Electrophoretic display employing gray scale capability utilizing area modulation
First Claim
1. Apparatus for providing grey scale capability for an electrophoretic display (EPID), wherein said electrophoretic display is an X-Y addressable display with each X-Y coordinate indicative of a given column and row intersection, with each X-Y coordinate defining a pixel, which pixel when energized provides a different intensity display as compared to a non-energized pixel comprising:
- means coupled to said display for impressing upon said display of plurality of predetermined digital patterns that are independent of data or an image written on said display to cause said pixels in said display to be energized with respect to other pixels in said display according to a selected one of such patterns, said energized pixels being of same intensity as those pixels of an image on said display and each of said predetermined digital patterns being distinct and arranged in repetitive configurations that produce different grey scale levels, whereby the area about said image is effectively modulated according to said pattern to vary the contrast of said image with respect to the display background.
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Abstract
A apparatus provides grey scale capability for an electrophoretic information display. The electrophoretic information display is an XY addressable display with each XY coordinate indicative of a given column and row and defining a pixel. There are described various circuit configurations coupled to the display for impressing upon the display a predetermined digital pattern to cause certain pixels in the display to be energized with respect to other pixels in the display where the combination due to the digital pattern causes a desired grey scale level to appear on a character or on the background of the display.
183 Citations
14 Claims
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1. Apparatus for providing grey scale capability for an electrophoretic display (EPID), wherein said electrophoretic display is an X-Y addressable display with each X-Y coordinate indicative of a given column and row intersection, with each X-Y coordinate defining a pixel, which pixel when energized provides a different intensity display as compared to a non-energized pixel comprising:
means coupled to said display for impressing upon said display of plurality of predetermined digital patterns that are independent of data or an image written on said display to cause said pixels in said display to be energized with respect to other pixels in said display according to a selected one of such patterns, said energized pixels being of same intensity as those pixels of an image on said display and each of said predetermined digital patterns being distinct and arranged in repetitive configurations that produce different grey scale levels, whereby the area about said image is effectively modulated according to said pattern to vary the contrast of said image with respect to the display background. - View Dependent Claims (2, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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3. The apparatus according to claim wherein said digital pattern is impressed on said display by means of AND logic means to cause characters as written on said display to exhibit said grey scale level with respect to the background of said display.
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8. A method of providing grey scale capability for an electrophotographic information display (EPID) of the type employing pixel selection, comprising the steps of:
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storing a plurality of digital patterns with each said digital pattern being distinct and arranged in repetitive configurations that produce different grey scale levels, said stored patterns capable when applied to an electrophotographic display to cause said pixels in said display to be energized with respect to other pixels in said display in accordance with a desired grey scale level and with each said energized pixel being of same intensity as those pixels of an image on said display, and selecting a stored pattern for application to said display be means independent of data or an image written on said display to cause said display to exhibit said grey scale level, whereby the area about said image is effectively modulated according to said pattern to vary the contrast of said image with respect to the display background. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 12, 13, 14)
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11. The method according to Clam 10 wherein said different intensity background is indicative of white.
Specification