RF chip on glass for electronic shelf label reference design
E-Ink and Realtek Semicodnctor have developed a second generation colour electronic shelf label (ESL) reference design with the first RF chip on glass technology.
Using System-on-Panel (SoP) technology, the reference design simplifies the development of the labels, which need ultra-low power. The label uses the same display area, but cuts the size of the thin-film transistor (TFT) array by 30% and the size of the flexible printed circuit (FPC) by half. This size reduction comes from integrating the components directly onto ePaper, glass, or flexible substrates, combining integrated circuits, panels, and system design.
The reference design uses Realtek’s Bluetooth chipset using Chip-on-Glass (CoG) technology, creating the world’s first device embedding a Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit (RFIC) directly onto glass. The SoP design integrates an RF chip onto a 2.66-inch e-paper display glass substrate from E-Ink using Realtek Semiconductor’s next-generation Redistribution Layer (RDL) technology, replacing traditional wire bonding packaging.
The transmission lines have been re-designed to allow signal transmission distances to approach those of traditional shelf labels and the flexible circuit board is integrated onto the back of the panel and it is these developments that make the design commercially viable says E-Ink.
All this reduces material usage and reduces product size while simplifying the manufacturing processes. This enables slimmer borders for a wide range of applications, mostly focussed on retail environments.
“Electronic shelf labels have replaced traditional paper labels, enhancing efficiency and reducing energy consumption for retailers,” said Johnson Lee, Chairman of E Ink. “Our commitment to advancing ePaper technology remains strong. Following positive feedback on our initial SoP prototypes, we continued innovating to deliver the next-generation design. Our new ESL solution promises improved operational efficiency for retailers and contributes toward carbon reduction efforts.”
Over the past seven years, approximately 600 million 3-inch ePaper labels have been installed globally. Changing pricing information four times daily, traditional paper labels produce 32,000 times more carbon dioxide than ePaper labels. Similarly 30 million 10-inch LCD electronic advertising displays globally, used continuously for five years, produce 12,000 times more CO₂ emissions than ePaper.
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