Abstract: A method and a system for displaying images are provided. In the method, a pixel is provided that includes a layer of ferroelectric material and a layer of liquid crystal material. A first electric field is momentarily applied to the pixel to electrically polarize the ferroelectric layer to a first polarization. The first polarization is then used to maintain the liquid crystal material in a first orientation corresponding to a first apparent brightness of the pixel.

Abstract: A display device, including a substrate; an array of pixels arranged in rows and columns forming a light-emitting area over the substrate, each pixel including a first electrode, one or more layers of light-emitting material located over the first electrode, and a second electrode located over the one or more layers of light-emitting material; a first serial buss having a plurality of electrical conductors, each electrical conductor connecting one chiplet in a first set of chiplets to only one other chiplet in the first set in a serial connection, the chiplets being distributed over the substrate in the light-emitting area, each chiplet including one or more store-and-forward circuits for storing and transferring data connected to its corresponding electrical conductor; and a driver circuit in each chiplet for driving at least one pixel in response to data stored in the store-and-forward circuit.

Abstract: The present invention aims to reduce flickers of the liquid crystal display device and enable the use of liquid crystal material exhibiting a high response speed, and to enhance light usage efficiency of the field sequential type liquid crystal display device. After writing the video signal to all the pixels in each sub-frame period, a correction voltage signal or an alternating signal having a frequency of greater than or equal to a certain frequency is input to the data line, so that the magnitude of the leakage current of each pixel TFT caused by the difference in polarity of the video signal with respect to the opposing electrode written to the pixel electrode is equalized, and the flickers are greatly reduced.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display and a method of driving the same are disclosed. The liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal display panel including data lines and gate lines crossing each other and liquid crystal cells, a timing control signal generating unit, a data drive circuit supplying a data voltage to the data lines, and a gate drive circuit. The timing control signal generating unit generates a first gate timing control signal for controlling a scan direction of the liquid crystal display panel in a sequential direction and a second gate timing control signal for controlling the scan direction in a reverse sequential direction. The gate drive circuit supplies a gate pulse to the gate lines while a shift direction of the gate pulse changes in response to the first and second gate timing control signals.

Abstract: To provide a liquid crystal display device suitable for a thin film transistor which uses an oxide semiconductor. In a liquid crystal display device which includes a thin film transistor including an oxide semiconductor layer, a film having a function of attenuating the intensity of transmitting visible light is used as an interlayer film which covers at least the oxide semiconductor layer. As the film having a function of attenuating the intensity of transmitting visible light, a coloring layer can be used and a light-transmitting chromatic color resin layer is preferably used. An interlayer film which includes a light-transmitting chromatic color resin layer and a light-blocking layer may be formed in order that the light-blocking layer is used as a film having a function of attenuating the intensity of transmitting visible light.

Abstract: A drive control circuit includes a timing controller for detecting a change of a horizontal scanning frequency, a gate voltage generating circuit for generating two kinds of gate-on voltages Va and Vb (Va<Vb), and a switch for outputting one of the gate-on voltages Va and Vb from the gate voltage generating circuit in accordance with an output of the timing controller. The timing controller includes a counter for counting the number of clocks for one horizontal period, and a comparator for comparing a count result with a threshold value. When the horizontal scanning frequency is in a normal state, the low gate-on voltage Va is outputted, and when the horizontal scanning frequency exceeds a predetermined threshold value, that is, the count value falls below a threshold value, the high gate-on voltage Vb is outputted.

Abstract: A cholesteric liquid crystal display device in which a first step for applying a high voltage pulse to initialize a pixel and a second step for applying a low voltage pulse to increase a coexistence ratio of a focal conic state to the planar state in the initialized pixel are performed and a gradation value is determined by a cumulative time during which the low voltage pulse is applied, the device includes: a voltage generation circuit; and a driver circuit, wherein: the voltage generation circuit includes: a step-up part that generates a step-up voltage from a power source voltage; a voltage switching part; and a voltage stabilization part that generates the predetermined voltage in accordance with the voltage control signal from the step-up voltage, wherein the voltage stabilization part suppresses variations in output voltage; and the step-up part switches step-up ratios between the first step and the second step.

