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Wednesday, Jun 15, 2005

Digital Clock as Thin as Paper

Category: News

Paper-Thin Digital ClockUtilizing the electronic paper display technology, Citizen Watch has created a digital clock that is as thin as paper. This unique design is enabled by E Ink(r)Imaging Film. This easy-to-read, low-power display component is fully conformable, allowing product designers more creative freedom than ever before. Citizen Watch Co. and T.I.C.-Citizen Co. worked closely with E Ink to develop the electronic paper display used in this new clock.

Exceptional Readability - roughly twice the contrast of a reflective LCD, EPD’s can be easily read in bright sunlight or in dimly lit environments and at virtually any angle.

Low Power Consumption - In addition to the fact that no backlighting is required, the display also has an inherently stable “memory effect” which requires no power to maintain an image - both of which drastically increase the battery life. The result is 1/100 the power consumption of traditional display options.

Versatile, Flexible Form - E Ink Imaging Film allows product designers to create entirely new designs that were never possible before. This thin, flexible display can be used to create curved, eye-catching shapes.

These benefits allow the clock to be installed in locations that would otherwise be difficult. Especially in the case of using Battery, this Clock is “Mobile”.

Citizen Watch Co. and T.I.C.-Citizen Co. have not yet announced a launch date for this product, but it is expected to be commercialized in Japan in 2005. Plans for the international launch are under consideration, along with other design interpretations.

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13 Comments:
  1. Training Guy says:

    This looks awesome are there any more pictures anywhere?

  2. Daniel says:

    I would seriously want to own one of these, especialy if they come in watch formats.

  3. mail mail says:

    Just what we need — another clock that needs setting.

  4. Anonymous Coward says:

    Check out http://www.eink.com/ for more information about the display technology.

  5. Guy Macon says:

    Good luck finding a paper-thin battery to power it…

    Also, Upcoming E-ink products have been announced every year since 2000, but (as of 2006) I still have not seen any actual product for sale.

  6. Bose-Einstein-Kondensat says:

    > Good luck finding a paper-thin battery to power it…

    Not that hard…

    well, nut really paper thin, but if you have thick paper this is true. ;)

    I’ve seen something on tv some years ago, where they had batterys made of 2 layers of some plastic. you could even cut out the amount of power-storage-place you needed with a scissor, connect each layer to a wire, and there you go… :)
    It was totally flexibe. So you could easily glue it behind the display, print something on the backside (cool design, color, logo) and there you have your watch. ;)
    nor we only need some paper-thin radio-controlled clock-chip. ;)

  7. MWeed says:

    Could this be used with an adhesive back like a sticker?

  8. Ian says:

    Guy Macon, must not be looking very hard.
    Havent you seen the Sony Librié?

  9. Rasputin says:

    Imagine if you could have it couloured and then used it as wall paper?

  10. David says:

    Anyone ever took apart a Polaroid film cartridge? Voila! Thin battery! They’ve got others that go almost paper thin (realistically, 1-2mm), too.

    Realistically, you can just run the entire clock off a thin watch battery or two, as well.

  11. horgboy says:

    is it that light that it will blow away????
    time will then fly huh lol

  12. Edward Teague says:

    Imagine if every video, DVD, cooker, microwave - anything with time display used this technology. Energy saving would be massive.e.r Microwave used at full power for 5 minutes per day uses more energy dispalyign time in a year than on cooking. How many such displays in your home / office / school ?

    Display energy status of batteries say on fire alarms, etc., many possibilities.

    Citizan make solar powered ECO watches already with analogue electric power driven display.

  13. Billy Goat says:

    Every damn board on this thing has annoyed me.
    Especially the guy who suggested it as wall paper as his own idea when he obviously read it somewhere else.and it doesnt run on regular batteries.most e-ink and e-paper concepts run on either solar power or some form of kinetic energy converter.and the last post before me about energy consumtion.read about the new power supplies for industrial computer systems and mechanical devices, even DVD players and mobile phones, then talk about a power saving.its only a clock display.how much power do you think it uses in the first place.

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