Abstract: Several possibilities of driving devices (13,14,15) for optical switches, especially displays (1) based on the principle of electrowetting are given. This principle uses optical switches comprising a first fluid (5) and a second fluid (6) immiscible with each other within a space between a first transparent support plate (3) and a second support plate (4), the second fluid being electro˜conductive or polar.

Abstract: A drive circuit for a bi-stable display comprises: a driver (101, 102) which supplies drive waveforms (DWk) to the pixels (Pij) of the display during an image update period (IUk) wherein the image presented by the pixels (Pij) is updated. A temperature sensing circuit senses the temperature of the display. A controller (103) controls the driver (101, 102) to supply, during the image update period (IUk) wherein a particular optical transition of a particular one of the pixels (Pij) is required, an associated one of the drive waveforms (DWk) to the particular one of the pixels (Pij). The associated one of the drive waveforms (DWk) comprises a sequence of a particular number of pulses (SPk), wherein consecutive ones of the pulses (SPk) of the sequence are separated by a non-zero separation period of time (SPT), during which period a voltage level is supplied which substantially keeps an optical state of the particular one of the pixels (Pij) unaltered.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel driving scheme for an electrophoretic display providing accurate intermediate optical states. According to the invention, the level of remnant voltage across pixels are taken into account when driving the display. Remnant voltage is built up when resetting the pixel between consecutive image states, and the reset states are therefore chosen so as to avoid the generation of excessive remnant voltage levels. The invention can for example be implemented using a counter, counting the number of consecutive uses of the same state as extreme state, or using a look-up-table in which driving history of the display is mapped and which determines the reset state to be used for the next reset based on the driving history. In effect, the threshold number of consecutive uses of the same state as a reset state is avoided.

Abstract: A display device comprises electrophoretic particles, a display element comprising a pixel electrode and a counter electrode between which a portion of the electrophoretic particles are present and a controller for supplying a drive signal to the electrodes to bring the display element in a predetermined black or white state, corresponding to the image information to be displayed. In order to improve the refresh time of the display, the controller is further arranged for supplying a preset signal preceding the drive signal comprising a preset pulse having an energy sufficient to release the electrophoretic particles at a first position near one of the two electrodes corresponding to a black state, but too low to enable the particles to reach a second position near the other electrode corresponding to a white state. The duration of the preset pulses is less than 19 msec, preferably between 1 and 10 msec. Setting the duration of the preset pulses to less than 19 msec reduced visible flicker F.

Abstract: A touch sensitive display comprises pixels (18), each of the pixels (18) have a pixel electrode (22). An optical state of a pixel (18) depends on a drive voltage (VD) supplied to the pixel electrode (22). A touch sensitive elements (S1) is arranged between the pixel electrode (22) and a further electrode (40;17). The touch sensitive element (S1) has an impedance dependent on a mechanical force applied to it.

Abstract: The electrophoretic display panel (1), for displaying a picture corresponding to image information, has drive means (100) which are arranged for controlling the potential difference of each picture element (2) to be a reset potential difference having a reset value and a reset duration for enabling particles (6) to substantially occupy one of the extreme positions, and subsequently to be a picture potential difference for enabling the particles (6) to occupy the position corresponding to the image information. For the display panel (1) to be able to provide a relatively high picture quality, the drive means (100) are further arranged for controlling the reset potential difference of each picture element (2) of at least a number of the picture elements (2) to have an additional reset duration.