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

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).