Philips displays colour e-paper

claims to have developed the world's first A4-sized colour e-paper.

Like the black and white flexible display, the colour version uses a substrate that arranges thin-film transistors (TFTs) on metal foil rather than glass, allowing it to recover its original shape after being bent. The new model includes a colour filter coated on to the plastic substrate, so that it can display colour images.

The combination of metal foil and plastic substrate makes the e-paper flexible and durable while maintaining its display.

The display was made possible by developing proprietary processing technology that minimises panel deformation and prevents circuit structure change during high-temperature processes. Philips focused on the designs of the colour filter structure and TFT, as well as colour filter lamination technology, to overcome processing difficulties due to the lack of heat resistance in metal foil and plastic substrates.

Shaping up: the paper combines flexibility with durability

E-paper displays are said to be extremely energy efficient because they only use power when the image changes. They are also extremely thin – less than 300 micrometers.

'The potential applications for this display are incredible and will allow our customers to create new products that are not only convenient to use but also save natural resources,' said In-Jae Chung, Philips chief technology officer.

'This represents the next generation in display technology,' he added.