Abstract: An integrated electromagnetic type input flat panel display apparatus is disclosed. The integrated electromagnetic type input flat panel display apparatus comprises a display panel, a control unit and a signal processing unit. The display panel has a display unit and an electromagnetic sensor unit, wherein the display unit and the electromagnetic sensor unit are integrated in to a substrate of the display panel. The signal processing unit receives and processes the signals from the electromagnetic sensor unit.

Abstract: A scanning electrode driving circuit (32) and a signal electrode driving circuit (31) of a driving circuit (30) applies, to scanning electrodes of a liquid crystal panel with a memory effect (40), a scanning voltage (TPV) in a voltage waveform composed of 0V and three values which are positive or negative unipolar (VH, VD and VS), and also applies, to signal electrodes, a signal voltage (SGV) in a voltage waveform composed of 0V and three values having a same polarity as the scanning voltage. Further, image data is displayed at a pixel of the liquid crystal panel with a memory effect (40) during three scanning periods such as a correction period for correcting the alternation, a reset period for resetting the image, and a selection period for writing new image, and in the three scanning periods, the voltage to be applied between the scanning electrode and the signal electrode is made completely alternating.

Abstract: A driving device for quickly changing the gray level of the liquid crystal display and its driving method are disclosed. The driving device includes a group of thin film transistors with matrix array, a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of data lines. The driving method for the thedriving device includes: two gate lines in the liquid crystal display are simultaneously or synchronously turned on according to in the bright period or in the black period, the voltage for displaying the present frame interval data or the voltage for displaying black image is given to the thin film transistors connected with the gate lines, and scanning continues in turn. The present invention is suitable for the picture treatment of various liquid crystal displays, organic light emitting diode (OLED) display or plasma display panel (PDP).

Abstract: A clock signal, a data signal, and a latch signal are commonly supplied from a controller to a plurality of the data drivers. The data signal and the latch signal are synchronized with the clock signal. In each of the data drivers, an internal latch signal is generated in synchronization with the clock signal in response to the latch signal. Timing of a rising edge of the internal latch signal is independently controlled in each data driver in accordance with position information where each data driver is arranged.

Abstract: An approach for coordinating backlight intensity and image luminance changes. For one aspect, in response to determining that a display-related event has occurred during a vertical frame period indicating a subsequent change associated with at least one of a backlight intensity and a frame buffer palette is to be undertaken, an interrupt is enabled. During subsequent interrupt processing, associated changes to the backlight intensity and the frame buffer palette are applied in a coordinated manner. For a specific implementation, an approach is provided for a graphics controller driver to synchronize response to changes in display backlight, color-space controls, and in the luminance of images, wherein said changes can come from different sources, occur at a different rates, and have different latencies, for the purpose of applying graphics settings responses such that those effects occur at a visually co-incident interval so as to substantially minimize discordant visual artifacts.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display comprising: a receiver for receiving power and differential signal; a backlight power supply which supplies the power to a backlight unit; a power-off sensor which senses power-off of the backlight power supply and distorts one of the differential signals; and a controller which senses the distortion of the differential signal and generates an after-image removing gray-scale signal.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display (LCD) device includes an LCD panel, and a common voltage generating circuit configured for providing common voltages to the LCD panel. The common voltage generating circuit includes a microprocessor, a timer, a voltage adjustment circuit, and a look up table. The microprocessor is electrically connected to the timer, the look up table, and the voltage adjustment circuit. The timer is configured for recording a continuous operated time of the LCD panel. The look up table is configured for storing optimal common voltages corresponding to each continuous operated time. The microprocessor is configured for reading the optimal common voltage at set intervals corresponding to the continuous operated time, and controlling the voltage adjustment circuit to provide the corresponding optimal common voltage to the LCD panel.

Abstract: A driving method for driving an LCD panel having a counter electrode and a source line. In a first period, the counter electrode is driven to a potential VCOMH. In a second period, the counter electrode and the source line are short-circuited to a power supply interconnection having a power supply potential VCI. In a third period, the counter electrode is connected to a ground interconnection while the source line is kept to be short-circuited to the power supply interconnection. In a fourth period, the counter electrode is pulled down to a potential VCOML lower than a ground potential In a fifth period, the source line is driven to a potential corresponding to an image data while the counter electrode is kept to the potential VCOML. The electric power consumed in pulling down the counter electrode from a positive potential to a negative potential can be effectively reduced.

