E Ink announced the launch of the new e-paper timing controller ASIC, the T2000, which it has developed in partnership with Himax Technologies. It happens to be a key component that is responsible for the smooth functioning of color e-paper displays. Its role is to generate and manage timing signals that drive the display. Plus, it also controls the ‘timing and duration of voltage’ to ensure the display performs to the optimum each time.
The new T2000 offers several enhancements over its predecessor, the T1000 which debuted in 2019. That includes faster screen updates while having better power efficiency as well. Another inherent benefit of the new T2000 is that it comes integrated with the proprietary E Ink color imaging algorithm that supports the latest E Ink color e-paper display. That includes the Kaleido 3, Gallery 3, and the Spectra 6 color e-paper displays.
Further, the T2000 e-note handwriting features ensure there is no need to have a separate system-on-chip onboard the device. This makes things simpler from a design and manufacturing point of view. Also, with a markedly better screen refresh time, there is going to be a much improved handwriting experience as well. The new TCON can apply to next-gen e-readers, e-notes, or even digital signage solutions. There is going to be significant improvement in color display with color renderings taking place ten times faster.
“The latest T2000 is optimized for color ePaper, significantly enhancing the display performance to deliver a superb user experience. The advancements enhance screen transitions and optimize system power consumption while offering a handwriting feature that boosts the operational experience of ePaper products,” said JM Hung, Vice President of Business Center at E Ink.
“We are grateful for the unwavering support of our long-term partner, Himax, in supporting E Ink’s commitment to advancing color ePaper technology by delivering high-quality ASICs. The synergy created from E Ink’s advanced color ePaper and the T2000 maximizes the potential of color ePaper across diverse applications and significantly enhances user interactions,” concluded JM.
The new T2000 is designed to support the MIPI-DSI, USB 3.0, and SPI interfaces. This ensures the e-paper device is able to handle different content streams efficiently. E Ink further stated the TCON converts data streams into mLVDS or TTL signal formats thanks to the hardware-accelerated image codec processing unit that it comes integrated with. This ensures the T2000 is able to support e-paper displays of up to 4K resolution and 150Hz refresh rate.
“We are delighted to engage in yet another collaboration with E Ink drawing on our decades of expertise in image display processing and TCON design to jointly create a new milestone in the color ePaper field,” said Pen Hsin Chen, Vice President of Image Processing SoC Operation Unit at Himax.
“The chip architecture of T2000 is meticulously designed and customized specifically for E Ink’s color ePaper technology, delivering unparalleled performance and power efficiency. This opens up new possibilities for applications in eReaders, digital signages, and more, further demonstrating Himax’s commitment to pioneering advancements and offering state-of-the-art display technologies and solutions,” concluded Pen Hsin.
Himax Technologies, for the unversed, happens to be one of the largest fabless semiconductor solution providers in the world with expertise in display imaging processing technologies. Based in Taiwan, Himax Technologies has been in the business for over two decades now and operates in almost all major markets in the world.
With a keen interest in tech, I make it a point to keep myself updated on the latest developments in technology and gadgets. That includes smartphones or tablet devices but stretches to even AI and self-driven automobiles, the latter being my latest fad. Besides writing, I like watching videos, reading, listening to music, or experimenting with different recipes. The motion picture is another aspect that interests me a lot, and I’ll likely make a film sometime in the future.
