Innovative low-cost and ultra-low-power industrial panel meter uses E-Ink display

RS Components is offering what is claimed to be the first ever industrial panel meter to use E-Ink display technology. The PanelPilot SGD 21-B from Lascar Electronics is a low-cost and ultra-low-power single-channel voltmeter with a sleek monochrome E-Ink display. E-Ink displays are often used in a range of electronic consumer devices – mostly in a leading e-book reader product – but are now starting to be used in industrial applications. These types of displays have two major advantages over alternative technologies: firstly, they are readable even in extreme sunlight; and secondly, they offer very low power consumption. The device comes with a 2.1" dot-matrix display with a 250 x 122-pixel resolution. The product takes advantage of the company’s innovative PanelPilot B Windows-based platform, which allows users to configure and customise a range of Lascar compatible displays with the click of a mouse. The use of pre-loaded display layout templates, which are configurable for further customisation, enables users to get up and running very quickly, without writing any code. Key to the product is its 4VDC to 9VDC power supply and its very low power consumption, which means it can be used in mobile applications that are powered by batteries. Additional specifications include: dimensions of 73.8mm x 37.5mm x 10.8mm; and an operating temperature range of 0C to +40C.