Display system having electrode modulation to alter a state of an electro-optic layer

• US 20020101433A1
• Filed: 11/16/2001
• Published: 08/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/1996
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Douglas Mcknight
• Original Assignee: Douglas Mcknight
• Inventors: McKnight, Douglas
• Application Number:
  US10/001,881
• Publication Number:
  US 20020101433A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/589
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/0809 Several active elements per pixel in active matrix panels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/0814 used for selection purposes, e.g. logical AND for partial update
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/0823 used to establish symmetry in driving, e.g. with polarity inversion
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/0861 with additional control of the display period without amending the charge stored in a pixel memory, e.g. by means of additional select electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/0876 Supplementary capacities in pixels having special driving circuits and electrodes instead of being connected to common electrode or ground; Use of additional capacitively coupled compensation electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/0235 Field-sequential colour display
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/0251 Precharge or discharge of pixel before applying new pixel voltage
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/06 Details of flat display driving waveforms
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/061 for resetting or blanking
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/063 Waveforms for resetting the whole screen at once
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0204 Compensation of DC component across the pixels in flat panels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0252 Improving the response speed
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0261 in the context of movement of objects on the screen or movement of the observer relative to the screen
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/2011 by amplitude modulation
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3614 Control of polarity reversal in general
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3648 using an active matrix G09G3/367 - G09G3/3696 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3655 Details of drivers for counter electrodes, e.g. common electrodes for pixel capacitors or supplementary storage capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3659 the addressing of the pixel involving the control of two or more scan electrodes or two or more data electrodes, e.g. pixel voltage dependant on signal of two data electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3677 suitable for active matrices only
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3688 suitable for active matrices only

Abstract

Methods and systems for operating a display system. An example of the display system includes a first substrate having a plurality of pixel electrodes, an electro-optic layer operatively coupled to the pixel electrodes and an electrode operatively coupled to said electro-optic layer. In one example of a method of the invention, a first plurality of pixel data values is applied to the plurality of pixel electrodes. A first control voltage is applied to the electrode to alter a state of the electro-optic layer such that the first pixel data represented by the first plurality of pixel data values is substantially not displayed. A second plurality of pixel data values, representing a second pixel data, is applied to the plurality of pixel electrodes, and a second control voltage is applied to the electrode to alter the state of the electro-optic layer such that the second pixel data is displayed. In an example of a first aspect of the invention, a voltage difference between the first control voltage and the second control voltage is reduced to reduce capacitive shifting of the second plurality of pixel data values on the plurality of pixel electrodes. In an example of a second aspect of the invention, at least one of the first control voltage, the second control voltage and a pixel data value of the second plurality of pixel data values is determined by an illumination color used in displaying said second pixel data. In an example of a third aspect of the invention, the electrode receives a composite signal over time, and a first parameter of at least one of the first control voltage and the second control voltage is selected to provide an offset, for a portion of the composite signal, from a DC balanced signal over time with respect to a particular voltage.

Claims

1. A method for operating a display system, said display system comprising a first substrate having a plurality of pixel electrodes, an electro-optic layer operatively coupled to said pixel electrodes and an electrode operatively coupled to said electro-optic layer, said method comprising:

applying a first plurality of pixel data values to said plurality of pixel electrodes such that a first pixel data represented by said first plurality of pixel data values is displayed;

applying a first control voltage to said electrode to alter a state of said electro-optic layer such that said first pixel data is substantially not displayed;

applying a second plurality of pixel data values to said plurality of pixel electrodes, said second plurality of pixel data values representing a second pixel data;

after applying said second plurality of pixel data values, applying a second control voltage to said electrode to alter said state of said electro-optic layer such that said second pixel data is displayed, and wherein a voltage difference between said first control voltage and said second control voltage is reduced to reduce capacitive shifting of said second plurality of pixel data values on said plurality of pixel electrodes.

2. A method as in claim 1 wherein said second plurality of pixel data values is determined relative to said second control voltage in order to reduce said capacitive shifting.