Abstract: A method of driving a liquid crystal display element that applies an AC pulse voltage to drive liquid crystal includes: when the temperature of the liquid crystal is higher than a reference temperature, generating the AC pulse voltage for high temperature having a pulse width that is shorter than a reference pulse width of a reference AC pulse voltage used at the reference temperature; and applying the generated AC pulse voltage to the liquid crystal in a period that is equal to the reference pulse width.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to creation, modification and implementation of dither pattern structures applied to an image to diminish contouring artifacts. Some aspects relate to dither pattern structures with pixel values in a first color channel pattern that are spatially dispersed from pixel values in a corresponding pattern in a second color channel. Some aspects relate to application. Some aspects relate to systems and apparatus for creation and application of these dither pattern structures comprising pixel values dispersed across color channels.

Abstract: A low color shift liquid crystal display and a driving method thereof are provided. The liquid crystal display comprises a plurality of data lines; a plurality of scanning lines arranged across the plurality of data lines, two adjacent scanning lines and two adjacent data lines arranged across the two adjacent scanning lines together defining a pixel region; and a plurality of pixels each comprising a first and a second sub-pixels. The first sub-pixel is connected to a first scanning line of the two adjacent scanning lines, the second sub-pixel includes a compensation capacitor, which is coupled to a second scanning line of the two adjacent scanning lines. Thereby a voltage difference can be maintained between the two sub-pixels under the same driving condition, and the voltage difference can be easily adjusted by suitably changing the waveforms of scanning drive signals on the scanning lines.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image processing method, an image processing apparatus and an image processing program for dealing with inverted characters (outlined characters) constituted by white pixels on a black ground in a tree structure same as that of normal characters constituted by black pixels on a white ground. In the present invention, black pixel blocks and white pixel blocks are sampled recursively from a binary image, tree structure data indicating a positional relation between the sampled black pixel blocks and white pixel blocks is created, an inverted image is created by white-black-inverting the insides of black pixel blocks that can include inverted characters, of black pixel blocks included in the tree structure data, white pixel blocks and black pixel blacks are sampled from the created inverted image, and data regarding the sampled white pixel blocks and black pixel blocs is added to corresponding nodes of the tree structure data.

Abstract: A method and a system for displaying images are provided. In the method, a pixel is provided that includes a layer of ferroelectric material and a layer of liquid crystal material. A first electric field is momentarily applied to the pixel to electrically polarize the ferroelectric layer to a first polarization. The first polarization is then used to maintain the liquid crystal material in a first orientation corresponding to a first apparent brightness of the pixel.

Abstract: A device is described that comprises a layer of material (254) disposed between first and second cell walls (250,252) and is capable of adopting, and being electrically latched between, at least two stable configurations. The layer of material (254) comprises one or more separate electrically addressable regions (270, 272, 274, 276) and addressing means are provided to write to each of said electrically addressable regions using voltage pulses to selectively latch said layer of material as required. The addressing means is arranged to write to each of said one or more separate electrically addressable region using at least first and second latching scans.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device and a driving method thereof, which are capable of preventing generation of a residual image upon power-off, are disclosed. The liquid crystal display device includes a power supply unit for outputting a plurality of drive voltages after delaying the drive voltages, a voltage detector for monitoring one of the drive voltages, and outputting a power-off detect signal based on the result of the monitoring, a timing controller for increasing a frequency of a control signal in response to the power-off detect signal, and outputting the frequency-increased control signal, a gate driver for outputting a scan signal in response to the frequency-increased control signal, a data driver for outputting a constant voltage in response to another control signal from the timing controller, and a liquid crystal panel for applying the constant voltage to all sub-pixels of the liquid crystal panel in response to the scan signal.

