Seiko Epson Corporation

1. Reducing total energy consumption for inkjet printer

Epson promotes continuous design improvement, defining "total power consumption (Wh/day)" as an indicator for measuring a printer's energy-saving performance (Graph 1). Since the amount of electric energy used in a printer's standby condition (during ready and sleep) has a large impact on an inkjet printer's total power consumption, taking steps in this area can be very effective.

The total power consumption of the EP-302A (Artisan 50/ Epson Stylus Photo T50/ P50/ T59/ T60) launched in 2009 is approximately 50% less per day than the PM-G730 (Epson Stylus Photo R220/ R230) launched 4 years ago in 2005 (Graph 1).

Epson has continued to engineer effective ways of reducing power consumption, including limiting the number of points in the printer to which power is supplied in sleep mode, and shifting the printer into sleep mode faster. Total power consumption is further reduced with a low-power ASIC chip and a high-efficiency power supply.

2. Reduction of power consumption during projector operation through installation of highly efficient lamps

With business projectors spreading beyond the office and into the classroom, Epson has been working to reduce projector weight and increase image brightness.

The Epson Twin Optimized Reflection Lamp (E-TORL) satisfies both objectives. The E-TORL incorporates a new design that improves the efficiency with which light is utilized. It uses an elliptical reflector and a twin sub-reflector unit instead of the parabolic reflector found in ordinary lamps (Figure 1). The new design, which effectively uses light that ordinary lamps reflect out and lose, improves light collection by as much as 20%. To maximize E-TORL performance, Epson designed a compact new optical unit that also happens to reduce the dimensions of the projectors themselves.

With these kinds of efforts, we have achieved an approximately 90% reduction in power consumption per 100 lumen (units of measurement for projector brightness) for the EB-1735W/ PowerLite 1735W launched in 2008, when compared with the ELP-3000/ EMP-3000 launched in 1995 (Graph 2).

3. Reducing power consumption in scanner ready mode with the use of LED light sources

CCD (Charge Coupled Device) scanners usually use a cold-cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL), but Epson has developed a scanner that uses mercury-free & white light-emitting diode (LED) in 2007.

The GT-X820(Epson Perfection V600 Photo) rerleased in 2009, actual energy use during scanning was sharply reduced by doubling the scanning speed. The energy used in ready and sleep modes was reduced by using low-power ASIC chips and by limiting the number of points in the scanner to which power is supplied. (Graph 3)

4. Reduction of total power consumption with electrophotographic page printers

The point for energy conservation in electrophotographic page printers is the temperature control on the heater for fixing toner. The LP-S300 (Epson AcuLaser M2000D/ M2010D) launched in 2008 uses technology that allows the heater lamp to turn off immediately after printing is complete. This reduces the power consumption in ready mode, which averaged 47W for the LP-2500 (Epson EPL-6200), to an average of 7W. As a result, total power consumption per week is reduced approximately 23% (Graph 4).

5. Reduction of total power consumption with thermal receipt printers

Achieves high-speed printing of up to 200 mm/sec., yet uses 28% less power than the previous model (TM-88III) *1 Supplementing superior business printer functionality with environmental performance
The move to a high-efficiency AC adapter and the use of a low-power ASIC chip that controls power so that it is supplied only when and where needed help minimize power use.

Graph 5. Reduction in total power consumption per day with the TM-T88Ⅳ thermal receipt printers

6. Achievement of the low power consumption of an 8-bit flash microcontroller in a 16-bit flash microcontroller

Flash microcontrollers are used to control a variety of devices, such as consumer electronics products, remote controllers, and LCD panels. Epson has developed the S1C17 family of 16-bit flash microcontrollers (Photo 2), which achieve the low power consumption found in 8-bit flash microcontrollers (Table 1)

7. SG-8003CE series programmable crystal oscillators that respond to needs for low power consumption

We have achieved compliance with 1.8V and 2.5V low voltages, which was not possible with conventional technology, as well as compliance at higher frequencies up to 166MHz, and reduced consumption current by approximately 50% when compared with the SG-8002CE series (Graph 6).

Note: These products are manufactured and sold by Epson Toyocom.

8. "Spring Drive" wristwatches that do not use batteries or motors

The Spring Drive is a unique drive mechanism that is powered by the unwinding of a mainspring that maintains accuracy by using precision signals from a crystal resonator. With no batteries or motors, this self-contained eco-mechanism relies on the wearer to generate the energy needed to keep time (Figure 2).