3. A method as in claim 1 wherein said first control voltage is one of a high extreme and a low extreme and wherein said second control voltage is one of a high view extreme or a low view extreme and wherein when a maximum voltage across said electro-optic layer is desired for a frame or a subframe, a pixel electrode voltage, corresponding to one of said second plurality of pixel data values, is one of a high pixel extreme voltage or a low pixel extreme voltage, and wherein, when said maximum voltage across said electro-optic layer is desired during display of said second pixel data, said pixel electrode voltage is substantially at said low pixel extreme voltage when said second control voltage is substantially at said high view extreme and said first control voltage, for said frame or said subframe, was previously at said high extreme.

4. A method as claim 3 wherein, when said maximum voltage across said electro-optic layer is desired during display of said second pixel data, said pixel electrode voltage is substantially at said high pixel extreme voltage when said second control voltage is substantially at said low view extreme and said first control voltage, for said frame or said subframe, was previously at said low extreme.

5. A method as in claim 3 wherein, when a minimum voltage across said electro-optic layer is desired during display of said second pixel data, said pixel electrode voltage is substantially at said high pixel extreme voltage when said second control voltage is substantially at said high view extreme and said first control voltage, for said frame or said subframe, was previously at said high extreme.

6. A method as in claim 3 wherein, when said minimum voltage across said electro-optic layer is desired during display of said second pixel data, said pixel electrode voltage is substantially at said low pixel extreme voltage when said second control voltage is substantially at said low view extreme and said first control voltage, 5 for said frame or said subframe, was previously at said low extreme.

7. A method as in claim 3 wherein a first image is represented by said first pixel data and a second image is represented by said second pixel data and wherein said first image comprises a first color subframe for a first color and said second image comprises a second color subframe for a second color.

8. A method as in claim 7 wherein at least one of said low extreme and said high extreme of said first control voltage is determined by the color of said second color.

9. A method as in claim 7 wherein at least one of said high view extreme and said low view extreme of said second control voltage is determined by the color of said second color.

10. A method as in claim 7 wherein at least one of said high pixel extreme voltage and said low pixel extreme voltage is determined in part by the color of said second color.

11. A method as in claim 3 wherein said step of applying said first control voltage and said step of applying said second plurality of pixel data values overlap at least partially in time.

12. A method as in claim 11 wherein said electrode is a cover glass electrode.

13. A method as in claim 12 wherein said cover glass electrode receives a DC balanced signal over time with respect to a voltage level.

14. A method as in claim 3 wherein said display system is segmented such that said electrode covers only a portion of a display surface of said display system.

15. A method as in claim 12 wherein said display system comprises a liquid crystal disposed on a semiconductor substrate and said plurality of pixel electrodes are disposed on said semiconductor substrate.

16. A method as in claim 3 wherein said electro-optic layer comprises a liquid crystal material and wherein said liquid crystal has at least a first light altering state and a second light altering state and wherein said first control voltage sets said liquid crystal in said first light altering state such that light substantially cannot pass through said display system and wherein said second control voltage allows said liquid crystal to be set in said second light altering state such that light is capable of passing through said display system and wherein said step of applying a first control voltage further comprises applying a third control voltage after said first control voltage and before said step of applying said second control voltage, wherein said third control voltage substantially holds said liquid crystal in nearly said first light altering state and said first control voltage rapidly places said liquid crystal in substantially said first light altering state.

17. A method as in claim 16 wherein said step of applying said third control voltage and said step of applying said second plurality of pixel data values overlap at least partially in time.

18. A method as in claim 17 wherein said step of applying said third control voltage and said step of applying said second plurality of pixel data values occur substantially contemporaneously.

19. A method as in claim 3 wherein after applying said second control voltage, said electro-optic layer relaxes to a plurality of gray scale or color levels corresponding to said second plurality of pixel data values.

20. A method as in claim 19 wherein for at least a set of pixels of said first pixel data, said electro-optic layer has not reached a steady state display level specified by said first pixel data when said first control voltage is applied.

