E Ink Corp. and Texas Instruments will collaborate to combine E Ink’s Vizplex electronic paper displays (EPDs) with TI technologies, including its power-management ICs and OMAP 3 processors. As a result of this agreement, the companies say, e-book manufacturers will have access to the world’s first power-management integrated circuit (PMIC) for E Ink EPDs.

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The Vizplex displays are designed for ultra-low-power, thin, sunlight-readable portable devices that are easy on the eyes, even in ambient light. TI uses a software-based EPD display controller for its OMAP 3 processor to drive E Ink’s EPDs. The TI TPS65180 integrated PMIC provides a power-efficient, high-performance, small 7- by 7-mm footprint that meets all power requirements for 5-, 6-, 9.7-, or 11-in. Vizplex EPDs.

The new TI e-book development platform includes an OMAP3621 processor and WiLink 6.0 single-chip wireless local-area network (WLAN) and Bluetooth solution combined with TI audio, power-management, and other analog technologies, including the TPS65180. TI also provides full hardware reference schematics, design layout files, and a complete software offering.

Within its system design, TI implemented a software-based EPD controller that reduces required board space with E Ink EPDs by about 200 mm2. According to the companies, this allows slimmer, sleeker device designs that can still offer the most demanded consumer features. Also, the reuse of the OMAP processor’s system memory eliminates the need for a discrete hardware display controller, dedicated flash and SDRAM memory components, and the panel temperature sensor, which is integrated into the TPS65180. 

With the TI TPS6518xEVM evaluation module, the companies say, designers can rapidly prototype and evaluate this solution for next-generation e-paper display products. TI also offers the OMAP eBook development platform, which is a complete hardware and software solution using the OMAP processor, TPS65180 PMIC, TI’s WiLink 6.0 solution, and audio and other analog components.

E Ink

Texas Instruments