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 display device includes a picture element having a first support plate and a second support plate. A surface of a second layer of the first support plate is non-planar and has a shape at least partly corresponding with a pattern of a first layer of the first support plate.

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 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: 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 display apparatus includes a display device and a display driving system having a data input connected to a distributor for providing signals for driving image regions. Each image region has an active display state in which it is driven with an active voltage signal including a first signal level which sets the image region to the active display state and a second signal level applied for a shorter duration than the first signal level. Operation includes (1) applying the first signal level to an image region in response to receiving data on the data input indicating that the image region is to be set to the active display state, (2) applying the second signal level to the image region after said first signal level has been applied, and (3) reapplying the first signal level before receipt of further data for said image region on the data input.

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 display device includes a picture element having a first support plate and a second support plate. A surface of a second layer of the first support plate is non-planar and has a shape at least partly corresponding with a pattern of a first layer of the first support plate.

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: The invention relates to a method of driving of an electro-optic display having image regions. Each image region has: a first driving state in which a zero voltage, substantially equal to zero, is applied across the image region; and a second driving state in which a non-zero voltage, substantially different from the zero voltage, is applied across the image region. The method of the invention comprises applying: a common voltage signal to a plurality of the image regions; and an actuating voltage signal to one or more selected ones of the plurality of image regions. The method comprises varying both the common voltage signal and the actuating voltage signal when switching the selected regions between the first driving state and the second driving state. The invention further relates to electro-optic display apparatus having image regions and comprising driving circuitry adapted to perform the method of the invention.

Abstract: An electrowetting display device comprises a plurality of picture elements (2) having a first support plate (5) including a surface (68) and a second support plate. A space (10) of a picture element between the surface of the first support plate and the second support plate includes at least one first fluid and a second fluid immiscible with each other, the second fluid being electroconductive or polar. The first support plate includes an electrode (46) for applying an electric field in the picture element. It also includes a layer (44) arranged on a side of the electrode facing away from said space. The layer forms an electronic component (33) for applying a voltage to the electrode. The electrode comprises a height difference (86) corresponding to a thickness of the layer (44). The height difference causes an inhomogeneous electric field in the space, providing a preferred direction of motion of the first fluid on application of the electric field.

Abstract: An electrowetting system including a display device having a plurality of electrowetting elements, including a first electrowetting element and a second electrowetting element, each being configurable in a plurality of different display states; and a display controller for electrical addressing of the plurality of electrowetting elements in order to switch the plurality of electrowetting elements between different display states. The display controller is arranged to address the first electrowetting element twice subsequently, separated by a first addressing interval, and to address the second electrowetting element twice subsequently, separated by a second addressing interval, the second addressing interval being longer than the first addressing interval. The present invention further relates to a display controller, a driver stage and a method of controlling a display device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of driving an electrowetting display which includes a plurality of electrowetting elements, the display comprising at least one first fluid and a second fluid immiscible with each other, each of the electrowetting elements comprising at least one surface area. In a first, relatively low voltage, driving state of an electrowetting element the second fluid tends to cover the at least one surface area, and in a second, relatively high voltage, driving state of an electrowetting element the first fluid tends to cover the at least one surface area.

Abstract: A display apparatus includes a display device and a display driving system having a data input connected to a distributor for providing signals for driving image regions. Each image region has an active display state in which it is driven with an active voltage signal including a first signal level which sets the image region to the active display state and a second signal level applied for a shorter duration than the first signal level. Operation includes (1) applying the first signal level to an image region in response to receiving data on the data input indicating that the image region is to be set to the active display state, (2) applying the second signal level to the image region after said first signal level has been applied, and (3) reapplying the first signal level before receipt of further data for said image region on the data input.

Abstract: A method of operating an electro-optic display apparatus, wherein the display apparatus includes a display device having image regions and a display driving system having a data input for selecting image regions. The data input is connected to the input of a distributor for providing signals for driving the image regions. Each image region has an active display state in which the image region is driven with an active voltage signal. The active voltage signal includes a first signal level which sets an image region to the active display state and a second signal level different from said first signal level and which is applied for a shorter duration than said first signal level.

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: The present invention relates to an active matrix display device, more particularly an electrowetting display device, comprising at least two rows of pixels and being provided with selection wires (RW) and data wires (COL) for addressing of the pixels. The pixels in each row are arranged with a respective connection (CW) to a common reset (RST) wire that is arranged to transmit a reset signal. The respective connection (CW) is arranged to be interconnected with the data wire (COL) of the pixel when the pixel is addressed. Further, the respective connection (CW) is arranged with a signal blocking element (D) for preventing a data signal of the pixel from propagating via the reset wire (RST) to pixels in the same row.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of driving an electrowetting display device including a display element, the display element having an electrode for applying a voltage and providing a display state in response to a signal level of the voltage. The method comprises the following subsequent steps for maintaining a display state of the display element: (1) applying a first signal level (Va) during a first period (t1 t2) for the display state; (2) applying a second signal level (0) during a second period (t2-t3); and (3) applying the first signal level during a third period (t3-t4). The first period is longer than 1 ms and the first period plus the third period is longer than five times the second period.

Abstract: An electrowetting system including a display device having a plurality of electrowetting elements, including a first electrowetting element and a second electrowetting element, each being configurable in a plurality of different display states; and a display controller for electrical addressing of the plurality of electrowetting elements in order to switch the plurality of electrowetting elements between different display states. The display controller is arranged to address the first electrowetting element twice subsequently, separated by a first addressing interval, and to address the second electrowetting element twice subsequently, separated by a second addressing interval, the second addressing interval being longer than the first addressing interval. The present invention further relates to a display controller, a driver stage and a method of controlling a display device.