21. A method as in claim 3 further comprising illuminating said display system with at least one pulse of illumination which does not provide continuous illumination during the time that said second pixel data is available for display.

22. A method as in claim 21 wherein said second pixel data is available for display while said second control voltage is applied.

23. A method as in claim 17 further comprising applying a first reference voltage to at least one of said pixel electrodes and wherein said step of applying said first reference voltage and said step of applying a first control voltage overlap at least partially in time.

25. A display system as in claim 24 further comprising:

a pixel electrode driver which is coupled to at least one of said first plurality of pixel electrodes, said pixel electrode driver determining a corresponding one of said second plurality of pixel data values relative to said second control voltage in order to reduce said capacitive shifting.

26. A display system as in claim 25 wherein said pixel electrode driver comprises a memory device which stores a lookup table which specifies said second control voltage and said first control voltage.

27. A display system as in claim 24 wherein said first control voltage is one of a high extreme and a low extreme and wherein said second control voltage is one of a high view extreme or a low view extreme and wherein when a maximum voltage across said electro-optic layer is desired for a frame or a subframe, a pixel electrode voltage corresponding to one of said second plurality of pixel data values, is one of a high pixel extreme voltage or a low pixel extreme voltage, and wherein, when said maximum voltage across said electro-optic layer is desired during display of said second image, said pixel electrode voltage is substantially at said low pixel extreme voltage when said second control voltage is substantially at said high view extreme and said first control voltage, for said frame or subframe, was previously at said high extreme.

28. A display system as in claim 24 wherein, when said maximum voltage across said electro-optic layer is desired during display of said second image, said pixel electrode voltage is substantially at said high pixel extreme voltage when said second control voltage is substantially at said low view extreme and said first control voltage, for said frame or said subframe, was previously at said low extreme.

29. A display system as in claim 24 wherein, when a minimum voltage across said electro-optic layer is desired during display of said second image, said pixel electrode voltage is substantially at said high pixel extreme voltage when said second control voltage is substantially at said high view extreme and said first control voltage, for said frame or said subframe, was previously at said high extreme.

30. A display system as in claim 24 wherein, when said minimum voltage across said electro-optic layer is desired during display of said second image, said pixel electrode voltage is substantially at said low pixel extreme voltage when said second control voltage is substantially at said low view extreme and said first control voltage, for said frame of said subframe, was previously at said low extreme.

31. A display system as in claim 27 wherein said first image comprises a first color subframe for a first color and said second image comprises a second color subframe for a second color.

32. A display system as in claim 31 wherein at least one of said low extreme and said high extreme of said first control voltage is determined by the color of said second color.

33. A method as in claim 31 wherein at least one of said high view extreme and said low view extreme of said second control voltage is determined by the color of said second color.

34. A display system as in claim 31 wherein at least one of said high pixel extreme voltage and said low pixel extreme voltage is determined in part by the color of said second color.

35. A display system as in claim 24 wherein said electrode is a cover glass electrode.

36. A display system as in claim 35 wherein said cover glass electrode receives a DC balanced signal over time with respect to a voltage level.

37. A display system as in claim 24 wherein said display system is segmented such that said electrode covers only a portion of a display surface of said display system.

38. A display system as in claim 35 wherein said display system comprises a liquid crystal disposed on a semiconductor substrate and said first plurality of pixel electrodes are disposed on said semiconductor substrate.

39. A display system as in claim 24 wherein said electro-optic layer comprises a liquid crystal material and wherein said liquid crystal has at least a first light altering state and a second light altering state and wherein said first control voltage sets said liquid crystal in said first light altering state such that light substantially cannot pass through said display system and wherein said second control voltage allows said liquid crystal to be set in said second light altering state such that light is capable of passing through said display system and wherein said display system further applies a third control voltage to said electrode after said first control voltage is applied to said electrode and before said electrode receives said second control voltage, wherein said third control voltage substantially holds said liquid crystal in substantially said first light altering state and said first control voltage rapidly places said liquid crystal in substantially said first light altering state.

