e-ink and backlighting - a solution - Page 2

igorsk · 06-23-2008, 07:00 AM

Sony Reader Lighgwedge mod:
http://www.msh-tools.com/ebook/frontlight.html

radius · 06-24-2008, 11:59 AM

Ahh... I didn't realize that side lighting required another layer of glass. I thought that it was possible to illuminate the existing glass substrate of the screen.

daffy4u · 06-24-2008, 12:06 PM

Lightwedge is working on a version for the Kindle according to a post on the Amazon Discussion Boards. Maybe they're working on one for other readers as well.

Jack B Nimble · 06-24-2008, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daffy4u

Lightwedge is working on a version for the Kindle according to a post on the Amazon Discussion Boards. Maybe they're working on one for other readers as well.

I like the idea, but then I also liked it when we heard essentially the same thing about one for the Sony back in November 2006, on these boards.

If it makes it to market, great, but I won't hold my breath.

Jack

daffy4u · 06-24-2008, 12:42 PM

Ahh, so Lightwedge likes to shine us on (so to speak).

Jadon · 06-24-2008, 05:27 PM

I don't think it would ever be done, or would be cost effective, but I wonder if even theoretically the white particles in e-ink could be made to glow. At a simple level, passively by absorbing light and re-emitting it later, which might buy one an hour or so of in-the-dark reading, and would probably increase perceived contrast even in normal lighting. Or at a more complex level, by a trickle charge making a special white-particle material emit light. And I wonder if the latter could work without interfering with the charges required to change the grey scales of cells.

Mitty · 09-19-2011, 01:54 AM

hey, you guys, there's a backlighting solution for e-ink displays. I'm not sure of the details, but go to wikipedia and search for the first e-ink cell phone. It will say that it is somehow lit. The rest of the research is for you.

Dulin's Books · 09-19-2011, 03:33 PM

eink is never back lit because its opaque. the first eink phone did not have back lighting. i know this not only because its impossible but also because i have one within reach while typing this.

Andrew H. · 09-20-2011, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mitty

hey, you guys, there's a backlighting solution for e-ink displays. I'm not sure of the details, but go to wikipedia and search for the first e-ink cell phone. It will say that it is somehow lit. The rest of the research is for you.

I have one of those phones (Motofone F3) - in fact, I just posted about it in another thread. I don't remember exactly how the illumination works, but I don't think the screen was backlit - I think it was lit from the side or bottom. The keyboard was backlit, though.

(I can't find my charger or I'd provide more details).

HarryT · 09-20-2011, 01:25 AM

It's self-evidently not backlit, for the very simple reason that eInk screens are opaque, and hence cannot be backlit. The previous poster is wrong in saying that there's a backlighting solution for eInk - there isn't.

RolandD · 09-20-2011, 01:43 AM

I like the idea of adding glow-in-the-dark material to the white pigment.

Yar-PocketBooker · 09-20-2011, 01:48 AM

hm... I may be a little grumpy here... but before mankind invented e-Readers and even Computers, all of us were reading paper books and nobody was asking for a backlit book! Nobody said that it was not convenient to read their Salinger in the dark, because it is not backlit!
e-Ink panels are the closest thing to paper that there is - why anybody would need back-lighting paper, even electronic?...
just being grumpy...

ebsebs · 09-20-2011, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

It's self-evidently not backlit, for the very simple reason that eInk screens are opaque, and hence cannot be backlit. The previous poster is wrong in saying that there's a backlighting solution for eInk - there isn't.

I'm not sure about the Motophone, but my Samsung Alias 2 cellphone has an e-Ink keyboard and definitely seems to be backlit. This review (http://www.laptopmag.com/review/cell...g-alias-2.aspx) also mentions backlighting:

"The white keys are backlit, which makes the black text easier to read; and the buttons are soft and easy to type on."

RolandD · 09-20-2011, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ebsebs

"The white keys are backlit, which makes the black text easier to read; and the buttons are soft and easy to type on."

From the photo, they could easily be side-lit. Those buttons look thick.

