Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for pressure-sensitive, electrophoretic displays, which may optionally include haptic feedback. A display may comprise a first conductive layer having a pressure-sensitive conductivity and an electrophoretic layer positioned adjacent to the first conductive layer, wherein the electrophoretic layer is in electrical communication with the first conductive layer and is configured to locally change state based on a pressure applied to the first conductive layer. Local and global writing and erasing of the display can also be achieved.

Abstract: A first display comprises a layer of electro-optic material with first and second electrodes on opposed sides thereof, at least one electrode. One or both electrodes having at least two spaced contacts, and voltage control means are arranged to vary the potential difference between the two spaced contacts attached to the same electrode. A second display comprises a layer of electro-optic material with a sequence of at least three electrodes adjacent thereto. Voltage control means vary the potential difference between the first and last electrodes of the sequence. The electrodes of the sequence alternate between the two surfaces of the layer of electro-optic material, and have edges which overlap with or lie adjacent the preceding and following electrodes of the sequence. The electrodes, other than the first and last, are electrically isolated such that the potential thereof is controlled by passage of current through the layer of electro-optic material.

Abstract: A first display comprises a layer of electro-optic material with first and second electrodes on opposed sides thereof, at least one electrode. One or both electrodes having at least two spaced contacts, and voltage control means are arranged to vary the potential difference between the two spaced contacts attached to the same electrode. A second display comprises a layer of electro-optic material with a sequence of at least three electrodes adjacent thereto. Voltage control means vary the potential difference between the first and last electrodes of the sequence. The electrodes of the sequence alternate between the two surfaces of the layer of electro-optic material, and have edges which overlap with or lie adjacent the preceding and following electrodes of the sequence. The electrodes, other than the first and last, are electrically isolated such that the potential thereof is controlled by passage of current through the layer of electro-optic material. Methods for driving these displays are also provided.

Abstract: A first display includes a layer of electro-optic material with first and second electrodes on opposed sides thereof. One or both electrodes have at least two spaced contacts. Voltage control means are arranged to vary the potential difference between the two spaced contacts attached to the same electrode. A second display includes a layer of electro-optic material with a sequence of at least three electrodes adjacent thereto. Voltage control means vary the potential difference between the first and last electrodes of the sequence. The electrodes of the sequence alternate between two surfaces of the layer of electro-optic material, and have edges that overlap or lie adjacent the preceding and following electrodes of the sequence. The electrodes, other than the first and last, are electrically isolated such that the potential thereof is controlled by passage of current through the layer of electro-optic material. Methods for driving these displays are also provided.

Abstract: A display (100) primarily intended for use on an external surface of a building comprises a weatherproof housing (310, 340); a bistable electro-optic medium (326) enclosed within and visible through the housing; an electrode (324, 330) enclosed within the weatherproof housing and arranged to drive the electro-optic medium; a power generating means (504) enclosed within the weatherproof housing; data receiving means (508) enclosed within the weatherproof housing and arranged to receive data wirelessly from a source outside the weatherproof housing; and display drive means (510) arranged to receive data from the data receiving means and power from the power generating means, and to control the potential of the electrode.

Abstract: A writeable display medium incorporating various sensing elements into the backplane of the writeable display medium so that the sensing elements can cause the associated pixels to update immediately in contrast to state-of-the art writeable displays that rely on a feedback loop between a digitizing layer and a display driver that controls the output of a display. As a stylus is moved over the display, a signal emitted from the stylus (e.g., an electromagnetic field) will change the state of a transistor associated with a pixel, resulting in a nearly instantaneous state change in the display (i.e., white to black).

Abstract: A first display includes a layer of electro-optic material with first and second electrodes on opposed sides thereof. One or both electrodes have at least two spaced contacts. Voltage control means are arranged to vary the potential difference between the two spaced contacts attached to the same electrode. A second display includes a layer of electro-optic material with a sequence of at least three electrodes adjacent thereto. Voltage control means vary the potential difference between the first and last electrodes of the sequence. The electrodes of the sequence alternate between two surfaces of the layer of electro-optic material, and have edges that overlap or lie adjacent the preceding and following electrodes of the sequence. The electrodes, other than the first and last, are electrically isolated such that the potential thereof is controlled by passage of current through the layer of electro-optic material. Methods for driving these displays are also provided.

Abstract: A first display includes a layer of electro-optic material with first and second electrodes on opposed sides thereof. One or both electrodes have at least two spaced contacts. Voltage control means are arranged to vary the potential difference between the two spaced contacts attached to the same electrode. A second display includes a layer of electro-optic material with a sequence of at least three electrodes adjacent thereto. Voltage control means vary the potential difference between the first and last electrodes of the sequence. The electrodes of the sequence alternate between two surfaces of the layer of electro-optic material, and have edges that overlap or lie adjacent the preceding and following electrodes of the sequence. The electrodes, other than the first and last, are electrically isolated such that the potential thereof is controlled by passage of current through the layer of electro-optic material. Methods for driving these displays are also provided.