40. A display system as in claim 39 wherein the application of said third control voltage and the application of said second plurality of pixel data values to said first plurality of pixel electrodes overlap at least partially in time.

41. A display system as in claim 24 wherein after said electrode receives said second control voltage, said electro-optic layer relaxes to a plurality of gray scale or color levels corresponding to said second plurality of pixel data values.

42. A display system as in claim 41 wherein for at least a set of pixels of said first plurality of pixel data values, said electro-optic layer has not reached a steady state display level specified by said first plurality of pixel data values when said first control voltage is applied.

43. A display system as in claim 24 further comprising an illuminator coupled to said display system, said illuminator providing at least one pulse of illumination which does not provide continuous illumination during the time that said second image is available for display.

44. A display system as in claim 43 wherein said second image is available for display while said second control voltage is applied.

45. A display system as in claim 40 further comprising:

a control device coupled to at least one of said pixel electrodes, said control device applying a first reference voltage to at least one of said pixel electrodes before said display system displays said second image, and wherein the application of said first reference voltage and the application of said first control voltage overlap at least partially in time.

47. A method as in claim 46 wherein a first image is represented by said first pixel data and a second image is represented by said second pixel data and wherein said first image comprises a first color subframe for a first color and said second image comprises a second color subframe for a second color and wherein said illumination color is said second color.

48. A method as in claim 47 wherein said display system illuminates said electro-optic layer in a time sequential color manner with said first color, said second color and a third color.

49. A method as in claim 48 wherein said display system illuminates said electro-optic layer with at least one pulse of said illumination color which does not provide continuous illumination during a time that said second pixel data is available for display.

50. A method as in claim 49 wherein said second pixel data is available for display while said second control voltage is applied.

51. A method as in claim 48 wherein said display system comprises a liquid crystal disposed on a reflective semiconductor substrate and said plurality of pixel electrodes are reflective surfaces disposed on said reflective semiconductor substrate.

52. A method as in claim 48 wherein said electro-optic layer comprises a liquid crystal material and wherein said liquid crystal has at least a first light altering state and a second light altering state and wherein said first control voltage sets said liquid crystal in said first light aftering state such that light substantially cannot pass through said display system and wherein said second control voltage allows said liquid crystal to be set in said second light altering state such that light is capable of passing through said display system and wherein said step of applying a first control voltage further comprises applying a third control voltage to said electrode after said first control voltage is applied to said electrode and before said step of applying said second control voltage, wherein said third control voltage substantially holds said liquid crystal in substantially said first light altering state and said first control voltage rapidly places said liquid crystal in substantially said first light altering state.

53. A method as in claim 52 wherein said third control voltage is determined by said illumination color.

54. A method as in claim 53 wherein said step of applying said third control voltage and said step of applying said second plurality of pixel data values overlap at least partially in time.

55. A method as in claim 46 wherein, after applying said second control voltage, said electro-optic layer relaxes to a plurality of gray scale or color levels corresponding to said second plurality of pixel data values and wherein a first capacitance between a pixel electrode and a reference electrode is larger than a second capacitance between said pixel electrode and said electrode.

56. A method as in claim 48 wherein for at least a set of pixels of said first pixel data, said electro-optic layer has not reached a steady state display level specified by said first pixel data when said first control voltage is applied.

57. A method as in claim 48 further comprising applying a first reference voltage to at least one of said pixel electrodes and wherein said applying said first reference voltage and said applying said first control voltage overlap at least partially in time.

58. A method as in claim 48 wherein said electrode is a cover glass electrode.

60. A display system as in claim 59 further comprising an illumination color dependent electrode driver coupled to said electrode, said illumination color dependent electrode driver determining for said illumination color said first control voltage and said second control voltage.

61. A display system as in claim 60 wherein said illumination color dependent electrode driver comprises a memory device which stores a lookup table which determines said second control voltage and said first control voltage for said illumination color.

62. A display system as in claim 59 further comprising an illumination color dependent pixel electrode driver coupled to said first plurality of pixel electrodes, said illumination color dependent pixel electrode driver determining for said illumination color said pixel data value.

