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

零售业近年来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，传统的纸质价格标签更新耗时/昂贵，而且经常容易出错(约5%-10%)和客户不满。纸张价格标签每年产生近12万吨垃圾，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。挑战是将低成本电子产品与小巧、耐用和低功耗的EPD结合起来。在ESL应用中，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价格较低，但太昂贵，无法广泛采用，视角差，非双稳(断电时会丢失图像)，并且使用易碎的玻璃面板显示器。到目前为止，分段ESL市场是最大的潜力市场，旨在取代基于纸张的价格标签，但当前细分ESL解决方案的价格点太高，无法从纸张切换到分段价格标签。该项目旨在证明，通过将Lynxemi的EPD显示器(XEPD)与务实的灵活集成电路(FlexIC)相结合，我们可以生产出新型ESL。Lynxemi EPD显示器(XEPD)非常适合分段显示应用，它既低成本又双稳。显示器将使用务实公司的FlexIC进行控制。这种系统的主要USPS包括：*由于集成了Lynxemi公司(XEPD)的低成本EPD解决方案，比现有EPD解决方案低的成本，以及比传统电子集成电路技术低的实用成本。*XEPD双稳态导致的低功率预算。由于通用的I2C协议，易于使用和采用。*180度视角。*使用务实公司的FlexIC和相关无线技术降低无线连接成本。该项目将产生演示单元，作为两种技术集成的概念证明，并在该项目完成后，作为进一步开发原型产品的起点。在本项目结束后完成进一步开发后，最终产品的目标市场是低成本细分ESL市场，预计2022年将达到10亿美元，2032年将达到50亿美元。为了成功实现这一目标，该项目财团拥有相关专业知识，由FlexIC生产的世界领先者务实(SME)和物联网工业硬件开发商Lynxemi(SME)领导。两者都构成了从模拟设计和元件制造(实用)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).