Methods for controlling electro-optic displays

• US 7,545,358 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2006
• Issued: 06/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: E Ink Corporation (E Ink Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: E Ink Corporation (E Ink Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Gates, Holly G., Amundson, Karl R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe; Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Amadiz; Rodney
• Application Number:
  US11/307,979
• Publication Number:
  US 20060181492A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,196 Days
• Field of Search: 345 84-107, 345211-212, 349/86, 349/89, 340/627, 359/296
• US Class Current: 345/107
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/0473 Use of light emitting or modulating elements having two or more stable states when no power is applied
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/08 Active matrix structure, i.e. with use of active elements, inclusive of non-linear two terminal elements, in the pixels together with light emitting or modulating elements
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/0275 Details of drivers for data electrodes, other than drivers for liquid crystal, plasma or OLED displays, not related to handling digital grey scale data or to communication of data to the pixels by means of a current
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0219 Reducing feedthrough effects in active matrix panels, i.e. voltage changes on the scan electrode influencing the pixel voltage due to capacitive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/20 for presentation of an assembly of a number of characters, e.g. a page, by composing the assembly by combination of individual elements arranged in a matrix no fixed position being assigned to or needed to be assigned to the individual characters or partial characters
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/34 by control of light from an independent source
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/344 based on particles moving in a fluid or in a gas, e.g. electrophoretic devices electrophoretic devices per se G02F1/167
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3651 using multistable liquid crystals, e.g. ferroelectric liquid crystals
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3655 Details of drivers for counter electrodes, e.g. common electrodes for pixel capacitors or supplementary storage capacitors

Abstract

An electro-optic display comprises a bistable electro-optic medium, a plurality of pixel electrodes, with associated non-linear elements, and a common electrode, disposed on opposed sides of the electro-optic medium. The display has a writing mode, in which at least two different voltages are applied to different pixel electrodes, and a non-writing mode in which the voltages applied to the pixel electrodes are controlled so that any image previously written on the electro-optic medium is substantially maintained. The display is arranged to apply to the common electrode a first voltage when the display is in its writing mode and a second voltage, different from the first voltage, when the display is in its non-writing mode.

Claims

1. An electro-optic display comprising:

a layer of a bistable electro-optic medium;

a plurality of pixel electrodes disposed on one side of the layer of electro-optic medium, at least one of the pixel electrodes being a sensor pixel electrode;

at least one non-linear element associated with each pixel electrode;

pixel drive means arranged to apply voltages to the pixel electrodes via the non-linear elements, the pixel drive means being arranged to apply a predetermined voltage to the input of the non-linear element associated with the at least one sensor pixel electrode;

a common electrode on the opposed side of the layer of electro-optic medium from the pixel electrodes; and

measuring means arranged to receive the predetermined voltage and the voltage on the at least one sensor pixel electrode and to determine the difference therebetween.

2. An electro-optic display according to claim 1 wherein the layer of electro-optic medium comprises a rotating bichromal member or electrochromic display medium.

3. An electro-optic display according to claim 1 wherein the layer of electro-optic medium comprises a particle-based electrophoretic material comprising a suspending fluid and a plurality of electrically charged particles suspended in the suspending fluid and capable of moving therethrough on application of an electric field to the electrophoretic material.

4. An electro-optic display according to claim 3 wherein the electrophoretic material is an encapsulated electrophoretic material in which the suspending fluid and the electrically charged particles and encapsulated within a plurality of capsules, each of the capsules having a capsule wall.

5. An electro-optic display according to claim 3 wherein the suspending fluid and the electrically charged particles are retained within a plurality of cells formed in a substrate.

6. An electro-optic display comprising:

a layer of a bistable electro-optic medium;

a plurality of pixel electrodes disposed on one side of the layer of electro-optic medium;

at least one non-linear element associated with each pixel electrode;

pixel drive means arranged to apply voltages to the pixel electrodes via the non-linear elements;

a common electrode on the opposed side of the layer of electro-optic medium from the pixel electrodes;

a common electrode voltage supply line arranged to supply at least one voltage;

switching means connecting the voltage supply line to the common electrode, the switching means having an operating condition in which the voltage supply line is connected to the common electrode, and a testing condition in which the voltage supply is disconnected from the common electrode, thereby allowing the voltage on the common electrode to float,

the pixel drive means being arranged to supply a single predetermined voltage via the non-linear elements to all the pixel electrodes when the switching means is in its testing condition,

the display further comprising measuring means arranged to receive the single predetermined voltage and the voltage on the common electrode when the switching means is in its testing condition and to determine the difference therebetween.

