Abstract: In a linked waveform update mode, an impulse-driven, particle-based electrophoretic display may be updated using a first waveform and then automatically up-dated using a second drive scheme when the update using the first waveform finishes. The display may be automatically up-dated using a third drive scheme when the update using the second drive scheme finishes. The automatic updating using a subsequent drive scheme may be interrupted if the desired display states for the region changes after performing the first update. Waveforms may be selected using: (a) the desired display state of a pixel if the desired display state is a valid display state for the specified drive scheme, or (b) a mapped display state of the pixel if the desired display state is an invalid display state for the drive scheme.

Abstract: A display controller may include a display update controller that may cause a color processing operation to be initiated in response to completion of an image data transmission, or a display update operation to be initiated in response to completion of the color processing operation. The display update operation may include updating display pixels of a display matrix of an electro-optic display device. A collision detector may determine whether a waveform for updating a display state of a particular display pixel has finished. The display update controller may cause the particular display pixel to be omitted from a display update operation if the waveform for updating the display state of the particular display pixel has not finished. A second display update operation may automatically be initiated when the waveform for updating the display state of the particular display pixel has finished.

Abstract: Data pixels defining first and second images are stored in first and second image buffers, respectively. A second image coordinate location within a display matrix of a display device having display pixels that have multiple stable states is stored in a memory. Data pixels of the first image are read from the first image buffer. If a data pixel read from the first image buffer is within the second image coordinate location, a data pixel from the second image buffer corresponding with the data pixel read from the first image buffer is read, and the data pixel read from the second image buffer is combined with the corresponding data pixel read from the first image buffer to generate a derived data pixel. Synthesized pixels corresponding with at least each of the data pixels of the second image are generated. The synthesized pixels respectively include the derived data pixels.

Abstract: When updating an impulse-driven, electrophoretic display, a pixel synthesis operation is started first. After a first quantity of synthesized pixels has been generated, a display output operation is started. After generating the first quantity of synthesized pixels, the first frame of the display output operation is performed at substantially the same time as the pixel synthesis operation.

Abstract: In a linked waveform update mode, an impulse-driven, particle-based electrophoretic display may be updated using a first waveform and then automatically up-dated using a second drive scheme when the update using the first waveform finishes. The display may be automatically up-dated using a third drive scheme when the update using the second drive scheme finishes. The automatic updating using a subsequent drive scheme may be interrupted if the desired display states for the region changes after performing the first update. Waveforms may be selected using: (a) the desired display state of a pixel if the desired display state is a valid display state for the specified drive scheme, or (b) a mapped display state of the pixel if the desired display state is an invalid display state for the drive scheme.

Abstract: An apparatus embodying principles of the invention includes first, second, and at least one pipeline units. The first unit generates synthesized pixel data from pixels of an image and pixels of a previous image. The second unit determines an update mode by comparing pixels of the image with corresponding pixels of the previous image to determine if at least one condition is true. The conditions may be configurable. In addition, the second unit selects an update mode from two or more update modes if the first condition is true. The pipeline unit determines a waveform for each pixel of the image and transmits the waveform as impulse data to a bistable, electro-optic display device. The apparatus may further include a pipeline selecting unit to select a pipeline from two or more pipelines according to the selected update mode.

Abstract: A method includes fetching first synthesized pixels from an update buffer of a memory and fetching data pixels from an image buffer of the memory during the first drive frame period. Respective data pixels are fetched synchronously with the fetching of corresponding first synthesized pixels. Respective data pixels fetched from the image buffer are synthesized with corresponding first synthesized pixels to generate second synthesized pixels. The second synthesized pixels are stored in the update buffer during the first drive frame period. The storing of second synthesized pixels may be paused based on a prediction that the fetching of first synthesized pixels will not complete within the first drive frame period. The fetching of data pixels from the image buffer of the memory may also be paused based on the prediction that the fetching of first synthesized pixels will not complete within the first drive frame period.

Abstract: A method for updating two or more regions of the display area of a bistable, electro-optic display device comprises selecting at least one first waveform for at least one pixel of a first region; (b) selecting at least one second waveform for at least one pixel of a second region; (c) updating the first region by generating and providing the first waveform to the at least one pixel of the first region; and (d) updating the second region by generating and providing the second waveform to the at least one pixel of the second region, wherein the first and second updates at least partially coincide in time. The first waveform is selected from a first drive scheme for use in a first update mode having a first period. The second waveform is selected from second a drive scheme for use in a second update mode having a second period.

Abstract: A method includes receiving first touch point data from a sensor, generating first data pixels corresponding with the received first touch point data, and updating first display pixels of a display device with the first data pixels using a first drive scheme. The display pixels of the display device may have multiple stable display states and the first data pixels may be generated by a first unit. The method may further include receiving second touch point data from the sensor, generating second data pixels corresponding with the received second touch point data, and updating second display pixels of the display device with the second data pixels using a second drive scheme. The first and second drive schemes may be different drive schemes. The second data pixels may be generated by the first unit.

Abstract: Device, apparatus and methods for implementing a direct address mode to directly access registers by passing an indirect interface includes a display controller. A plurality of direct access registers for bypassing indirect interface is defined within the display controller. The display controller includes a bus interface having a first pin that is configured to activate the direct address mode and a second pin that configured to identify one of the direct access registers. The first pin in conjunction with the second pin provides a direct address mode through which the non-direct access registers may be directly accessed bypassing the indirect interface so that register index cycle, when accessing memory, may be avoided.

