Paper Applications
    • 3.6.1 Computer Peripherals
    • 3.6.2 Products Requiring Flexible Substrates
  • 3.7 Summary of Key Points in this Chapter
• Chapter Four: Company Profiles
  • 4.1 Introduction
  • 4.2 Acreo AB (ECD)
  • 4.3 Aveso Inc. (ECD)
    • 4.3.1 First ECD Products
    • 4.3.2 Next Steps
  • 4.4 Bridgestone Corp. (EPD)
    • 4.4.1 Going Flexible
  • 4.5 Dai Nippon Printing Company, Ltd. (Various)
  • 4.6 E Ink Corporation (EPD)
  • 4.7 Fuji Xerox (ChLCD)
  • 4.8 Fujitsu Frontech (ChLCD)
  • 4.9 Kent Displays Inc.
    • 4.9.1 E-Paper Products
  • 4.10 Liquavista
    • 4.10.1 Product Platforms
  • 4.11 Magink Display Technologies (ChLCD Billboards)
  • 4.12 Nemoptic (Bistable TN LCD)
    • 4.12.1 BiNem Products and Partnerships
    • 4.12.2 Moving Forward
  • 4.13 Ntera (ECD)
  • 4.14 Polymer Vision (Rollable EPDs)
  • 4.15 Prime View International (EPD, EWD, MEMS, et al)
  • 4.16 Qualcomm MEMS Technologies, Inc. (MEMS)
  • 4.17 Siemens (ECD)
  • 4.18 SiPix Imaging Inc. (EPD)
  • 4.19 Toppan Printing Company, Ltd. (EPD et al)
  • 4.20 Varitronix International Ltd. (Bistable TN LCD, ChLCD)
  • 4.21 ZBD Displays Ltd. (Bistable TN LCD)
• Chapter Five: Eight-Year Forecasts of E-Paper Market
  • 5.1 Forecasting Methodology
    • 5.1.1 How Much Confidence Should You Have in These Forecasts?
    • 5.1.2 Changes from Previous NanoMarkets Forecasts of E-Paper
  • 5.2 Signage
    • 5.2.1 Outdoor Displays
    • 5.2.2 Indoor Information and Advertising Displays
    • 5.2.3 Smart Shelves, Electronic Shelf Labels and POP Displays
  • 5.3 Computing and Communications
    • 5.3.1 E-Book Readers
    • 5.3.2 Cell Phone Main and Sub-Displays
    • 5.3.3 Other Handheld Devices
    • 5.3.4 Laptop and Desktop Computers
  • 5.4 Disposable Electronics
    • 5.4.1 Smartcards
    • 5.4.2 Smart Packaging
  • 5.5 Other Applications
  • 5.6 Summary of Projections
  • 5.7 Forecast of E-Paper Markets by Technology
  • 5.8 Forecast of Intrinsically Flexible E-Paper Markets
• Appendix: Acronym Guide
• About the Author
• List of Exhibits
  • Exhibit E-1: Summary of E-Paper Revenues ($ Millions)
  • Exhibit 2-1: E-Paper Technologies Compared- Part I
  • Exhibit 2-2: E-Paper Technologies Compared- Part II
  • Exhibit 2-3: Simple Acreo ECD Graphic
  • Exhibit 2-4: Ntera ECD Clock
  • Exhibit 2-5: SiPix Smart Area-Color Label
  • Exhibit 2-6: E-Paper and its Backplanes
  • Exhibit 2-7: E Ink EPD Principle
  • Exhibit 2-8: Flexible E Ink Sign
  • Exhibit 2-9: Prime View EPD Modules
  • Exhibit2-10: SiPix Imaging's EPD Microcups
  • Exhibit 2-11: AM Microcup EPD with Area Color
  • Exhibit 2-12: R2R Manufacturing of Passive Microcups
  • Exhibit 2-13: Acreo ECD on Paper with Organic Electrodes
  • Exhibit 2-14: Acreo ECD Newspaper Demo