7. An electro-optic display according to claim 6 wherein the layer of electro-optic medium comprises a rotating bichromal member or electrochromic display medium.

8. An electro-optic display according to claim 6 wherein the layer of electro-optic medium comprises a particle-based electrophoretic material comprising a suspending fluid and a plurality of electrically charged particles suspended in the suspending fluid and capable of moving therethrough on application of an electric field to the electrophoretic material.

9. An electro-optic display according to claim 8 wherein the electrophoretic material is an encapsulated electrophoretic material in which the suspending fluid and the electrically charged particles and encapsulated within a plurality of capsules, each of the capsules having a capsule wall.

10. An electro-optic display according to claim 8 wherein the suspending fluid and the electrically charged particles are retained within a plurality of cells formed in a substrate.

11. An electro-optic display according to claim 6 wherein the measuring means comprises an analog sample-and-hold circuit.

12. An electro-optic display according to claim 6 wherein the measuring means comprises a digital/analog converter arranged to supply a plurality of output voltages, a comparator for comparing each of the output voltages separately the voltage on the common electrode when the switching means is in its testing condition, and to determine the two output voltages between which the output from the comparator changes sign.

13. A method of operating an electro-optic display comprising:

a layer of a bistable electro-optic medium;

a plurality of pixel electrodes disposed on one side of the layer of electro-optic medium;

at least one non-linear element associated with each pixel electrode;

pixel drive means arranged to apply voltages to the pixel electrodes via the non-linear elements;

a single common electrode on the opposed side of the layer of electro-optic medium from the pixel electrodes;

the method comprising;

applying by means of the pixel drive means a predetermined voltage to all the pixel electrodes of the display;

storing a value representative of the difference between the predetermined voltage and the voltage appearing on the single common electrode during application of the predetermined voltage to the pixel electrodes; and

thereafter applying to the single common electrode a voltage dependent upon the stored value, while applying the pixel electrodes voltages which cause an image to be written upon the electro-optic medium.

14. A method according to claim 13 wherein the layer of electro-optic medium comprises a rotating bichromal member or electrochromic display medium.

15. A method according to claim 13 wherein the layer of electro-optic medium comprises a particle-based electrophoretic material comprising a suspending fluid and a plurality of electrically charged particles suspended in the suspending fluid and capable of moving therethrough on application of an electric field to the electrophoretic material.

16. A method according to claim 15 wherein the electrophoretic material is an encapsulated electrophoretic material in which the suspending fluid and the electrically charged particles and encapsulated within a plurality of capsules, each of the capsules having a capsule wall.

17. A method according to claim 15 wherein the suspending fluid and the electrically charged particles are retained within a plurality of cells formed in a substrate.

20. A method according to claim 13 wherein the display further comprises a digital analog converter arranged to supply a plurality of voltages, and wherein the voltage appearing on the common electrode during application of the predetermined voltage to the pixel electrodes is compared with said plurality of voltages, and there are determined the two voltages closest to the voltage appearing on the common electrode, and thereafter one of said two voltages is applied to the common electrode while applying to the pixel electrodes voltages which cause an image to be written upon the electro-optic medium.

18. A method of operating an electro-optic display comprising:

a layer of a bistable electro-optic medium;

a plurality of pixel electrodes disposed on one side of the layer of electro-optic medium;

at least one non-linear element associated with each pixel electrode;

pixel drive means arranged to apply voltages to the pixel electrodes via the non-linear elements;

a common electrode on the opposed side of the layer of electro-optic medium from the pixel electrodes;

the method comprising;

applying by means of the pixel drive means a predetermined voltage to all the pixel electrodes of the display;

storing a value representative of the difference between the predetermined voltage and the voltage appearing on the common electrode during application of the predetermined voltage to the pixel electrodes; and

thereafter applying to the common electrode a voltage dependent upon the stored value, while applying the pixel electrodes voltages which cause an image to be written upon the electro-optic medium,

wherein said value is stored in an analog sample-and-hold circuit.

19. A method according to claim 18 wherein the analog sample-and-hold circuit comprises a capacitor arranged to receive the voltage appearing on the common electrode during application of the predetermined voltage to the pixel electrodes, and wherein the voltage stored on the capacitor is applied to the common electrode while applying to the pixel electrodes voltages which cause an image to be written upon the electro-optic medium.