14 DAY TRIAL // E-readers could always do with some better screen lights, especially if said lights don't kill the battery power too fast, and Flex Lighting might have just what e-paper needs.
The secret in the company's method of casting light upon e-paper screens is that it is not a backlighting technology, but a frontlighting one.
Devices with LCDs, or even other screens, use some sort of method involving LEDs and light being projected straight through the panel form around and/or behind.
What Flex Lighting did was develop a means to light up not LCDs but e-paper panels through use of a thin light guide laminated to the screen's actual surface.
This film transmits the light emitted by one or two LEDs (light emitting diodes).
In other words, rather than obscure the screen, the film actually provides a clear view of the text.
This isn't the first internal e-reader light technology even created, but it seems to be better than the rest.
After all, other solutions use multiple individual LEDs inset into the edges of the screen and, thus, more power.
Not only does Flex Lighting deliver on the clarity and brightness promises, but is also works on little power and can even be switched off completely.
This lets e-reader owners leave it inactive most of the day and only enable it when it is dark.
Flex Lighting released a demo video of the technology in action, which includes a succinct explanation of the what and the how.
It really is a very succinct video, of little over 30 seconds, but it is more than enough to convey the benefits of the method.
Unfortunately, there is no clue as to when devices begin incorporating these lights, if ever.
Also, this wouldn't be the first time a good idea ended up in the limbo of what could have been.
Fortunately, the solution appears ready to get its act together already, so it is only a matter of marketing and e-reader maker interest at this point.
