Abstract: A method and system for controlling electrophoretic and other bi-stable displays (310). Coded data (605, 610, 615) for driving the display is stored in memory (320) for different pixel transitions and different temperatures. The coded data includes voltage level and timing information for the different pixel transitions. A portion (705, 710, 715, 720, 725, 730) of the coded data is retrieved by a controller (100) such as an ASIC based on a selected pixel transition, temperature, and update mode. The portion of the coded data, which may include fixed length frame instructions, is decoded to provide decoded data. The decoded data is used to provide voltage waveforms for driving the display.

Abstract: Image quality is improved when updating a display image (310) in a bi-stable electronic reading device (300, 400) such as one using an electrophoretic display by applying rest pulses (R1, R2) adjacent to and following hardware driving pulses (S1, S2). The voltage of the rest pulses (R1, R2) is zero or otherwise below a threshold for moving particles that form the bi-stable display.

Abstract: A system implements a method of activating an electrophoretic display (10). First, the system provides at least one image-dependent data frame (70) including pixel data (72) and a data frame time (74). Second, the system determines a blanking frame (80) including a blanking frame time (84) based on the data frame time. Third, the system addresses the electrophoretic display (10) based on the pixel data (72), the data frame time (74), and the blanking frame (80) to reduce vertical crosstalk.

Abstract: An image is updated on a bi-stable display (310) such as an electrophoretic display by providing separate scaling functions (SF1, SF2) for scaling a duration of a reset pulse (R) and a duration of a driving pulse (D) in a drive waveform based on temperature (335). An absolute value of a slope with varying temperatures of the scaling factor (SF 1) for the reset pulse (R) is significantly greater than that of the scaling factor (SF2) for the driving pulse (D), while both scaling factors increase with decreasing temperature. Image update time (IUT) is significantly reduced at lower temperatures, while a range of variation of IUT across all temperatures is also reduced. Scaling functions (SF3, SF4) may also be used for scaling a duration of a help reset pulse (H) and/or a duration of one or more shaking pulses (SH1, SH2).

Abstract: An image is updated on a bi-stable display (310) such as an electrophoretic display by using voltage waveforms (600, 620, 640, 660; 700, 720, 740, 760; 800, 820, 840, 860) that are configured such that voltage changes are constrained to a subset of possible voltage levels during specific frame times. The specific frame times may occur during datadependent portions of the waveforms, such as a reset portion (R) and/or a drive portion (D, D1, D2). Due to the reduced voltage swing, the supply voltage can be reduced, resulting in reduced power consumption. Moreover, the frame time (FT?) can be shortened during the data-dependent portions of the waveforms to increase the greyscale accuracy and number of grey levels. At other frames times, the voltage levels can vary throughout the full range of possible voltage levels, while a standard frame time (FT) is used.

Abstract: An image is updated on a bi-stable display (310) such as an electrophoretic display in successive frame periods by accessing data defining a set of voltage waveforms for the successive frame periods. At least a portion of the bi-stable display is driven during the successive frame periods according to the accessed data so that a longer frame period (FT, 1302, 1304, 1402, 1502, 1602, 1702, 1802) is used during at least a first portion of the voltage waveforms, and a shorter frame period (FT?) is used during at least a second portion of the voltage waveforms. For example, the longer frame period may be an elongated frame period, which is the longest period during which each of the voltage waveforms has a respective constant voltage value.