Abstract: A pixel (P) of a display (20) includes a memory element in a form of a ferroelectric thin film transistor (“TFT”) (60) and a display element (62) operably coupled to the ferroelectric TFT (60). The ferroelectric TFT (60) is set to a conductive state in response to a conductive row drive voltage and a conductive column drive voltage being applied to the ferroelectric TFT (60) during a beginning phase of the addressing period for the pixel (P). The ferroelectric TFT (60) facilitates a charging of the display element (62) in response a charging row drive voltage and a charging column drive voltage being applied to the ferroelectric TFT (60) during an intermediate phase of the addressing period for the pixel (P). The ferroelectric TFT (60) is reset to a non-conductive state in response to a non-conductive row drive voltage and a non-conductive column drive voltage being applied to the ferroelectric TFT (60) during an ending phase of the addressing period for the pixel (P).

Abstract: A stereoscopic display apparatus and a display method are provided. The stereoscopic display apparatus includes a display panel, a dynamic-backlight module, a tracking panel, an optical lens array. The display has an updated region and a non-updated region during a frame period the display panel displays according a first synchro-signal. The dynamic-backlight module has a plurality of light-emitting regions and the light-emitting regions are turned-on according to a second synchro-signal. The first synchro-signal and the second synchro-signal are synchronal. During the frame period, parts of the light-emitting regions corresponding to the updated region are synchronally turned-on and parts of the light-emitting regions corresponding to the non-updated region are synchronally turned-off. A light provided by at least the part of the light-emitting regions turned-on passes through one silt set and the display panel such that one of the single-eye images is only displayed by the non-updated region.

Abstract: A pixel structure includes a first scan line, a second scan line, a third scan line, a data line, a first thin film transistor (TFT), a second TFT, a third TFT, a first pixel electrode and a second pixel electrode. Particularly, the second scan line and the third scan line are electrically connected with each other. The first TFT is electrically connected with the first scan line and the data line. The second TFT is electrically connected with the first TFT and the second scan line. Furthermore, the third TFT is electrically connected with the third scan line and the data line. In addition, the first pixel electrode and the second pixel electrode are respectively electrically connected with the second TFT and the third TFT.

Abstract: Electronic apparatus, systems, and methods to operate a liquid crystal display provide a mechanism that can be used to address image sticking on the display. The mechanism may be provided in the form of an arrangement of a liquid crystal and an insulating material, where the arrangement has a decay time constant that is comparable to or less than a maximum time visually acceptable for image sticking to persist. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for driving a backlight module of a liquid crystal display. The backlight module includes three light sources, a first light source, a second light source, and a third light source, that illuminate different color light respectively. The method includes sequentially turning on the three light sources, wherein the first light source and the second light source are turned on twice and the third light source is turned on once.

Abstract: An output enable signal transformation device for a gate driver in an LCD device includes a reception terminal coupled to a timing generator of the LCD device for receiving an enable synchronization signal, an enable clock signal and a plurality of enable control signals generated by the timing generator, a shift register module coupled to the reception terminal for shifting the enable synchronization signal according to the enable clock signal, a multiplexer module coupled to the shift register module and the timing generator for generating a plurality of output enable signals according to the enable synchronization signal and the plurality of enable control signals, and an output terminal coupled to the multiplexer module and a logic circuit of the gate driver for outputting the plurality of output enable signals to the logic circuit.

Abstract: A display panel is scanned every two lines during a period of binary writing area in the first half of one frame period in partial display (or in small gradation display) and a steady-state current of an output amplifier for buffering gradation signals supplied to the display panel in a non-scanning period in the second half of one frame period is reduced.

Abstract: It is possible to realize a driver circuit which exhibits low power consumption and high image quality in a liquid crystal display device used in miniaturized portable equipment. In a liquid crystal display device which includes a liquid crystal display element and a liquid crystal driver circuit, the liquid crystal driver circuit is mounted on one side of a liquid crystal display panel. The liquid crystal driver circuit can output counter electrode voltages of two systems and hence, the liquid crystal driver circuit can select a first mode in which the first counter voltage and the second counter voltage have the opposite polarities from each other and a second mode in which the first counter voltage and the second counter voltage have the same polarity. Due to such constitution, while driving the liquid crystal display device in the first mode, the second mode is selected depending on a video signal thus realizing power saving.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a memory-type liquid crystal display device capable of controlling a color to be displayed in a peripheral area without using display data based on which display is achieved in the peripheral area.

Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid crystal display element displaying an image using a liquid crystal layer having memory characteristics and a method of driving the element. A liquid crystal display element capable of suppressing the generation of an afterimage attributable to image sticking is provided along with a method of driving the same.