63. A display system as in claim 60 further comprising an illumination color dependent pixel electrode driver coupled to said first plurality of pixel electrodes, said illumination color dependent pixel electrode driver determining for said illumination color said pixel data value.

64. A display system as in claim 63 wherein said illumination color dependent electrode driver comprises a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) which is coupled to said electrode and which converts digital values to analog values, wherein said analog values drive said electrode.

65. A display system as in claim 59 wherein said display system further comprises an illuminator which illuminates said electro-optic layer in a time sequential color manner with a first color, a second color and a third color.

66. A display system as in claim 65 wherein said first image comprises a first color subframe for said first color and said second image comprises a second color subframe for said second color and wherein said illumination color is said second color.

67. A display system as in claim 66 wherein said display system illuminates said electro-optic layer with at least one pulse of said illumination color which does not provide continuous illumination during a time that said second pixel data is available for display.

68. A display system as in claim 67 wherein said second pixel data is available for display while said second control voltage is applied to said electrode.

69. A display system as in claim 66 wherein said display system comprises a liquid crystal disposed on a reflective semiconductor substrate and said plurality of pixel electrodes are reflective surfaces disposed on said reflective semiconductor substrate.

70. A display system as in claim 66 wherein said electro-optic layer comprises a liquid crystal material and wherein said liquid crystal has at least a first light altering state and a second light altering state and wherein said first control voltage sets said liquid crystal in said first light altering state such that light substantially cannot pass through said display system and wherein said second control voltage allows said liquid crystal to be set in said second light altering state such that light is capable of passing through said display system and wherein said display system applies a third control voltage to said electrode after said first control voltage is applied to said electrode and before applying said second control voltage to said electrode, wherein said third control voltage substantially holds said liquid crystal in substantially said first light altering state and said first control voltage rapidly places said liquid crystal in substantially said first light altering state.

71. A display system as in claim 70 wherein said third control voltage is determined by said illumination color.

72. A display system as in claim 71 wherein application of said third control voltage and application of said second plurality of pixel data values overlap at least partially in time.

73. A display system as in claim 66 wherein, after said electrode receives said second control voltage, said electrooptic layer relaxes to a plurality of gray scale or color levels corresponding to said second plurality of pixel data values.

74. A display system as in claim 66 wherein for at least a set of pixels of said first pixel data, said electro-optic layer has not reached a steady state display level specified by said first pixel data when said first control voltage is applied.

75. A display system as in claim 66 further comprising a control device coupled to said electrode, said control device applies a first reference voltage to at least one of said pixel electrodes and wherein application of said first reference voltage and said applying said first control voltage overlap at least partially in time.

76. A display system as in claim 66 wherein said electrode is a cover glass electrode.

24. A display system comprising:

a first substrate having a first plurality of pixel electrodes for receiving a first plurality of pixel data values representative a first image to be displayed;

an electro-optic layer operatively coupled to said pixel electrodes;

an electrode operatively coupled to said electro-optic layer, said display system displaying said first image and then applying a first control voltage to said electrode to alter a state of said electro-optic layer such that said first image is substantially not displayed and then said display system displaying a second image represented by a second plurality of pixel data values after said electrode receives a second control voltage, and wherein a voltage difference between said first control voltage and said second control voltage is reduced to reduce capacitive shifting of said second plurality of pixel data values on said first plurality of pixel electrodes.

46. A method for operating a display system, said display system comprising a first substrate having a plurality of pixel electrodes, an electro-optic layer operatively coupled to said pixel electrodes and an electrode operatively coupled to said electrooptic layer, said method comprising:

applying a first plurality of pixel data values to said plurality of pixel electrodes such that a first pixel data represented by said first plurality of pixel data values is displayed;

applying a first control voltage to said electrode to alter a state of said electro-optic layer such that said first pixel data is substantially not displayed;

applying a second plurality of pixel data values to said plurality of pixel electrodes, said second plurality of pixel data values representing a second pixel data;

displaying said second pixel data by applying a second control voltage to said electrode to alter said state of said electro-optic layer such that said second pixel data is displayed, and wherein at least one of said first control voltage, said second control voltage, and a pixel data value of said second plurality of pixel data values is determined by an illumination color used in displaying said second pixel data.

