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Ossia, E-PEAS, and E Ink Debut E-Paper Electronic Shelf Label Powered by Wireless Energy Harvesting

July 28, 2019 by Scott McMahan

Ossia Inc., E-Peas S.A., and E Ink Holdings reported that they have successfully developed the first-of-its-kind wirelessly-powered electronic paper display (EPD) prototype that is entirely battery-free. This prototype system, an electronic shelf label meant for retailers, can be operated and wirelessly powered at-a-distance in a dynamic environment, without any wires or batteries. (See image above of Ossia Chief Hardware Engineer Jamie Wojcik holding the electronic shelf label powered by wireless energy harvesting).

The companies intend to release this innovative technology for commercial use by the end of next year. Presently it is available for demonstration purposes only. Ossia, E-PEAS, and E Ink foresee that wireless power will be a critical enabler to the extensive adoption of smart display solutions in the IoT sector.

In addition to being used for electronic shelf labeling for retailers, applications for wireless energy harvesting technology include digital signage, logistics tags, and distributed sensor networks.

Ossia points out that the small, wirelessly powered EPD devices they created for the IoT can be used in a broad range of industries, including retail, industrial, logistics, and warehousing.

Running wires to electronic labels, tags, and sensors is often cost-prohibitive to businesses. And while devices that are battery-powered are easier to deploy, they are still constrained by the finite lives of batteries. Through wireless power, device lifetimes are greatly extended, well beyond the capacity currently offered by conventional batteries. Device functionality is substantially enhanced as well.

"We are dedicated to expanding our FCC approved Cota technology to the largest sector in the world and increasing the overall potential of IoT solutions," said Preston Woo, Ossia's Chief Strategy Officer. "We are further pleased to collaborate with E Ink, the pioneer and commercial leader in ePaper technology, and E-PEAS, a leading semiconductor for IoT applications with the best-in-class solution for energy harvesting, processing, and sensing."

"Our vision at e-peas is to enable the seamless operation of all connected devices anywhere, anytime, in any conditions with smart innovative solutions," said Geoffroy Gosset, CEO and co-founder of e-peas.  "Enabling the broad proliferation of sustainable EPDs and smart IoT devices, in collaboration with top tier partners, is directly in-line with our core mission."

"The development of wirelessly powered EPDs is another validation of our technology's durable and ultra-low power displays being applied to previously impossible and unimaginable applications," said Johnson Lee, President of E Ink Holdings. "Ultimately, commercializing battery-less ePaper solutions will enable the potential of IoT applications that require ultra-low power consumption displays. It also makes digital transformation easier than one can imagine in various applications such as logistic tags, luggage tags, digital signage and other digital tags."