Voltage selection circuit, electrophoretic display apparatus, and electronic device

• US 8,400,376 B2
• Filed: 02/05/2009
• Issued: 03/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: E Ink Corporation (E Ink Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Saito, Hidetoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Haley, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): HEYI, HENOK G
• Application Number:
  US12/366,103
• Publication Number:
  US 20090237333A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,503 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 345/76
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/0814 used for selection purposes, e.g. logical AND for partial update
• 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

Abstract

Provided is a voltage selection circuit for outputting a potential selected from a plurality of input potentials, the voltage selection circuit capable of selectively outputting a first high-level potential being a highest potential, a second high-level potential, or a third high-level potential being a lowest potential from an output terminal thereof. The voltage selection circuit includes a first switching circuit that supplies the first high-level potential to the output terminal, a second switching circuit that supplies the second high-level potential to the output terminal, and a third switching circuit that supplies the third high-level potential to the output terminal. The first switching circuit includes a high-voltage transistor and a level shifter connected to a gate terminal of the high-voltage transistor. The second switching circuit includes a first low-voltage transistor, a level shifter connected to a gate terminal of the first low-voltage transistor, and a diode disposed between the first low-voltage transistor and the output terminal. The third switching circuit includes a second low-voltage transistor and a diode disposed between the second low-voltage transistor and the output terminal.

Claims

1. A voltage selection circuit for outputting a potential selected from a plurality of input potentials, the voltage selection circuit capable of selectively outputting a first high-level potential being a highest potential, a second high-level potential, or a third high-level potential being a lowest potential from an output terminal thereof, the voltage selection circuit comprising:

a first switching circuit that supplies the first high-level potential to the output terminal;

a second switching circuit that supplies the second high-level potential to the output terminal; and

a third switching circuit that supplies the third high-level potential to the output terminal,

wherein the first switching circuit includes a high-voltage transistor and a first level shifter connected to a first gate terminal of the high-voltage transistor,

wherein the second switching circuit includes a first low-voltage transistor, a second level shifter connected to a second gate terminal of the first low-voltage transistor, and a first diode disposed between the first low-voltage transistor and the output terminal, and

wherein the third switching circuit includes a second low-voltage transistor and a second diode disposed between the second low-voltage transistor and the output terminal.

2. The voltage selection circuit according to claim 1, wherein the second level shifter includes a third low-voltage transistor.

3. An electrophoretic display apparatus comprising:

two substrates;

an electrophoretic element containing an electrophoretic particle and being sandwiched between the two substrates; and

a display portion including a plurality of pixels,

wherein each of the plurality of pixels includes a pixel electrode, a pixel switching element, and a latch circuit connected between the pixel electrode and the pixel switching element, and

wherein at least a power supply voltage of the latch circuit is supplied from the voltage selection circuit according to claim 1.

4. The electrophoretic display apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the third high-level potential is a voltage of a battery in a power supply system of the electrophoretic display apparatus.

5. An electronic device comprising the electrophoretic display apparatus according to claim 3.

6. An electrophoretic display apparatus comprising:

two substrates;

an electrophoretic element containing an electrophoretic particle and being sandwiched between the two substrates; and

a display portion including a plurality of pixels,

wherein each of the plurality of pixels includes a pixel electrode, a pixel switching element, and a latch circuit connected between the pixel electrode and the pixel switching element, and

wherein at least a power supply voltage of the latch circuit is supplied from a voltage selection circuit for outputting a potential selected from a plurality of input potentials to an output terminal, the voltage selection circuit capable of selectively outputting a first high-level potential being a highest potential, a second high-level potential, or a third high-level potential being a lowest potential from an output terminal thereof, the voltage selection circuit including;

a first switching circuit that supplies the first high-level potential to the output terminal;

a second switching circuit that supplies the second high-level potential to the output terminal; and

a third switching circuit that supplies the third high-level potential to the output terminal,

wherein the first switching circuit includes a high-voltage transistor and a first level shifter connected to a first gate terminal of the high-voltage transistor,

wherein the second switching circuit includes a first low-voltage transistor, a second level shifter connected to a second gate terminal of the first low-voltage transistor, and a first diode disposed between the first low-voltage transistor and the output terminal, and

wherein the third switching circuit includes a second low-voltage transistor and a second diode disposed between the second low-voltage transistor and the output terminal.