59. A display system comprising:

a first substrate having a first plurality of pixel electrodes for receiving a first plurality of pixel data values representing a first image to be displayed;

an electro-optic layer operatively coupled to said pixel electrodes;

an electrode operatively coupled to said electro-optic layer, said display system displaying said first image and then applying a first control voltage to said electrode to alter a state of said electro-optic layer such that said first image is substantially not displayed and then said display system displaying a second image represented by a second plurality of pixel data values after said electrode receives a second control voltage, wherein at least one of said first control voltage, said second control voltage, and a pixel data value of said second plurality of pixel data values is determined by an illumination color used in displaying said second image.

77. A method for operating a display system, said display system comprising a first substrate having a plurality of pixel electrodes, an electro-optic layer operatively coupled to said pixel electrodes and an electrode operatively coupled to said electrooptic layer, said method comprising:

applying a first plurality of pixel data values to said plurality of pixel electrodes such that a first pixel data represented by said first plurality of pixel data values is displayed;

applying a first control voltage to said electrode to alter a state of said electrooptic layer such that said first pixel data is substantially not displayed;

applying a second plurality of pixel data values to said plurality of pixel electrodes, said second plurality of pixel data values representing a second pixel data;

displaying said second pixel data by applying a second control voltage to said electrode to alter said state of said electro-optic layer such that said second pixel data is displayed, wherein a first image is represented by said first pixel data and a second image is represented by said second pixel data and wherein over time said electrode receives a composite signal and wherein a first parameter of at least one of said first control voltage and said second control voltage is selected to provide an offset, for a portion of said composite signal, from a DC balanced signal over time with respect to a particular voltage.

78. A method as in claim 77 further comprising compensating for said offset by selecting a second parameter of at least one of said first control voltage and said second control voltage.

79. A method as in claim 78 wherein said compensating substantially provides said DC balanced signal over time with respect to said particular voltage for said composite signal.

80. A method as in claim 79 wherein said offset provides substantially uniform response of said electro-optic layer independent of a polarity of electric fields generated across said electro-optic layer by said pixel electrodes and said electrode.

81. A method as in claim 79 wherein a voltage difference between said first control voltage and said second control voltage is selected to reduce capacitive shifting of said second plurality of pixel data values on said plurality of pixel electrodes.

82. A method as in claim 79 wherein said first control voltage is one of a high extreme and a low extreme and wherein said second control voltage is one of a high view extreme or a low view extreme and wherein when a maximum voltage across said electro-optic layer is desired for a frame or a subframe, a pixel electrode voltage, corresponding to one of said second plurality of pixel data values, is one of a high pixel extreme voltage or a low pixel extreme voltage, and wherein, when said maximum voltage across said electro-optic layer is desired during display of said second pixel data, said pixel electrode voltage is substantially at said low pixel extreme voltage when said second control voltage is substantially at said high view extreme and said first control voltage, for said frame or said subframe, was previously at said high extreme.

83. A method as in claim 82 wherein, when said maximum voltage across said electro-optic layer is desired during display of said second pixel data, said pixel electrode voltage is substantially at said high pixel extreme voltage when said second control voltage is substantially at said low view extreme and said first control voltage, for said frame or said subframe, was previously at said low extreme.

84. A method as in claim 79 wherein at least one of said first control voltage, said second control voltage, and a pixel data value of said second plurality of pixel data values is determined by an illumination color used in displaying said second pixel data.

85. A method as in claim 82 wherein at least one of said first control voltage, said second control voltage, and a pixel data value of said second plurality of pixel data values is determined by an illumination color used in displaying said second pixel data.

86. A method as in claim 83 wherein at least one of said first control voltage, said second control voltage, and a pixel data value of said second plurality of pixel data values is determined by an illumination color used in displaying said second pixel data.

