Recently, has utilized intelligent LED lighting to illuminate e-paper screens at CES On The Hill.

The new Qualcomm mirasol model has an embedded front light. That basically integrates one of those clip-on LED reading lights you see for Amazon’s Kindle and other ereaders, allowing you to read them in the dark.

In contrast to a clip-on, Qualcomm’s system more evenly illuminates the full display, and of course doesn’t extend from the body of the ereader itself.

Compared with the two mirasol prototypes, new on the left, old on the right. In brighter light the illumination could be shut off to save power, but it makes for a more flexible ereader having the system onboard. Qualcomm is apparently readying a new version with an ambient light sensor,  that would automatically fire up the LEDs when they’re needed.

Qualcomm announced to show up these panels in commercial ereaders this fall.