Abstract: An electrowetting element comprising: a first fluid and a second fluid immiscible with the first fluid; and a surface. The first and second fluids are switchable to a first configuration by application of a voltage, the first fluid adjoining a first area of the surface and the second fluid adjoining a second area of the surface in the first configuration. The electrowetting element includes at least one reconfiguration reducer for reducing a reconfiguration of the first and second fluids from the first configuration to a second configuration. The second configuration has the first fluid adjoining the second area and the second fluid adjoining the first area, there being a tendency for said reconfiguration to occur when maintaining said applied voltage.

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 display device comprising picture elements, which are constituted by electrowetting elements having at least one first fluid and a second fluid immiscible with each other within a space between a first support plate and a second support plate, the second fluid being electro-conductive or polar. The first fluid in each element is at the side of the first support plate confined by element walls, and the second fluid is shared by a plurality of picture elements, characterized by a preventer for preventing first fluid portions from being expelled from its confinement when forces other than electrowetting forces are exerted on this fluid.

Abstract: An electrowetting system includes an electrowetting element having a first fluid and a second, immiscible fluid. The configuration of the fluids is dependent on the voltage applied to the element, the voltage being appliable upon closing a switch. With the switch being open, the voltage on the element is substantially maintainable for a period of time which is shorter than or equal to a relaxation time period of the element due to backflow.

Abstract: An electrowetting element comprising: a first fluid and a second fluid immiscible with the first fluid; and a surface. The first and second fluids are switchable to a first configuration by application of a voltage, the first fluid adjoining a first area of the surface and the second fluid adjoining a second area of the surface in the first configuration. The electrowetting element includes at least one reconfiguration reducer for reducing a reconfiguration of the first and second fluids from the first configuration to a second configuration. The second configuration has the first fluid adjoining the second area and the second fluid adjoining the first area, there being a tendency for said reconfiguration to occur when maintaining said applied voltage.

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: An electrowetting element includes a first fluid and a second fluid immiscible with the first fluid, as well as a surface, wherein display effects depend on an extent that the first and second fluids adjoin the surface, in dependence on applied voltage. Operation includes receiving data representing a first display effect for display; receiving data representing a subsequent display effect for display after display of the first display effect; comparing data representing the first display effect with data representing said subsequent display effect to determine a difference indicative of a change of the extent the second fluid adjoins the surface between display of the first display effect and display of the subsequent display effect; and depending on said difference, selectively outputting data for driving the electrowetting element to display a different display effect, instead of the subsequent display effect, consecutively after displaying the first display effect.

Abstract: Optical apparatus for a display device. The optical apparatus comprises a cavity, and a first fluid (14) and a second fluid (16), held within the cavity, which are immiscible with each other. The first and second fluids are separated from each other by a meniscus (28) having a peripheral edge (30). The optical apparatus further comprises a fluid motion control system arranged to control movement of the first and second fluids within the cavity using electrostatic forces, and a first surface (26) and a second surface (21). The first surface has a different wettability for the first fluid than for the second surface. The first and second surfaces are arranged in the cavity to determine, upon activation of the fluid motion control system, a motion of the fluids within the cavity which has a preferential initiation at a first part (32) of the peripheral edge.

Abstract: A method for making a support plate for an electrowetting device includes providing the support plate with a hydrophobic layer; arranging a pattern of hydrophilic material on the hydrophobic layer; and removing a surface layer of the hydrophobic layer by a solvent. The electrowetting device may include a support plate with a hydrophobic layer having a thickness, and a pattern of hydrophilic material arranged on a first area of the hydrophobic layer, the thickness of the hydrophobic layer being larger within the first area than outside the first area.

Abstract: An electrowetting system includes an electrowetting element having a first fluid and a second, immiscible fluid. The configuration of the fluids is dependent on the voltage applied to the element, the voltage being appliable upon closing a switch. With the switch being open, the voltage on the element is substantially maintainable for a period of time which is shorter than or equal to a relaxation time period of the element due to backflow.

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: 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: 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 colour picture element layer having at least one second picture element having a second fluid configurable to provide a colour display state.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrowetting system comprising an electrowetting element, a driver stage for applying a voltage to the element, and a switch connecting the electrowetting element to an output of the driver stage. The element comprises a first fluid and a second, immiscible fluid. The instantaneous position of the fluids is dependent on the voltage applied to the element, the voltage being set when the switch is closed. The voltage on the element is substantially maintained during a holding state longer than 70 ms when the switch is open.

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: The present invention relates to a method for making an electrowetting display device comprising a plurality of picture elements and a first support plate and a second support plate. Each picture element comprises a space between the first support plate and the second support plate. The method comprises the steps of: providing the first support plate with an electrode structure; arranging an insulating layer on the electrode structure, the insulating layer having a thickness and a hydropobic surface facing the space; temporarily applying an electric field across the thickness of the insulating layer to reduce permanently the hydrophobicity of a predetermined area of the surface. The invention further relates to an electrowetting display device and a use of an area of reduced hydrophobicity in an electrowetting device.

Abstract: A layer of a first fluid and a layer of a second fluid are provided on a first area of a support plate of an electrowetting device, the first fluid and the second fluid being immiscible and the first area having a higher wettability for the first fluid than for the second fluid. The method includes providing an emulsion of dispersed first fluid and continuous second fluid; bringing the first area and the emulsion in contact; the dispersed first fluid coalescing to form the layer of the first fluid on the first area. Also described are an emulsion for manufacturing an electrowetting device, a method for manufacturing an emulsion, a device, a non-ionic surfactant and a use of a non-ionic surfactant.

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 method for making a support plate for an electrowetting device includes providing the support plate with a hydrophobic layer; arranging a pattern of hydrophilic material on the hydrophobic layer; and removing a surface layer of the hydrophobic layer by a solvent. The electrowetting device may include a support plate with a hydrophobic layer having a thickness, and a pattern of hydrophilic material arranged on a first area of the hydrophobic layer, the thickness of the hydrophobic layer being larger within the first area than outside the first area.