Abstract: A display controller may include a display update controller that may cause a color processing operation to be initiated in response to completion of an image data transmission, or a display update operation to be initiated in response to completion of the color processing operation. The display update operation may include updating display pixels of a display matrix of an electro-optic display device. A collision detector may determine whether a waveform for updating a display state of a particular display pixel has finished. The display update controller may cause the particular display pixel to be omitted from a display update operation if the waveform for updating the display state of the particular display pixel has not finished. A second display update operation may automatically be initiated when the waveform for updating the display state of the particular display pixel has finished.

Abstract: A method includes receiving first touch point data from a sensor, generating first data pixels corresponding with the received first touch point data, and updating first display pixels of a display device with the first data pixels using a first drive scheme. The display pixels of the display device may have multiple stable display states and the first data pixels may be generated by a first unit. The method may further include receiving second touch point data from the sensor, generating second data pixels corresponding with the received second touch point data, and updating second display pixels of the display device with the second data pixels using a second drive scheme. The first and second drive schemes may be different drive schemes. The second data pixels may be generated by the first unit.

Abstract: A method for booting up a system includes detecting a reset condition, and in response to detecting the reset condition, driving a display device having display pixels that have multiple stable states with a reset drive scheme. The reset drive scheme is used to drive the display pixels to a known display state. The driving of the display device may be performed by a display controller. In addition, initialization instructions are executed to place at least one component of the system in an active state. The executing of initialization instructions may be performed by a host. The driving of the display device with the reset drive scheme and the executing of the initialization instructions are performed in parallel. The method may include driving the display device with a first drive scheme to display an initial start-up screen in parallel with the executing of the initialization instructions.

Abstract: A method includes fetching first synthesized pixels from an update buffer of a memory and fetching data pixels from an image buffer of the memory during the first drive frame period. Respective data pixels are fetched synchronously with the fetching of corresponding first synthesized pixels. Respective data pixels fetched from the image buffer are synthesized with corresponding first synthesized pixels to generate second synthesized pixels. The second synthesized pixels are stored in the update buffer during the first drive frame period. The storing of second synthesized pixels may be paused based on a prediction that the fetching of first synthesized pixels will not complete within the first drive frame period. The fetching of data pixels from the image buffer of the memory may also be paused based on the prediction that the fetching of first synthesized pixels will not complete within the first drive frame period.

Abstract: Data pixels defining first and second images are stored in first and second image buffers, respectively. A second image coordinate location within a display matrix of a display device having display pixels that have multiple stable states is stored in a memory. Data pixels of the first image are read from the first image buffer. If a data pixel read from the first image buffer is within the second image coordinate location, a data pixel from the second image buffer corresponding with the data pixel read from the first image buffer is read, and the data pixel read from the second image buffer is combined with the corresponding data pixel read from the first image buffer to generate a derived data pixel. Synthesized pixels corresponding with at least each of the data pixels of the second image are generated. The synthesized pixels respectively include the derived data pixels.

Abstract: A size limiter module used to limit a file size of an encoded file is disclosed. The size limiter module includes a size limiter set-up calculator and a size limiter processing engine. The size limiter calculator is configured to identify a maximum bit size for a set of data to be encoded based on a maximum value for the file size of the encoded file. The size limiter processing engine is configured to be in communication with the size limiter set-up calculator to process the set of data to be encoded and to monitor a cumulative bit size for the set of data according to an order. When the cumulative bit size is greater than a maximum bit size, the size limiter processing engine inserts end of block data into the set of data. The end of block data signals the substitution of a null value for all data units subsequent to the end of block data.

Abstract: A method for updating two or more regions of the display area of a bistable, electro-optic display device comprises selecting at least one first waveform for at least one pixel of a first region; (b) selecting at least one second waveform for at least one pixel of a second region; (c) updating the first region by generating and providing the first waveform to the at least one pixel of the first region; and (d) updating the second region by generating and providing the second waveform to the at least one pixel of the second region, wherein the first and second updates at least partially coincide in time. The first waveform is selected from a first drive scheme for use in a first update mode having a first period. The second waveform is selected from second a drive scheme for use in a second update mode having a second period.

Abstract: An apparatus embodying principles of the invention includes first, second, and at least one pipeline units. The first unit generates synthesized pixel data from pixels of an image and pixels of a previous image. The second unit determines an update mode by comparing pixels of the image with corresponding pixels of the previous image to determine if at least one condition is true. The conditions may be configurable. In addition, the second unit selects an update mode from two or more update modes if the first condition is true. The pipeline unit determines a waveform for each pixel of the image and transmits the waveform as impulse data to a bistable, electro-optic display device. The apparatus may further include a pipeline selecting unit to select a pipeline from two or more pipelines according to the selected update mode.

Abstract: An embedded subsystem IC which provides simple procedures for an external CPU IC to invoke one or more functions provided by modules of the subsystem is disclosed. The embedded subsystem comprises at least one module to perform at least one function, a first memory, and a sequence controller. Each module is controlled by values stored in local registers of the module. The first memory stores at least one predefined sequence of instructions. Each instruction sequence controls a module to perform a function. The sequence controller comprises a second memory to store a vector table and a state machine. In response to receiving a command the CPU, the sequence controller obtains a start address in the first memory of an instruction sequence corresponding with the command. The state machine programs one or more registers of a module that performs the function identified by the command according to the instruction sequence that begins with the start address.

Abstract: Device, apparatus and methods for implementing a direct address mode to directly access registers by passing an indirect interface includes a display controller. A plurality of direct access registers for bypassing indirect interface is defined within the display controller. The display controller includes a bus interface having a first pin that is configured to activate the direct address mode and a second pin that configured to identify one of the direct access registers. The first pin in conjunction with the second pin provides a direct address mode through which the non-direct access registers may be directly accessed bypassing the indirect interface so that register index cycle, when accessing memory, may be avoided.