Abstract: An electro-optic display comprising, in order: a light-transmissive layer of conductive material; a layer of bistable electro-optic medium; a layer of light-shielding material; a plurality of pixel electrodes; a layer of photoconductive material; and one or more light emitters. In one exemplary embodiment, the layer of photoconductive material is adapted to bridge a gap between an address line and at least one of the pixel electrodes when the photoconductive material is in a low impedance state. In another, non-exclusive embodiment, the electro-optic display further comprises a second electrode layer between the layer of photoconductive material and the one or more light emitters and a driver adapted to apply voltage between the light-transmissive layer of conductive material and the second electrode layer.

Abstract: Methods for driving electro-optic displays including updating a first portion of the display using a drive scheme, the drive scheme configured to display white text on a black background; performing a time delay subsequent to the updating the first portion of the display; and updating a second portion of the display using the drive scheme to create a swiping motion across the display.

Abstract: Methods for driving an electro-optic display having a plurality of display pixels and each of the plurality of display pixels is associated with a display transistor, the method includes applying a first voltage to a transistor associated with a display pixel for a first duration of time to drain remnant voltages from the display pixel, applying a second voltage to the transistor for a second duration of time to stop the draining of remnant voltages from the display pixel, and applying a third voltage to the transistor for a third duration of time to drain remnant voltages from the display pixel.

Abstract: An electro-optic display having a plurality of display pixels, each of the plurality of display pixels comprising: a pixel electrode for driving the display pixel; a thin film transistor (TFT) coupled to the pixel electrode for transmitting waveforms to the pixel electrode; a resistor coupled to the pixel electrode for discharging remnant charges from the display subsequent to the TFT being de-activated; and a storage capacitor coupled to the pixel electrode and placed in parallel with the resistor. A time constant of a circuit comprising the pixel electrode, the resistor, and the storage capacitor is larger than a driving frame time of the electro-optic display.

Abstract: An apparatus for driving an electro-optic display may comprise a first switch designed to supply a voltage to the electro-optic display during a first driving phase, a second switch designed to control the voltage during a second driving phase and a resistor coupled to the first and second switches for controlling the rate of decay of the voltage during the second driving phase.

Abstract: This invention provides methods of and related apparatus for driving an electro-optic display having a plurality of pixels. The method includes dividing the plurality of pixels into n groups, where n is an integer larger than 1, applying a full clearing waveform to at least one group of the n groups of pixels, and applying a top off waveform to cardinal pixels of the at least one group of pixels.

Abstract: Layered dielectric materials for use in controlling dielectric strength in microelectronic devices, especially as they relate to electrophoretic and electrowetting applications. Specifically, a combination of a first atomic layer deposition (ALD) step, a sputtering step, and a second ALD step result in a layer that is chemically robust and nearly pinhole free. The dielectric layer may be disposed on the transparent common electrode of an electrophoretic display or covering the pixelated backplane electrodes, or both.

Abstract: A thin film transistor (TFT) backplane comprising a plurality of electrodes. Each of the plurality of electrodes is coupled to circuitry comprising: a first thin film transistor (TFT) coupled to the electrode for transmitting waveforms to the electrode, and a second TFT coupled to the electrode for discharging remnant charges from the electrode, wherein the second TFT is activated subsequent to the first TFT being deactivated.

Abstract: An apparatus for driving an electro-optic display may comprise a first switch designed to supply a voltage to the electro-optic display during a first driving phase, a second switch designed to control the voltage during a second driving phase and a resistor coupled to the first and second switches for controlling the rate of decay of the voltage during the second driving phase.

Abstract: An electro-optic display comprising, in order: a light-transmissive layer of conductive material; a layer of bistable electro-optic medium; a layer of light-shielding material; a plurality of pixel electrodes; a layer of photoconductive material; and one or more light emitters. In one exemplary embodiment, the layer of photoconductive material is adapted to bridge a gap between an address line and at least one of the pixel electrodes when the photoconductive material is in a low impedance state. In another, non-exclusive embodiment, the electro-optic display further comprises a second electrode layer between the layer of photoconductive material and the one or more light emitters and a driver adapted to apply voltage between the light-transmissive layer of conductive material and the second electrode layer.

