Exploring RDS’s E-Paper Display Solutions:
Ultra-Low Power, Sunlight-Readable, Full Colour & Monochrome
E-paper, also known as electronic paper or EPD – Electronic Paper Display, has carved a unique niche in applications where ultra-low power consumption, perfect sunlight readability, and paper-like aesthetics are essential.
We have established ourselves as one of the UK’s foremost suppliers of E-paper modules, offering one of the widest ranges available from a single source.
From tiny price tags to large digital signage, we support the full spectrum of monochrome, three-colour (black/white/red or black/white/yellow), and advanced colour E-paper technologies.
Comprehensive Size Range
We stock and design E-paper displays covering virtually every practical size:
- Ultra-small: 0.9″ to 2.13″ – ideal for electronic shelf labels (ESL), smart badges, and wearable indicators
- Small portable: 2.6″, 2.7″, 2.9″, 3.5″, 4.2″ – common in e-readers, medical devices, and logistics tags
- Mid-range: 5.65″, 5.83″, 6.0″, 7.4″, 7.5″, 7.8″ – popular for industrial tablets, digital nameplates, and menu boards
- Large format: 10.2″, 12.0″, 13.3″, 25.3″, 31.2″, 32.0″, and 42.0″ – used for indoor/outdoor signage, wayfinding, and public information displays
Resolutions scale from basic 152 × 152 on tiny modules to crisp 300 ppi on premium 13.3″ panels and beyond.
Colour Capabilities
- Monochrome (black/white) – highest contrast, fastest partial refresh, lowest cost
- Three-colour (black/white/red or black/white/yellow) – adds emphasis or warning colours without sacrificing power budget
- Spectra™ and Gallery™ advanced colour – full-colour E-paper (up to 32,000 colours) with improved saturation and refresh performance for next-generation signage and e-readers
- Kaleido™ colour filter technology – colour on demand for retail and publishing applications
All variants are fully bistable: they consume power only when the image changes and retain the image indefinitely with zero power.
Special Shapes and Formats
E-paper’s particle-based technology allows far more freedom than traditional displays:
- Rectangular (standard 4:3, 16:9, 16:10)
- Square
- Round and circular (e.g., 1.54″ and 3.0″ diameter) – perfect for smart home dials and gauges
- Segmented and custom-segment E-paper – direct-drive numeric or icon displays for metering and status panels
- Flexible E-paper on plastic substrates – bendable modules for curved surfaces or wearable applications
Key Advantages of E-Paper via RDS
- Sunlight-readable with >45% reflectance (looks like real paper)
- 170°–180° viewing angle with no colour shift
- Operating temperature typically −15 °C to +65 °C (some models −25 °C to +70 °C)
- Partial refresh capability for smooth animations (clocks, indicators, scrolling text)
- Extremely low power: <1 mW when static, ideal for battery or energy-harvesting designs
Add-Ons and Value-Added Customisation
We turn raw E-paper panels into complete, deployment-ready solutions:
Touch and Frontlight Options
- Projected Capacitive (PCAP) touch – multi-touch with glove support
- Resistive touch – cost-effective and stylus-friendly
- Multi-touch solutions, PCAP or Resistive options
- Integrated frontlight – uniform cool-white or warm-white illumination for low-light reading, with flicker-free dimming
Custom Cover Glass & Protection
- Chemically strengthened cover lenses (0.7 mm to 3 mm)
- Anti-glare or matte finishes to enhance paper-like appearance
- Optical bonding for improved contrast and ruggedness
- Silk-screen printing – borders, logos, instructions, or full branding
- Anti-bacterial coatings - to reduce infections from shared devices
Mechanical Integration & Metalwork
- Custom aluminium, stainless, or plastic frames and enclosures
- IP65/IP67 front sealing for outdoor signage
- VESA and panel-mount solutions
- Battery compartments and solar-cell integration for completely wireless installations
Drive Electronics & Connectivity
- Ready-to-use driver boards (SPI interface) with on-board flash for image storage
- Wireless options: NFC, Bluetooth Low Energy, or 2.4 GHz proprietary for ESL systems
- Full development kits with Android/Linux/Windows support
Why Choose RDS for E-Paper Solutions?
We maintain close partnerships with all major E-paper manufacturers and operate in-house cleanroom assembly, meaning we can deliver everything from one-off prototypes to tens of thousands of units with identical performance and long-term availability.
Whether you need a 1.54″ round monochrome badge that lasts 5 years on a coin cell, a 13.3″ colour E-reader with frontlight and PCAP touch, or a 42″ outdoor sign that updates once a day via solar power, we provide the size, colour capability, and customisation options to bring ultra-low-power, paper-like displays to life.