Abstract: An electrowetting display device comprising an electrowetting element comprising a control system, a first fluid, a second fluid immiscible with the first fluid, and a first and second support plate. A first and second electrode are, respectively, overlapped by a first and second portion of a surface of the first support plate. The control system is operable to apply a sequence of voltages, comprising a first voltage between the second fluid and the first electrode and a second voltage between the second fluid and the second electrode, to configure the first fluid to a plurality of configurations, each of the plurality of different configurations respectively corresponding to the same grey level.

Abstract: An electrowetting display device comprising an electrowetting element comprising a control system, a first fluid, a second fluid immiscible with the first fluid, and a first and second support plate. A first and second electrode are, respectively, overlapped by a first and second portion of a surface of the first support plate. The control system is operable to, in response to input data indicative of a grey level and with the first fluid in a retracted configuration and at least partly in contact with the first portion, apply a first voltage between the second fluid and the first electrode to translate the first fluid from the retracted configuration to contact the second portion over a first area, and apply a second voltage between the second fluid and the second electrode to retract the first fluid to contact the second portion over a second area smaller than the first area.

Abstract: An electrowetting display device comprising an electrowetting element comprising a control system, a first fluid, a second fluid immiscible with the first fluid, and a first and second support plate. A first and second electrode are, respectively, overlapped by a first and second portion of a surface of the first support plate. The control system is operable to, in response to input data indicative of a first grey level, apply a first voltage between the second fluid and the first electrode such that the second fluid is in contact with at least part of the first portion and, subsequently, apply a second voltage between the second fluid and the second electrode to translate the first fluid such that the second fluid is in contact with at least part of the second portion.

Abstract: A display device or optical switch, based on layer break up or layer displacement having at least two different states, in which one fluid, e.g., oil, in a first state adjoins at least a first support plate, and in a second state another fluid at least partly adjoins the first support plate. Sub-picture elements are separated by areas having a hydrophilic surface.

Abstract: A method of controlling an electrowetting element. The method includes receiving first data indicative of a first display effect. Using the first data, a first magnitude of a first voltage is determined. The first voltage with the first magnitude is generated and applied to the electrowetting element. Second data indicative of a second display effect different from the first display effect is received. Using the second data, a second magnitude of a second voltage is determined. The second magnitude is equal to the first magnitude. The second voltage with the second magnitude is generated and applied to the electrowetting element.

Abstract: An electrowetting element comprises a first fluid and a second fluid immiscible with the first fluid. A first support plate comprises a first substrate; an electrode; and a layer in contact with at least one of the first fluid or the second fluid. A second support plate comprises a second substrate. One of the first support plate or the second support plate comprises a resist structure protruding in a direction towards the other one of the first support plate or the second support plate. The resist structure comprises a polymer nanocomposite material.

Abstract: A display apparatus comprises an electrowetting picture element with a first support plate with a first support plate portion comprising a layer substantially non-transmissive for light and second support plate portion substantially non-absorbing for light. A display controller is configured to control a display effect of the electrowetting picture element between a dark and light display effect, and, responsive to input data corresponding to the dark display effect, output at least one signal to a driver corresponding to the dark display effect. The driver is configured to, responsive to the at least one signal output by the display controller, apply a first, non-zero, voltage to the electrowetting picture element to switch a first and a second fluid of the electrowetting picture element to a first configuration with the first fluid and the second fluid in contact with a first surface of the first support plate portion and the first fluid in contact with a second surface of the second support plate portion.

Abstract: An electrowetting display device includes a control system for changing a configuration of first, second and third fluids by applying a voltage level of a first voltage to a first electrode and by applying a voltage level of a second voltage to a second electrode. The voltage level of the first voltage is selected from a first plurality of voltage levels and the voltage level of the second voltage is selected from a second plurality of voltage levels, the second plurality of voltage levels comprising fewer voltage levels than the first plurality of voltage levels.

Abstract: A method of controlling an electrowetting element. The method includes receiving first data indicative of a first display effect. Using the first data, a first magnitude of a first voltage is determined. The first voltage with the first magnitude is generated and applied to the electrowetting element. Second data indicative of a second display effect different from the first display effect is received. Using the second data, a second magnitude of a second voltage is determined. The second magnitude is equal to the first magnitude. The second voltage with the second magnitude is generated and applied to the electrowetting element.

