e-Ink and other paper like displays

On Saturday, May 23, 2020 at 9:18:16 AM UTC-4, Dave Nadler wrote:
> On Friday, May 22, 2020 at 8:16:08 PM UTC-4, Rick C wrote:
> > On Friday, May 22, 2020 at 6:11:58 PM UTC-4, Dave Nadler wrote:
> > > On Tuesday, May 19, 2020 at 8:35:44 PM UTC-4, Rick C wrote:
> > > > Anyone used any of these displays?  Anyone happy with these displays? 
> > > > Tips?  Cautions? 
> > > 
> > > I run a moving map program on a Kobo Glo (a nice Linux box, ~$50 on eBay).
> > > Some ghosting, but real-time updates of the map are quite acceptable.
> > > Fabulous screen outdoors in bright sunlight (this is in my plane).
> > > 
> > > The controller is a very complicated beast and not like LCD.
> > > An OEM module may not have adequate update rate for some applications.
> > > 
> > > Interesting stuff!
> > > Best Regards, Dave
> > 
> > We may have talked about this before.  When you say "plane" do you mean
> > a glider?  I have a faint recollection of talking to someone who used
> > an e-Ink display in a very tight cockpit in a glider.  
> 
> Yup, here's a short movie: http://www.nadler.com/sn10/20160423_SN10_to_TopHat_in_ArcusM.MOV

Your cockpit shows exactly why I prefer the eInk display.  It is more like the mechanical displays in visibility.  The LCD display in the SN10B is much less visible. 

I'm starting to think I need to get my hands on some hardware.  

-- 

  Rick C.

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On Saturday, May 23, 2020 at 3:29:38 PM UTC-4, Rick C wrote:
> On Saturday, May 23, 2020 at 9:18:16 AM UTC-4, Dave Nadler wrote:
> > On Friday, May 22, 2020 at 8:16:08 PM UTC-4, Rick C wrote:
> > > On Friday, May 22, 2020 at 6:11:58 PM UTC-4, Dave Nadler wrote:
> > > > On Tuesday, May 19, 2020 at 8:35:44 PM UTC-4, Rick C wrote:
> > > > > Anyone used any of these displays?  Anyone happy with these displays? 
> > > > > Tips?  Cautions? 
> > > > 
> > > > I run a moving map program on a Kobo Glo (a nice Linux box, ~$50 on eBay).
> > > > Some ghosting, but real-time updates of the map are quite acceptable.
> > > > Fabulous screen outdoors in bright sunlight (this is in my plane).
> > > > 
> > > > The controller is a very complicated beast and not like LCD.
> > > > An OEM module may not have adequate update rate for some applications.
> > > > 
> > > > Interesting stuff!
> > > > Best Regards, Dave
> > > 
> > > We may have talked about this before.  When you say "plane" do you mean
> > > a glider?  I have a faint recollection of talking to someone who used
> > > an e-Ink display in a very tight cockpit in a glider.  
> > 
> > Yup, here's a short movie: http://www.nadler.com/sn10/20160423_SN10_to_TopHat_in_ArcusM.MOV
> 
> Your cockpit shows exactly why I prefer the eInk display. 
> It is more like the mechanical displays in visibility.  
> The LCD display in the SN10B is much less visible. 

The SN10 LCD is transflective and sensitive to angle of view.
In the video, SN10 is actually higher contrast than the eInk display.
We encourage installation towards the top of the panel to improve contrast.

Always trade-offs.
Let us know how you make out with the eInk display,
Best Regards, Dave

PS: That video was taken of my former ArcusM cockpit a few years back.
I and the airforce cadet in the back seat bailed out of my ArcusM in 2018.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8I3A3dqsu0
Please do not try this at home.

Rick C <gnuarm.deletethisbit@gmail.com> writes:

> I have periodically reviewed the e-Ink market looking for usable
> products without a lot of experimentation.

Some time ago I came across a DIY project for a wireless fridge display
using a small 2.13" e-Ink display from Waveshare. The display had an SPI
connection and the project used a common ESP8226 board to control
it. Apparently there's a library (GxEPD) for these displays.

I just looked that project up, the display is this one from Aliexpress:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32812115703.html?spm=2114.12010610.0.0.57be421eyeZCPv

So it seems the library and driver board support part might be
OK. Definitely expensive, that 2.13" is $20.69 while a 4.2" is $27.99.
No idea if there's exhaustive documentation, with a quick look I'd say
no. Also a consideration for a commercial product is that the GxEPD
library has a GPL license.

On Saturday, May 30, 2020 at 2:50:21 AM UTC-4, Anssi Saari wrote:
> Rick C <gnuarm.deletethisbit@gmail.com> writes:
> 
> > I have periodically reviewed the e-Ink market looking for usable
> > products without a lot of experimentation.
> 
> Some time ago I came across a DIY project for a wireless fridge display
> using a small 2.13" e-Ink display from Waveshare. The display had an SPI
> connection and the project used a common ESP8226 board to control
> it. Apparently there's a library (GxEPD) for these displays.
> 
> I just looked that project up, the display is this one from Aliexpress:
> https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32812115703.html?spm=2114.12010610.0.0.57be421eyeZCPv
> 
> So it seems the library and driver board support part might be
> OK. Definitely expensive, that 2.13" is $20.69 while a 4.2" is $27.99.
> No idea if there's exhaustive documentation, with a quick look I'd say
> no. Also a consideration for a commercial product is that the GxEPD
> library has a GPL license.

Thanks for your post.  I've looked at many display listings and they seldom have adequate info to judge them.  They don't mention who makes the display or give a part number which is required for inserting it into a product.  This is a Waveshare product which still does not make clear who makes the display, but at least is provides a reliable source.  

I probably should get a unit and test it.  This would not be a bad one to try.  I have raspberry pis I could use.  The listing does indicate Partial refresh time: 0.3s.  That's important.  The software people keep talking about 2x16 displays and using two because they can't fit all the data on one.  So this display could provide 4x16 easily with 15 x 30 characters, much more clear than 5x7 LCDs.  

I think I just talked myself into buying one to test.  

-- 

  Rick C.

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