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

FlexESL - 基于 FlexIC 的低成本分段电子货架标签

• 批准号: 10033567
• 金额: $ 28.88万
• 依托单位: PRAGMATIC SEMICONDUCTOR LIMITED
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Collaborative R&D
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2022 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=10033567
• 关键词: FlexESL; FlexIC; based; low; cost

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).

近年来，零售行业经历了无数的技术创新，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，传统纸质价格标签的更新耗时/昂贵，并且经常容易出错（约 5-10%）和客户不满意。纸质价格标签每年产生近 12 万吨废物，导致二氧化碳足迹大幅增加。相反，ESL 正在改善价格和库存管理、店内信息和购物体验。面临的挑战是将低成本电子产品与低成本 EPD 相结合，并具有小型、耐用和低功耗的外形。 ESL 应用中大多数基于 EPD 的显示器都使用高价值的图形显示器，但这些解决方案成本高，因此产量较低。其他基于分段 LCD 技术的 ESL 更便宜，但价格太高而无法广泛采用，视角较差，非双稳态（断电时图像丢失），并且使用易碎的玻璃面板显示器。分段 ESL 市场是迄今为止数量上潜力最大的，旨在取代纸质价格标签，但当前分段 ESL 解决方案的价格点太高，无法从纸质价格标签切换到分段价格标签。该项目旨在证明，通过结合林克斯米的EPD 显示器 (XEPD) 与 Pragmatic 的柔性集成电路 (FlexIC) 一起，我们可以生产新颖的 ESL。 Lynxemi EPD 显示器 (XEPD) 非常适合分段显示应用，它既低成本又双稳态。显示屏将使用 PragmatIC 的 FlexIC 进行控制。该系统的主要 USP 包括：* 由于集成了 Lynxemi (XEPD) 的低成本 EPD 解决方案（比现有 EPD 解决方案成本更低）以及 PragmatIC 的成本比传统电子 IC 技术更低。* 由于 XEPD 双稳态，功耗预算低。由于通用 I2C 协议，易于使用和采用。* 180o 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。该项目将产生演示单元，作为两种技术集成的概念验证，以及该项目完成后进一步开发原型产品的起点。在该项目结束后完成额外开发后，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。要成功实现这一目标该项目联盟拥有相关专业知识，由全球 FlexIC 生产领导者 PragmatIC (SME) 和物联网工业硬件开发商 Lynxemi (SME) 领导。两者都包含一个从模拟设计和组件制造 (PragmatIC) 到集成/销售 (Lynxemi) 的生态系统。