  • Exhibit 2-15: Aveso ECD Smartcard Module
  • Exhibit 2-16: Aveso ECD in Wearable Computer for Soldiers
  • Exhibit 2-17: Ntera ECD Principle
  • Exhibit 2-18: Ntera ECDs Pass Lamination Test
  • Exhibit 2-19: Example ChLCD Architecture
  • Exhibit 2-20: Varitronix 2-Color ChLCD Modules
  • Exhibit 2-21: Modular ChLCD Tiles
  • Exhibit 2-22: Magink's Outdoor ChLCD Billboards
  • Exhibit 2-23: Tiled Matrix Characteristics
  • Exhibit 2-24: Flexible Kent ChLCD
  • Exhibit 2-25: Curved ChLCD on Inhaler
  • Exhibit 2-26: BiNem Operating Principle
  • Exhibit 2-27: ZBD Display Principle
  • Exhibit 2-28: Demo EWD Watch
  • Exhibit 2-29: Demo EWD Clock
  • Exhibit 2-30: IMOD Operating Principle
  • Exhibit 2-31: IMOD Demo Cell Phone
  • Exhibit 3-1: Reflective E-Paper Enables Outdoor Operation
  • Exhibit 3-2: Applications of E-Paper
  • Exhibit 3-3: Common Signage Types
  • Exhibit 3-4: Drivers for E-Paper in Three Signage Markets
  • Exhibit 3-5: Kent InfoSign Example
  • Exhibit 3-6: ChLCD Public Information Board
  • Exhibit 3-7: Paper Labels in Grocery Applications
  • Exhibit 3-8: Where POP Pays Off
  • Exhibit 3-9: Simple ECD Tag
  • Exhibit 3-10: Dot-Matrix Smart Label
  • Exhibit 3-11: Bistable LCD POP/POS Sign
  • Exhibit 3-12: Area-Color POP/POS Sign
  • Exhibit 3-13: Tiled Indoor ChLCD Display
  • Exhibit 3-14: Tiled Outdoor ChLCD Billboard
  • Exhibit 3-15: Honeywell Military E-Book
  • Exhibit 3-16: A Sampling of E-Book Readers
  • Exhibit 3-17: Cell Phone Display Comparison
  • Exhibit 3-18: Market Drivers for Display Cards
  • Exhibit 3-19: Benefits of One-Time Password Cards
  • Exhibit 3-20: Citizen Shows Flexible E Ink Clock
  • Exhibit 3-21: Plastic Logic/ E Ink E-Newspaper Demo
  • Exhibit 4-1: A Sampling of E-Paper Relationships
  • Exhibit 5-1: Addressable Market for E-Paper in Signage Applications (Millions of Units)
  • Exhibit 5-2: Eight-Year Forecasts of E-Paper in Outdoor Billboards and Advertising
  • Exhibit 5-3: Eight-Year Forecasts of E-Paper in Indoor Advertising
  • Exhibit 5-4: Eight-Year Forecasts of E-Paper in Indoor Information Displays
  • Exhibit 5-5: Eight-Year Forecasts of E-Paper in ESLs and POP Displays
  • Exhibit 5-6: Eight-Year Forecasts of Market for E-Paper E-Book Readers
  • Exhibit 5-7: Eight-Year Forecasts of E-Paper in Cell Phones
  • Exhibit 5-8: Eight-Year Forecasts of E-Paper in Other Handhelds
  • Exhibit 5-9: Eight-Year Forecasts of E-Paper in Computers and Peripherals
  • Exhibit 5-10: Eight-Year Forecasts of E-Paper in Smartcards
  • Exhibit 5-11: Eight-Year Forecasts of E-Paper in Smart Packaging
  • Exhibit 5-12: Summary of E-Paper Revenues ($ Million)
  • Exhibit 5-13: Forecast of E-Paper Applications by Technology ($ Millions)
  • Exhibit 5-14: Forecast of Intrinsically Flexible Displays