In brief
- NFC e-paper up to 4.2″ - wireless, operated without battery or cable
- Design content via app and update via NFC data transfer
- Ideal for name badges, door signs, price tags and shelf labels
- Cost-effective module with good resolution and wide viewing angle
⏱ Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
E-paper displays have enjoyed great popularity for years because they offer a paper-like reading experience with an excellent viewing angle and content remains visible for a long time without a permanent power supply. With our new NFC e-paper, we are going one step further: the module works completely without a battery or cable and is updated purely via NFC.
Update content easily via app
The idea behind it: Content can be prepared in advance using a specially developed app and then played directly onto the display via NFC data transfer. Depending on the size, the update time is in the region of seconds. The technology can currently be implemented up to 4.2 inches - ideal for compact applications such as:
- Name badges for conferences or events
- Door signs and seating solutions in meeting rooms
- Price tags or shelf labels in the retail trade
- Information displays in various devices and housings
Advantages of our NFC e-paper
The NFC e-paper module is designed in such a way that it can be produced particularly cost-effectively. Despite the reduced design, the display impresses with its good resolution, stable viewing angle and long-lasting function. As neither batteries nor cables are required, there are no maintenance costs and no need for a power supply.
Your advantages at a glance:
- No battery required - no follow-up costs due to batteries or replacement
- Wireless - data transfer directly via NFC
- Flexible - content can be customized via app
- Environmentally friendly - energy-saving, passive e-paper
- Simple integration - slim module, easy to install in existing devices and housings
- Versatile - can be used for everything from shelf labels and name tags to price tags
Perfect alternative to classic displays
Compared to classic LCD or TFT displays, this e-paper does not require a permanent power supply. The image remains static without the need for a power supply. This makes the solution particularly suitable for applications where a display often needs to show the same content over a long period of time or needs to be flexibly adapted directly.
Who is it suitable for?
As a user, you benefit from a modern module that can be used flexibly in various housings and products. Unlike many waveshare papers or other standard displays, here you get a system that is specially designed for cost-efficient integration with NFC.
This opens up new possibilities for compact, mobile and sustainable solutions that do not require any cables or batteries.
Background: How does NFC work with battery-free e-paper displays?
Near Field Communication (NFC) is a short-range radio technology that is used for wireless data exchange over very short distances - usually just a few centimetres. In the case of the e-paper module presented here, NFC has a dual function: on the one hand, it is used to transmit the content to be displayed and, on the other, it supplies the display module with the necessary energy during the short update process.
The principle is based on inductive coupling. An NFC-enabled device, for example a smartphone or a special NFC writer, generates a high-frequency magnetic field as soon as it approaches the module. This field is picked up by the display and converted into electrical energy - enough to activate the display for a few seconds and update the displayed content.
During this short activation time, the prepared content is transmitted via the NFC connection. The data can come from a mobile app, for example, which sends text, symbols or graphics to the e-paper. Once the update is complete, the new image remains permanently visible on the display - without any further power supply. This is one of the biggest advantages of bistable e-paper technologies.