Abstract: A writeable display medium incorporating various sensing elements into the backplane of the writeable display medium so that the sensing elements can cause the associated pixels to update immediately in contrast to state-of-the art writeable displays that rely on a feedback loop between a digitizing layer and a display driver that controls the output of a display. As a stylus is moved over the display, a signal emitted from the stylus (e.g., an electromagnetic field) will change the state of a transistor associated with a pixel, resulting in a nearly instantaneous state change in the display (i.e., white to black).

Abstract: A writeable display medium incorporating light-sensitive semiconductors into the thin film transistors (TFTs), and incorporating a long-pass optical filter to provide a narrow window of wavelengths that can be used to cause the TFTs to switch states when suitably biased. As a light-emitting stylus is moved over the display, the light will change the state of the TFTs, resulting in a nearly instantaneous state change in the display (i.e., white to black). Accordingly, writeable display media of the invention do not suffer from the writing latency that is experienced with many writeable tablet systems.

Abstract: Particle-based electro-optic displays are described that are both electrically and magnetically controllable. Global and local addressing may be provided. The global addressing may be providing by one or more electrodes of the display, and may be electrically activated. The local addressing may be provided by a writing implement, especially one capable of producing rotating electric fields.

Abstract: A first display includes a layer of electro-optic material with first and second electrodes on opposed sides thereof. One or both electrodes have at least two spaced contacts. Voltage control means are arranged to vary the potential difference between the two spaced contacts attached to the same electrode. A second display includes a layer of electro-optic material with a sequence of at least three electrodes adjacent thereto. Voltage control means vary the potential difference between the first and last electrodes of the sequence. The electrodes of the sequence alternate between two surfaces of the layer of electro-optic material, and have edges that overlap or lie adjacent the preceding and following electrodes of the sequence. The electrodes, other than the first and last, are electrically isolated such that the potential thereof is controlled by passage of current through the layer of electro-optic material. Methods for driving these displays are also provided.

Abstract: A writing implement is described that dispenses a liquid colorant and produces a magnetic field. The magnetic field may be directed to an electronically driven display having a particle that is responsive to a magnetic field, such as an electrophoretic display, thereby changing an optical state of the display.

Abstract: A large area display comprises multiple sub-units arranged in rows and columns. Each sub-unit has associated row and column drivers, with the column driver driving the column electrodes of all the sub-units a column. A chip select means provides a separate chip select signal to each row of sub-units, so that only one row of sub-units are scanned at a time, and all the sub-units in the selected row are scanned simultaneously. Column data are supplied to the column drivers as a linear series of column data values; and delayed Gate Start Pulse signals are fed to the column drivers in each column of sub-units after the first so that these column drivers receive the delayed Gate Start Pulse signals and apply the appropriate column data values to their associated column electrodes.

Abstract: A display (100) primarily intended for use on an external surface of a building comprises a weatherproof housing (310, 340); a bistable electro-optic medium (326) enclosed within and visible through the housing; an electrode (324, 330) enclosed within the weatherproof housing and arranged to drive the electro-optic medium; a power generating means (504) enclosed within the weatherproof housing; data receiving means (508) enclosed within the weatherproof housing and arranged to receive data wirelessly from a source outside the weatherproof housing; and display drive means (510) arranged to receive data from the data receiving means and power from the power generating means, and to control the potential of the electrode.

Abstract: A writing implement is described that dispenses a liquid colorant and produces a magnetic field. The magnetic field may be directed to an electronically driven display having a particle that is responsive to a magnetic field, such as an electrophoretic display, thereby changing an optical state of the display.

Abstract: Particle-based electro-optic displays are described that are both electrically and magnetically controllable. Global and local addressing may be provided. The global addressing may be providing by one or more electrodes of the display, and may be electrically activated. The local addressing may be provided by a writing implement, especially one capable of producing rotating electric fields.

Abstract: A first display comprises a layer of electro-optic material with first and second electrodes on opposed sides thereof, at least one electrode. One or both electrodes having at least two spaced contacts, and voltage control means are arranged to vary the potential difference between the two spaced contacts attached to the same electrode. A second display comprises a layer of electro-optic material with a sequence of at least three electrodes adjacent thereto. Voltage control means vary the potential difference between the first and last electrodes of the sequence. The electrodes of the sequence alternate between the two surfaces of the layer of electro-optic material, and have edges which overlap with or lie adjacent the preceding and following electrodes of the sequence. The electrodes, other than the first and last, are electrically isolated such that the potential thereof is controlled by passage of current through the layer of electro-optic material.

Abstract: A large area display comprises multiple sub-units arranged in rows and columns. Each sub-unit has associated row and column drivers, with the column driver driving the column electrodes of all the sub-units a column. A chip select means provides a separate chip select signal to each row of sub-units, so that only one row of sub-units are scanned at a time, and all the sub-units in the selected row are scanned simultaneously. Column data are supplied to the column drivers as a linear series of column data values; and delayed Gate Start Pulse signals are fed to the column drivers in each column of sub-units after the first so that these column drivers receive the delayed Gate Start Pulse signals and apply the appropriate column data values to their associated column electrodes.