87. A method as in claim 85 wherein said first image comprises a first color subframe for a first color and said second image comprises a second color subframe for a second color which is said illumination color.

88. A method as in claim 79 wherein said step of applying said first control voltage and said step of applying said second plurality of pixel data values overlap at least partially in time.

89. A method as in claim 88 wherein said electrode is a cover glass electrode.

90. A method as in claim 89 wherein said display system comprises a liquid crystal disposed on a reflective semiconductor substrate and said plurality of pixel electrodes are disposed on said reflective semiconductor substrate.

91. A method as in claim 79 wherein said electro-optic layer comprises a liquid crystal material and wherein said liquid crystal has at least a first light altering state and a second light altering state and wherein said first control voltage sets said liquid crystal in said first light altering state such that light substantially cannot pass through said display system and wherein said second control voltage allows said liquid crystal to be set in said second light altering state such that light is capable of passing through said display system and wherein said step of applying a first control voltage further comprises applying a third control voltage to said electrode after said first control voltage is applied to said electrode and before said step of applying said second control voltage, wherein said third control voltage holds said liquid crystal in substantially said first light altering state and said first control voltage rapidly places said liquid crystal in substantially said first light altering state.

92. A method as in claim 91 wherein said step of applying said third control voltage and said step of applying said second plurality of pixel data values overlap at least partially in time.

93. A method as in claim 92 wherein said step of applying said third control voltage and said step of applying said second plurality of pixel data values occur substantially contemporaneously.

94. A method as in claim 77 wherein after applying said second control voltage, said electro-optic layer relaxes to a plurality of gray scale or color levels corresponding to said second plurality of pixel data values and wherein a first capacitance between a pixel electrode and a reference electrode is larger than a second capacitance between said pixel electrode and said electrode.

95. A method as in claim 94 wherein for at least a set of pixels of said first pixel data, said electro-optic layer has not reached a steady state display level specified by said first pixel data when said first control voltage is applied.

96. A method as in claim 79 further comprising illuminating said display system with at least one pulse of illumination which does not provide continuous illumination during the time that said second pixel data is available for display.

97. A method as in claim 96 wherein said second pixel data is available for display while said second control voltage is applied.

98. A method as in claim 92 further comprising applying a first reference voltage to at least one of said pixel electrodes and wherein said step of applying said first reference voltage and said step of applying a first control voltage overlap at least partially in time.

99. A display system comprising:

a first substrate having a first plurality of pixel electrodes for receiving a first plurality of pixel data values representing a first image to be displayed;

an electro-optic layer operatively coupled to said pixel electrodes;

an electrode operatively coupled to said electro-optic layer, said display system displaying said first image and then applying a first control voltage to said electrode to alter a state of said electro-optic layer such that said first image is substantially not displayed and then said display system displaying a second image represented by a second plurality of pixel data values after said electrode receives a second control voltage;

an electrode driver coupled to said electrode, wherein over time said electrode receives a composite signal and wherein a first parameter of at least one of said first control voltage and said second control voltage is selected to provide an offset, for a portion of said composite signal, from a DC balanced signal over time with respect to a particular voltage.

100. A display system as in claim 99 further comprising:

a compensator coupled to said electrode driver, said compensator compensating for said offset by selecting a second parameter of at least one of said first control voltage and said second control voltage.

101. A method as in claim 100 wherein said compensator comprises a lookup table and substantially provides said DC balanced signal over time with respect to said particular voltage for said composite signal.

102. A method as in claim 101 wherein said offset provides substantially uniform response of said electro-optic layer independent of a polarity of electric fields generated across said electro-optic layer by said pixel electrodes and said electrode.

103. A display system as in claim 101 wherein a voltage difference between said first control voltage and said second control voltage is selected to reduce capacitive shifting of said second plurality of pixel data values on said plurality of pixel electrodes.

104. A display system as in claim 101 wherein at least one of said first control voltage, said second control voltage, and a pixel data value of said second plurality of pixel data values is determined by an illumination color used in displaying said second pixel data.