I wonder, does the backside of an e-Ink display have a negative image of the front side? I suspect that it does. This would explain why, even if the white pigment was translucent, it cannot be backlit.

Dulin's Books · 09-20-2011, 12:15 PM

the alias keys have a bubble over them and the light comes from the side not the back. the reviewer wrote back lit out of laziness or ignorance.

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06-23-2008, 07:00 AM	#16
igorsk Wizard Posts: 3,442 Karma: 300001 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Belgium Device: PRS-500/505/700, Kindle, Cybook Gen3, Words Gear	Sony Reader Lighgwedge mod: http://www.msh-tools.com/ebook/frontlight.html

06-24-2008, 11:59 AM	#17
radius Lector minore Posts: 655 Karma: 1738720 Join Date: Jan 2008 Device: Aura One, Paperwhite Signature	Ahh... I didn't realize that side lighting required another layer of glass. I thought that it was possible to illuminate the existing glass substrate of the screen.

06-24-2008, 12:06 PM	#18
daffy4u I'm Super Kindle-icious Posts: 6,734 Karma: 2434103 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Long Drive, Calinadia Candafornia Device: KDXG, KT, Oasis	Lightwedge is working on a version for the Kindle according to a post on the Amazon Discussion Boards. Maybe they're working on one for other readers as well.

06-24-2008, 12:42 PM	#20
daffy4u I'm Super Kindle-icious Posts: 6,734 Karma: 2434103 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Long Drive, Calinadia Candafornia Device: KDXG, KT, Oasis	Ahh, so Lightwedge likes to shine us on (so to speak).

06-24-2008, 05:27 PM	#21
Jadon Hermit Posts: 192 Karma: 9425 Join Date: Oct 2006 Device: Kindle Keyboard, Kobo Glo	I don't think it would ever be done, or would be cost effective, but I wonder if even theoretically the white particles in e-ink could be made to glow. At a simple level, passively by absorbing light and re-emitting it later, which might buy one an hour or so of in-the-dark reading, and would probably increase perceived contrast even in normal lighting. Or at a more complex level, by a trickle charge making a special white-particle material emit light. And I wonder if the latter could work without interfering with the charges required to change the grey scales of cells.

09-19-2011, 01:54 AM	#22
Mitty Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2011 Device: nook color	hey, you guys, there's a backlighting solution for e-ink displays. I'm not sure of the details, but go to wikipedia and search for the first e-ink cell phone. It will say that it is somehow lit. The rest of the research is for you.

09-19-2011, 03:33 PM	#23
Dulin's Books Wizard Posts: 2,806 Karma: 13500000 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Portland, OR Device: Boox PB360 etc etc etc	eink is never back lit because its opaque. the first eink phone did not have back lighting. i know this not only because its impossible but also because i have one within reach while typing this.

09-20-2011, 01:25 AM	#25
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	It's self-evidently not backlit, for the very simple reason that eInk screens are opaque, and hence cannot be backlit. The previous poster is wrong in saying that there's a backlighting solution for eInk - there isn't.

09-20-2011, 01:43 AM	#26
RolandD Fanatic Posts: 561 Karma: 3228980 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Branson, MO, USA Device: Kindle Touch is now my main eReader.	I like the idea of adding glow-in-the-dark material to the white pigment.

09-20-2011, 01:48 AM	#27
Yar-PocketBooker Fanatic Posts: 589 Karma: 6976 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: New York Device: PocketBooks and Onyxes and anything E-Ink...	hm... I may be a little grumpy here... but before mankind invented e-Readers and even Computers, all of us were reading paper books and nobody was asking for a backlit book! Nobody said that it was not convenient to read their Salinger in the dark, because it is not backlit! e-Ink panels are the closest thing to paper that there is - why anybody would need back-lighting paper, even electronic?... just being grumpy...

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09-20-2011, 12:15 PM	#30
Dulin's Books Wizard Posts: 2,806 Karma: 13500000 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Portland, OR Device: Boox PB360 etc etc etc	the alias keys have a bubble over them and the light comes from the side not the back. the reviewer wrote back lit out of laziness or ignorance.