Over the past two decades, electronic paper (ePaper) display technology has evolved rapidly, covering materials, manufacturing processes, display modules, and a growing range of innovative applications. From early monochrome ePaper films to advanced color ePaper displays used in reading devices, signage, and professional terminals, the industry has moved from technical exploration to large-scale commercialization. As applications continue to expand, standardization has become a critical foundation for ensuring product quality, interoperability, and sustainable industry growth.
The Growing Need for ePaper Standardization
As ePaper technologies mature, the absence of unified standards can create fragmentation across products, suppliers, and markets. Standards provide a shared technical language that defines terminology, testing methods, performance parameters, and evaluation criteria. In recent years, China has gradually established an initial ePaper standard system, with basic standards such as terminology definitions and testing methodologies being released. These efforts lay the groundwork for consistent evaluation and comparison of ePaper products.
However, as ePaper moves beyond traditional reading devices into color displays, signage, transportation systems, and smart city applications, the demand for more comprehensive and specialized standards continues to grow. The standardization of ePaper-related technologies is therefore widely seen as having significant development potential and long-term strategic value.
International ePaper Display Standards and IEC Progress
At the international level, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) has played a central role in standardizing electronic display technologies. In 2011, the IEC Electronic Display Devices Technical Committee (IEC/TC110) formally initiated international standardization work related to ePaper displays. Since then, countries including Japan, the United States, China, and South Korea have taken leading roles in drafting and promoting ePaper-related standards.
Initially, this work was carried out under Working Group WG7 within TC110. Following structural adjustments to IEC/TC110 after 2013, responsibilities for ePaper standards were redistributed. Today, standards related to basic ratings, characteristics, and environmental testing methods for ePaper display devices are mainly developed within WG13, WG14, and the special application group PT63340. The original WG7 has since been dissolved, reflecting the integration of ePaper standards into broader display technology frameworks.
Domestic Standard Transformation and Implementation
In China, the National Electronic Display Device Standardization Technical Committee (TC547) has organized industry stakeholders to actively participate in transforming international IEC standards into national standards. Key examples include the localization of IEC 62679-1-1:2014 (terminology), IEC 62679-3-1:2014 (optical performance test methods), and IEC 62679-3-2:2013. By 2024, three of these standards had been officially released in China, with two additional standards approved for new project initiation.
This transformation process is crucial because it bridges international best practices with domestic industrial realities. It enables Chinese manufacturers and solution providers to align with global standards while ensuring compatibility with local regulatory and market requirements. As a result, ePaper products can more easily enter international markets while maintaining consistent quality benchmarks.
The Emergence of “Paper-Like Display“ Evaluation Standards
Beyond traditional technical standards, user experience has become an increasingly important dimension of ePaper evaluation. In 2020, E Ink began collaborating with TÜV Rheinland to explore scientific methods for evaluating the “paper-like” characteristics of ePaper displays. After nearly two years of research, the Paper-Like Display Certification and the Paper-Like Index were officially introduced in 2021.
The Paper-Like Index is a scientific testing and evaluation system developed from an ergonomic perspective. Its purpose is to quantify how closely an ePaper display resembles real paper in optical and visual characteristics. This index provides an objective, measurable standard for comparing different ePaper displays and assessing reading comfort.
How the Paper-Like Index Works
The Paper-Like Index evaluates ePaper displays across multiple dimensions, including environmental adaptability, stable contrast performance, resistance to ambient light interference, and eye-health-related characteristics. Key parameters assessed include contrast consistency under different lighting conditions, viewing angle performance, color temperature consistency, brightness and color uniformity, diffuse reflection coefficients, glare and ghosting behavior, refresh speed, and grayscale performance.
The scoring range of the Paper-Like Index spans from 0 to 100, with traditional paper defined as the benchmark score of 100. Higher scores indicate a closer approximation to the visual and reading experience of paper. This unified scoring system makes it easier for manufacturers to optimize product design and for consumers to understand and compare display quality.
Why Standardization Benefits the Entire Ecosystem
Unified standards play a crucial role at multiple levels of the ePaper ecosystem. For manufacturers, they provide clear design targets and testing references, reducing development risk and improving product consistency. For downstream brands and system integrators, standardized metrics simplify supplier evaluation and product selection. For end users, standards such as the Paper-Like Index offer an objective basis for choosing devices with better reading comfort and visual health performance.
As ePaper applications continue to diversify, standardized evaluation frameworks will be essential for ensuring that innovation remains aligned with usability, safety, and sustainability.
SEEKINK is a professional ePaper supplier committed to delivering high-quality, standards-aligned products for global users. We focus on ePaper display solution for different applications, emphasizing visual comfort and technical reliability. By aligning product development with international and industry standards, SEEKINK supports the continued maturation and credibility of the ePaper industry.