Abstract: An optically compensated bend (OCB) mode liquid crystal display (LCD) includes a liquid crystal display having a first substrate, a first electrode forming on the first substrate, a second substrate facing the first substrate, a second electrode formed on the second substrate and facing the first electrode, a liquid crystal layer formed between the first and second electrodes and filled with liquid crystals, and a plurality of charge supplying units supplying charges to the first electrode several times to apply a bend voltage for transiting an arrangement of the liquid crystals.

Abstract: One method for providing image stability in a liquid crystal display (LCD) device includes providing a first display image to a plurality of pixel elements of the LCD at a first time, where the first display image includes a first pixel in an on state, transitioning the on state of the first pixel to an off state during a refresh cycle of the first display image, and transitioning the off state of the first pixel back to the on state during a next sequential refresh cycle of the first display image.

Abstract: An organic electroluminescence display and a method of operating the organic electroluminescence display are disclosed. A pixel array unit, including a plurality of pixels, is divided into at least two pixel groups adjacent to each other. The first pixel group is selected by a first scan driving unit and the second pixel group is selected by a second scan driving unit. Scanning lines for selecting the first pixel group extend into the first pixel group and scanning lines for selecting the second pixel group extend into the second pixel group. Accordingly, each scanning line is reduced in length and thus impedance of the scanning line is decreased. The reduction of impedance prevents delay or distortion of scan signals.

Abstract: A thin, readily portable book has a memory-type liquid crystal display in the display section of the thin portable book so as to obtain low power consumption along with compact size and reduced weight, a solar cell and a charging device in the energy section of the thin portable book, so that low power consumption is further promoted, a freely detachable cassette-type or card-type non-volatile semiconductor memory in the recording medium section of the thin portable book so as to provide further savings in power consumption.

Abstract: A digital-to-thermometer-code converter is disclosed for converting a digital signal into its thermometer-code equivalent. Embodiments of the digital-to-thermometer-code include a binary-to-control signal converter that generates a column control signal and a row control signal based on a binary input signal, and a control signal-to-thermometer-code decoder that includes an array of decoder circuit blocks coupled to receive the column control signal and the row control signal, wherein each of the decoder circuit blocks determine at least one bit of the thermometer-code output signal based on at least a first bit of the column control signal.

Abstract: A driving circuit applies, to scanning electrodes of a liquid crystal panel with a memory effect, a scanning voltage composed of zero and a positive or negative unipolar voltage waveform, and also applies, to signal electrodes, a signal voltage composed of zero and a unipolar voltage waveform having the same polarity as that of the scanning voltage. Further, image data is displayed at a pixel of the liquid crystal panel with a memory effect during a plurality of scanning periods, such that the polarities of the voltages applied between the scanning electrode and the signal electrode at a portion forming a pixel of the liquid crystal panel with a memory effect during a first scanning period and during a subsequent period of the plurality of periods are inverted.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a driving method for cholesteric liquid crystal display. A plurality of pixels of the display are controlled by a plurality of row drivers and a plurality of column drivers. According to the method of the invention, firstly, a DC input voltage or a non-symmetric AC input voltage is applied to the row drivers and the column drivers so that the voltage of the pixel is larger than a withstand voltage of the drivers. Then, an initial column signal and an initial row signal are respectively supplied by the corresponding column driver and row driver so as to initialize the corresponding pixel. The polarity of the initial column signal is different from that of the initial row signal. Because the initial row signal minus the initial column signal equals the signal of the pixel, the amplitude of the signal applied to the pixel can be increased.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device afflicted with no image persistence is disclosed. The liquid crystal display device according to the present invention comprises a pixel portion in which a plurality of pixel TFTs are matrix-wise disposed, a source driver and a gate driver which feed a plurality of the TFTs with picture signals, and a liquid crystal material which has substantially no threshold value, characterized in that one frame is formed of a plurality of sub-frames, and, during at least one of a plurality of the sub-frames, the display by a reset signal is performed.

