“ And it ’ s always on ,” Margalit said . “ You can unplug an ePaper sign and it will still show the last image that was loaded by the agency .” While ePaper is somewhat of a generic term , E Ink ’ s proprietary technology is referred to as electrophoretic ePaper . The differentiating factor is that E Ink ’ s ePaper is bistable , meaning that it only uses power to change an image – but uses no power to maintain that image . “ It provides the potential for tremendous energy savings ,” Margalit said . “ Because sustainability is so important in public transportation , these energy savings can translate into achievable sustainability goals . It can be powered by a simple solar panel , and it is flexible for agencies that want to place signage away from the power grid . It generates zero light pollution , and also provides uninterrupted communication in case of a power outage .” E Ink paired with Luminator Technology Group , a worldwide leader in technology solutions that enhance and improve intelligence , safety , and efficiency for public transit . E Ink saw Luminator as the perfect partner , thanks to its hardware , software , electronic , and weatherproofing expertise . Luminator worked closely with E Ink to develop a rugged ePaper system for outdoor applications , to pair with its existing information and infotainment solutions such as INFOtransit . “ The ePaper displays are as crisp and as concise as reading on paper , but it ’ s put into a display that has the ability to change images ,” said Dan Kelleher , vice president of business development at Luminator . “ It allows agencies to provide real-time information on these displays – and not just basic arrival information , but also real-time weather alerts and emergency announcements .” Luminator has evolved as a company by taking its various types of display technologies and moving them toward one software platform . The Luminator Software Suite integrates destination signs , E Ink technology and stationary products , as well as INFOtransit technology into a single platform . The goal is to provide transit agencies with userfriendly , intuitive tools , in which single-sourced information can be distributed to multiple assets throughout a transit system . E Ink offers several sizes of reliable , durable displays that work well for outdoor applications , able to withstand extreme temperatures and ultraviolet exposure . Luminator designs a package for display technology that can mount and withstand everything from weather elements to vandalism . ePaper is different from LED technology , so replacing LED with ePaper is not a 1:1 comparison . It requires Luminator ’ s skill in tandem with E Ink to determine the requirements to power each panel .
Expanding the US Market The displays are manufactured at Luminator ’ s North American factory in Plano , Texas , to meet Buy America standards , integrating European standards and applying knowledge gained from global ridership patterns for the benefit of North American customers .
32-inch ePaper display
“ As our systems evolve , and as we work with various Luminator operations globally , we recognize that in each market there are certain nuances or requirements , both technical and sometimes just in standard engineering practices , that you want to be able to migrate into one platform – and that ’ s what we ’ re currently developing with the Luminator Software Suite ,” Kelleher said . “ This is a global platform that addresses some of the legacy systems operating in different countries that might ’ ve been more independent .” Luminator and E Ink worked together to bring display pilot programs to North American agencies , first to Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority ( WMATA ) in Washington , D . C . They also worked with Capital Metropolitan Transit Authority ( Capital Metro ) in Austin , Texas , on a large proposal for 13-inch and 32-inch displays . In January 2020 , Capital Metro began installation of over 148 ePaper displays — both solar and traditionally powered — at bus stops , park and rides , light rail stations and remote stops . These displays proved invaluable during the COVID-19 pandemic , and this ePaper installation is the largest single installation of its kind in North America .
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