METHODS FOR DRIVING ELECTRO-OPTIC DISPLAYS

• US 20170045965A1
• Filed: 10/28/2016
• Published: 02/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: E Ink Holdings Incorporated
• Original Assignee: E Ink Holdings Incorporated
• Inventors: SJODIN, Theodore A., BEN-DOV, Yuval, LIN, Jason, AMUNDSON, Karl Raymond, ALMON, Michael Patrick, ENXING, Hugh M., O'MALLEY, Timothy J., CROUNSE, Kenneth R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,996,195 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/005 based on electrowetting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/02 Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/042 by opto-electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/06 Details of flat display driving waveforms
• 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 3/348 based on the deformation of a fluid drop, e.g. electrowetting

Abstract

A touch screen electro-optic display is arranged such that upon a touch being detected on the display surface, the display surface surrounding the touch “blinks” by being driven to a different optical state, then back to its original state. A second method uses a display having a pen or stylus which can draw lines upon the display. A first line segment is detected and its area updated using a first drive scheme having short waveforms. The area of a second line segment is updated using the first drive scheme. Thereafter, the areas of both line segments are updated using a second drive scheme different from the first drive scheme.

Claims

1. A method of driving an electro-optic display provided with drawing means arranged to draw a line upon the display, the method comprising:

detecting a first line segment drawn on the display by the drawing means;

updating the area of the first line segment using a first drive scheme having waveforms shorter than the period required to completely switch the display between its extreme optical states;

detecting a second line segment drawn on the display by the drawing means, the second line segment not overlapping the first line segment;

updating the area of the second line segment using a first drive scheme; and

after the areas of both the first and second line segments have been updated using the first drive scheme, updating the areas of both the first and second line segments using a second drive scheme different from the first drive scheme.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the second drive scheme has a maximum update time longer than that of the first drive scheme.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein, after the areas of both the first and second line segments have been updated using the first drive scheme, the areas of both the first and second line segments are updated using a third drive scheme different from both the first and second drive schemes.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the display comprises a rotating bichromal member, electrochromic or electro-wetting material.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the display comprises an electrophoretic material comprising a plurality of electrically charged particles disposed in a fluid and capable of moving through the fluid under the influence of an electric field.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein the electrically charged particles and the fluid are confined within a plurality of capsules or microcells.

7. A method according to claim 5 wherein the electrically charged particles and the fluid are present as a plurality of discrete droplets surrounded by a continuous phase comprising a polymeric material.

8. A method according to claim 5 wherein the fluid is gaseous.

9. An electro-optic display or display controller arranged to carry out the method of claim 1.