FlexESL - FlexIC-based, low cost segmented Electronic Shelf Label

近年来，零售业经历了许多技术创新，包括使用电子纸显示器（EPD）的分段电子货架标签（ESL）开始取代传统的纸质价格标签，这些标签更新耗时/昂贵，并且经常容易出错（约5-10%）和客户不满。纸质价格标签每年产生近12万吨废物，导致二氧化碳足迹显著增加。相反，ESL正在改善价格和库存管理、店内信息和购物体验。挑战在于将低成本电子产品与低成本EPD结合起来，并具有小型、耐用和低功耗的外形。ESL应用中的大多数基于EPD的显示器使用高价值的图形显示器，但这些解决方案成本高，因此体积较小。其他基于分段LCD技术的ESL更便宜，但太贵而不能广泛采用，视角差，（断电时图像丢失），并使用易碎的玻璃面板显示器。细分的ESL市场是迄今为止最大的潜力，旨在取代纸质价格标签，但目前的细分ESL解决方案的价格点太高，不允许从纸到分段价格标签的切换。该项目旨在证明，通过结合Lynxemi的EPD显示器（XEPD）与Pragmatic的柔性集成电路（FlexIC），我们可以生产新的ESL。Lynxemi EPD显示器（XEPD）非常适合分段显示应用，它既低成本又便宜。显示器将使用PragmatIC的FlexIC进行控制。这种系统的主要USP包括：* 由于集成了Lynxemi的低成本EPD解决方案（XEPD），成本低于现有的EPD解决方案，PragmatIC的成本低于传统的电子IC技术。由于XEPD双稳态，功耗低。由于采用通用I2C协议，易于使用和采用。* 180 o视角。*使用PragmatIC的FlexIC和相关无线技术实现更低成本的无线连接。该项目将产生示范单元，作为两种技术集成的概念验证，并在该项目完成后进一步开发原型产品的起点。最终产品的目标市场是低成本细分ESL市场，预计到2022年将达到10亿美元，到2032年将达到50亿美元。为了成功实现这一目标，该项目联盟拥有相关的专业知识，由全球FlexIC生产领导者PragmatIC（SME）领导，Lynxemi（SME）是一家物联网工业硬件开发商。两者都包括从模拟设计和组件制造（PragmatIC）到集成/销售（Lynxemi）的生态系统。

The retail industry has undergone numerous technological innovations in recent years, including segmented electronic shelf labels (ESL) using electronic paper displays (EPD) beginning to replace traditional paper price labels, which are time-consuming/expensive to update and often prone to error (around 5-10%) and customer dissatisfaction. Paper price labels produce nearly 120,000 tonnes of waste annually, contributing to a significant increase in CO2 footprint. ESLs, conversely, are improving both price and inventory management, in-store information and the shopping experience.The challenge is combining low-cost electronics in a low-cost EPD, with a small, durable and low-power form factor. Most EPD-based displays in ESL applications use high-value graphical displays, but those solutions are high-cost and therefore lower volumes. Other ESLs based on segmented LCD technology are cheaper, but are too expensive to allow widespread adoption, have a poor viewing angle, are non-bistable (losing the image when power is removed), and use fragile glass panel displays.The segmented ESL market is by far the biggest potential in volume, targeting to replace the paper-based price labels, but the current segment ESL solutions' price points are too high to allow the switch from paper to segmented price labels.This project aims to demonstrate that by combining Lynxemi's EPD displays (XEPD) with Pragmatic's flexible integrated circuits (FlexICs) we can produce novel ESLs. The Lynxemi EPD display (XEPD) is well suited for segmented display applications, it is both low cost and bistable. The display would be controlled using PragmatIC's FlexICs. The main USPs of such a system include:* Low-cost EPD solution due to integration of Lynxemi's (XEPD) lower cost than existing EPD solutions, and PragmatIC's lower cost than traditional electronics ICs technologies.* Low power budget due to XEPD bistability. Ease of use and adoption, due to generic I2C protocol.* 180o viewing angle.* Lower cost wireless connectivity using PragmatIC's FlexIC and related wireless technologies.This project would result in demonstrator units, serving as Proof of Concept for the integration of the two technologies, and a starting point for further development of a prototype product, after the completion of this project. The target market for the end product, after additional development to be completed past the end of this project, is the low-cost segmented ESL market, which is estimated to be $1Bn in 2022, reaching $5Bn in 2032.To successfully achieve this, the project consortium features the relevant expertise, being led by PragmatIC (SME), the world-leader for FlexIC production, and Lynxemi (SME) an IoT industrial hardware developer. Both comprise an eco-system from analog design and component fabrication (PragmatIC) to integration/sales (Lynxemi).