Abstract: An electrowetting element includes a first fluid and a second fluid and a support plate having a first surface adjoining less than all of a perimeter of a second surface. The first surface has a wettability for the first fluid lower than a wettability of the second surface for the first fluid. An electrode is associated with the support plate for use in applying a voltage for switching the first and second fluids between a first configuration with the first fluid adjoining a first area of the second surface; and a second configuration with the first fluid adjoining a second area of the second surface, the second area being smaller than the first area.

Abstract: A method of providing a layer of a first fluid and a layer of a second fluid on a first area of a support plate of an electrowetting device includes providing an emulsion of dispersed first fluid and continuous second fluid, the emulsion including an amount of the second fluid for forming the layer of the second fluid.

Abstract: A method of driving an electrowetting display device that includes a display element having a cavity; a first fluid and a second fluid within the cavity, the first fluid being immiscible with the second fluid; a surface facing the cavity; and a first electrode. The display device includes a control system for applying a voltage to the first electrode to provide a display state in response to a signal level of the voltage, wherein the control system is arranged to configure the signal level throughout a display period such that the second fluid adjoins at least a minimum area of the surface, the minimum area being greater than a zero area. The method includes applying at least one display signal level during the display period, the at least one display signal level configured such that the first fluid and the second fluid adjoin the surface throughout the display period.

Abstract: An optical switch, e.g. a display cell based on layer displacement or layer break up having at least two different states, in which one of the fluids e.g. oil in a first state adjoins at least a first support plate and in the second state the other fluid at least partly adjoins the first support plate. Part of an otherwise homogeneous electrode is removed to realize oil motion control.

Abstract: A display apparatus comprises an electrowetting picture element with a first support plate with a first support plate portion comprising a layer substantially non-transmissive for light and second support plate portion substantially non-absorbing for light. A display controller is configured to control a display effect of the electrowetting picture element between a dark and light display effect, and, responsive to input data corresponding to the dark display effect, output at least one signal to a driver corresponding to the dark display effect. The driver is configured to, responsive to the at least one signal output by the display controller, apply a first, non-zero, voltage to the electrowetting picture element to switch a first and a second fluid of the electrowetting picture element to a first configuration with the first fluid and the second fluid in contact with a first surface of the first support plate portion and the first fluid in contact with a second surface of the second support plate portion.

Abstract: A method of driving an electrowetting display device including at least one pixel, the method comprising: applying a first pixel voltage to the pixel during a first portion of the display period; and applying a second pixel voltage to the pixel during a second portion of the display period, the first and second pixel voltages corresponding to a display state of the pixel, and the first pixel voltage and the second pixel voltage having different polarities.

Abstract: A display apparatus includes an electrowetting display device having at least one picture element with a display area. The display area has an active area and a different, inactive area and a display controller controls a display effect of the picture element in a range between a dark state and a light state, with a three-phase line between a first fluid, a second fluid and a first support plate of the picture element being completely in the inactive area for a first applied voltage corresponding to the dark state.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a support plate including: providing a layer of a first material; providing, using an applied voltage, a layer of a second material on a surface of the layer of the first material; and exposing a part of the surface by removing a part of the layer of the second material.

Abstract: An electrowetting display device includes a greyscale picture element layer having at least one first picture element having a first fluid configurable to provide a greyscale display state, and a color picture element layer having at least one second picture element having a second fluid configurable to provide a color display state.

Abstract: The subject matter disclosed herein relates to an electrowetting display comprising pixels that include colored subpixels that comprise: a colored reflective layer on a support plate; an electrode; a hydrophobic layer; and a liquid region including an electrolyte, and dark electrowetting oil and white electrowetting oil both being immiscible with the electrolyte. A coverage area of the dark electrowetting oil on the hydrophobic layer and a coverage area of the white electrowetting oil on the hydrophobic layer are individually electronically adjustable to affect light transmission to the colored reflective material.

Abstract: A display device or optical switch, based on layer break up or layer displacement having at least two different states, in which one fluid, e.g., oil, in a first state adjoins at least a first support plate, and in a second state another fluid at least partly adjoins the first support plate. Sub-picture elements are separated by areas having a hydrophilic surface.