Abstract: A thin film transistor (TFT) backplane comprising a plurality of electrodes. Each of the plurality of electrodes is coupled to circuitry comprising: a first thin film transistor (TFT) coupled to the electrode for transmitting waveforms to the electrode, and a second TFT coupled to the electrode for discharging remnant charges from the electrode, wherein the second TFT is activated subsequent to the first TFT being deactivated.

Abstract: An electro-optic display having an electrophoretic material configured for displaying images, and an active component coupled to the electrophoretic material for discharging charges within the electrophoretic material.

Abstract: Electro-optic displays with reduced remnant voltage, and related apparatus and methods are provided. A remnant voltage of a pixel of an electro-optic display may be discharged by activating the pixel's transistor and setting the voltages of the front and rear electrodes of the pixel to approximately the same voltage for a specified period of time, and/or until the amount of remnant voltage remaining in the pixel is less than a threshold amount. The remnant voltages of substantially all pixels or a subset of pixels in an active matrix electro-optic display may be simultaneously discharged. The simultaneous discharge of the remnant voltages of pixels may take place when the pixels are in a same state, characterized by (1) the transistor of each pixel being active, and (2) the voltages applied to the front and rear electrodes of each pixel being approximately equal.

Abstract: A method for driving an electro-optic display having a front electrode and a rear electrode, a display medium position between the front and rear electrode, and a transistor coupled to the rear electrode, the driving method may include applying a first voltage to the front electrode and a second voltage to the rear electrode, applying a third voltage to the front and rear electrodes to create a substantially zero volt potential across the display medium, wherein the third voltage is of a magnitude insufficient to create a leakage current of sufficient magnitude in the transistor to cause an optical effect on the display, and applying a fourth voltage to the front electrode and a fifth voltage to the rear electrode.

Abstract: An electro-optic display including an array of pixel electrodes, where each row of pixel electrodes is associated with a source line, and that source line is connected to a drive chip with a T-wire that connects from the back of the substrate to the front of the substrate through a via. The vias are spaced out, such as in a zig-zag pattern or a pseudo-random pattern to reduce the capacitive coupling between the T-wires when adjacent pixels are driven, for example when presenting text characters.

Abstract: A variety of methods for driving electro-optic displays so as to reduce visible artifacts are described. Such methods includes driving an electro-optic display having a plurality of display pixels and controlled by a display controller, the display controller associated with a host for providing operational instructions to the display controller, the method may include updating the display with a first image, updating the display with a second image subsequent to the first image, processing image data associated with the first image and the second image to identify display pixels with edge artifacts and generate image data associated with the identified pixels, storing the image data associated pixels with edge artifacts at a memory location, and initiating a waveform to clear the edge artifacts.

Abstract: A variety of methods for driving electro-optic displays so as to reduce visible artifacts are described. Such methods includes updating a display having a plurality of display pixels with a first image, identifying display pixels with edge artifacts after the first image update, and storing the identified display pixels information in a memory.

Abstract: This invention provides methods of and related apparatus for driving an electro-optic display having a plurality of pixels to display white text on a black background (“dark mode”) while reducing edge artifacts, ghosting and flashy updates. The present invention reduces the accumulation of edge artifacts by applying a special waveform transition to edge regions according to an algorithm along with methods to manage the DC imbalance introduced by the special transition. Edge artifact clearing may be achieved by identifying specific edge pixels to receive a special transition called an inverted top-off pulse (“iTop Pulse”) and, since the iTop Pulse is DC imbalanced, to subsequently discharge remnant voltage from the display.

Abstract: An electro-optic display having an electrophoretic material configured for displaying images, and an active component coupled to the electrophoretic material for discharging charges within the electrophoretic material.

Abstract: This invention provides methods of and related apparatus for driving an electro-optic display having a plurality of pixels. The method includes dividing the plurality of pixels into n groups, where n is an integer larger than 1, applying a full clearing waveform to at least one group of the n groups of pixels, and applying a top off waveform to cardinal pixels of the at least one group of pixels.