Abstract: A common voltage compensation device suitable for a display panel of a liquid crystal display is provided. The common voltage compensation device includes a timing controller and a compensation circuit. The timing controller receives an image signal and generates control signals to the compensation circuit according to a determination mechanism. The compensation circuit sends a common voltage compensation signal to the display panel according to the control signals outputted from the timing controller in order to compensate the common voltage on the display panel. The determination mechanism performs an analysis of a gray scale distribution of a horizontal line signal of the image signal, and determines whether to compensate the common voltage according to an analysis result, and determines a polarity required to be compensated to perform the compensation when the compensation is needed.

Abstract: A voltage corresponding to desired image data is applied to a ferroelectric liquid crystal having a spontaneous polarization at a predetermined cycle to rewrite the displayed image (period A), and then, all voltages applied to the ferroelectric liquid crystal are removed (timing C) to retain the displayed image before the removal (period B). A gate selection period (voltage application period to the ferroelectric liquid crystal) t2 before stopping the voltage application is set longer than a gate selection period (voltage application period to the ferroelectric liquid crystal) t1 in the normal display. Increasing the voltage application period to the ferroelectric liquid crystal provides a sufficient response of the liquid crystal during the gate selection period, thereby realizing high memory ability.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for controlling the grey-scale modulation of a reflective bistable cholesteric display by applying selected sequences of high and low pulses to modulate the cholesteric domain size and helical axis orientation. Non-mesogenic dopants may also be added to reduce the drive voltage.

Abstract: An aligning method of a ferroelectric liquid crystal display includes; disposing a first mask and a second mask, each of which has opening regions and blocking regions arranged in alternating fashion in vertical direction and horizontal direction corresponding to liquid crystal cells of the liquid crystal display; and injecting a ferroelectric liquid crystal material within the liquid crystal panel.

Abstract: A scrambling system for a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) includes a DAC that receives a digital input word and a scrambling module that randomly selects at least one of a plurality of current sources based on the digital input word. The DAC outputs an analog signal based on the at least one of the plurality of current sources.

Abstract: The invention comprises systems and methods for partitioning displays, and in particular, displays of interferometric modulator displays. In one embodiment, a display system includes one driving circuit configured to provide signals based on video data intended for display, and a bi-stable display comprising an array having a plurality of bi-stable display elements. The array is configured to display video data using signals received from the driving circuit, and the driving circuit is configured to partition the array into two or more fields, each field including at least one bi-stable display element, and refresh each of the two or more fields in accordance with a refresh rate associated with each field.

Abstract: A method drives a spatial light modulation device to record an image into the device. The device includes first and second light modulation layers. The method includes exposing the device to imagewise light while applying a first voltage between electrodes of the first light modulation layer. If the second light modulation layer has such a characteristic that a curve of an intensity of light, which has the same wavelength as the imagewise light and is applied to the second light modulation layer, versus a reflectivity of the second light modulation layer after finishing applying the light has a local maximum point, an intensity of the imagewise light in the exposing is larger than an intensity, which the curve has at the local maximum point, and in the exposing, the second light modulation layer has a reflectivity lower than a reflectivity, which the curve has at the local maximum point.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus has a first processing unit for processing an input data, a second processing unit responsive to the data processed by the first processing unit for executing a processing dependent on the data and producing a display data, and a display unit having a display drive unit and a display device for displaying the display data. The second processing unit is selectively inactivated and activated under control of the first processing unit to reduce power consumption in the second processing unit. The display drive unit is also selectively inactivated and activated under control of the first processing unit to reduce power consumption in the display unit.

Abstract: There is provided a battery-driven electronic book reader for switchingly displaying each page of contents separated in predetermined pages on a cholesteric liquid crystal panel, wherein a remaining available battery level is detected (step S102), the number of pages to be switchedly displayed on the cholesteric liquid crystal panel is calculated based on the detected remaining available battery level (step S104), and the calculated number of pages is displayed on the cholesteric liquid crystal panel (step 105).

Abstract: A three terminal electrical bistable device that includes a tri-layer composed of an electrically conductive mixed layer sandwiched between two layers of low conductivity organic material that is interposed between a top electrode and a bottom electrode. The conducting mixed layer serves as the middle electrode. The device includes two memory cells composed of electrode/organic layer/mixed layer, where the interfaces between the electrically conductive mixed layer and the low conductivity organic layer exhibit bistable behavior.