# US 12,190,836 B2 · Multi-element pixel electrode circuits for electro-optic displays and methods for driving the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,190,836 B2 - Document ID: US12190836B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/420,455 - Filed: 2024-01-23 - Published: 2024-08-01 - Granted: 2025-01-07 - Earliest claimed: 2023-01-27 - Assignees: E Ink Corporation - Applicants: E Ink Corporation - Inventors: Timothy J. O'Malley; Karl Raymond Amundson; Chih-Hsiang Ho; Jonathan L. Zalesky; Yi Lu; Ian French - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12190836B2 ## CPC - G09G 3/344: {based on particles moving in a fluid or in a gas, e.g. electrophoretic devices (electrophoretic devices per se G02F1/167)} - G02F 1/167: by electrophoresis - G02F 1/16766: for active matrices - G09G 2300/0426: Layout of electrodes and connections - G09G 2300/0439: Pixel structures - G09G 2300/0819: used for counteracting undesired variations, e.g. feedback or autozeroing - G09G 2310/08: Details of timing specific for flat panels, other than clock recovery - G09G 2320/041: Temperature compensation - G09G: ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION (arrangements for transferring data between digital computers and displays G06F3/14; static indicating arrangements comprising an association of a number of separate sources or light control cells G09F9/00; static indicating arrangements comprising integral associations of a number of light sources H01J, H01K, H10H, H05B33/12; scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission, details thereof H04N1/00) - G02F: OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS ## Abstract An electro-optic display including a first subpixel electrode and a second subpixel electrode associated with a display pixel, and an electrophoretic display medium disposed between a common electrode and the first and second subpixel electrodes. The electro-optic display also includes a display controller circuit in electrical communication with the common electrode and a first transistor associated with the display pixel. The display controller circuit is capable of applying waveforms to the display pixel by applying one or more time-dependent voltages between the common electrode and the first subpixel electrode via the first transistor, where the one or more time-dependent voltages are applied to the first subpixel electrode. The electro-optic display also includes a second transistor in electrical communication with the first subpixel electrode and the second subpixel electrode. A first enable signal activates the second transistor to place the first subpixel electrode and the second subpixel electrode into electrical communication. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electro-optic display comprising: a first subpixel electrode and a second subpixel electrode associated with a display pixel; an electrophoretic display medium disposed between a common electrode and the first and second subpixel electrodes; a display controller circuit in electrical communication with the common electrode and a first transistor associated with the display pixel, the display controller circuit capable of applying waveforms to the display pixel by applying one or more time-dependent voltages between the common electrode and the first subpixel electrode via the first transistor, wherein the one or more time-dependent voltages are applied to the first subpixel electrode; and a second transistor in electrical communication with the first subpixel electrode and the second subpixel electrode, wherein a first enable signal activates the second transistor to place the first subpixel electrode and the second subpixel electrode into electrical communication. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electro-optic display of claim 1 further comprising a temperature sensor disposed proximate to the display pixel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The electro-optic display of claim 2 wherein the first enable signal activates the second transistor based on a measurement of ambient temperature from the temperature sensor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The electro-optic display of claim 2 wherein the temperature sensor controls the first enable signal to activate the second transistor based on a measurement of ambient temperature. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The electro-optic display of claim 1 further comprising a third transistor in electrical communication with the second subpixel electrode and the common electrode. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The electro-optic display of claim 5 wherein a second enable signal activates the third transistor to drain a remnant charge from the second subpixel electrode. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The electro-optic display of claim 6 wherein the second enable signal is controlled by a row selection signal associated with a row of display pixels, wherein the display pixel is not a display pixel of the row of display pixels. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The electro-optic display of claim 2 further comprising a third transistor in electrical communication with the common electrode and a fourth transistor, wherein the fourth transistor is in electrical communication with the second subpixel electrode. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The electro-optic display of claim 8 wherein the first enable signal deactivates the fourth transistor when the second transistor is activated. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The electro-optic display of claim 9 wherein a second enable signal activates the third transistor to drain a remnant charge from the second subpixel electrode. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The electro-optic display of claim 10 wherein the second enable signal is controlled by a row selection signal associated with a row of display pixels, wherein the display pixel is not a display pixel of the row of display pixels. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The electro-optic display of claim 1 further comprising a physical gap between the first subpixel electrode and the second subpixel electrode. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The electro-optic display of claim 1 further comprising a physical gap between at least one adjacent edge of the first and second subpixel electrodes. ### Claim 14 An electro-optic display comprising: a first subpixel electrode and a second subpixel electrode associated with a display pixel; an electrophoretic display medium disposed between a common electrode and the first and second subpixel electrodes; a display controller circuit in electrical communication with the common electrode and a first transistor associated with the display pixel, the display controller circuit capable of applying waveforms to the display pixel by applying one or more time-dependent voltages between the common electrode and the first subpixel electrode via the first transistor, wherein the one or more time-dependent voltages are applied to the first subpixel electrode; and a second transistor in electrical communication with the first subpixel electrode and a third transistor, wherein the third transistor is in electrical communication with the second subpixel electrode, and wherein a row selection signal associated with the display pixel activates the first transistor and the second transistor to place the first subpixel electrode into electrical communication with the third transistor. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The electro-optic display of claim 14 further comprising a temperature sensor disposed proximate to the electrophoretic display medium. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The electro-optic display of claim 14 wherein a second enable signal activates the third transistor. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The electro-optic display of claim 16 wherein the second enable signal is pulsed at a predetermined rate when the first transistor and the second transistor are activated. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The electro-optic display of claim 16 wherein the third transistor is activated for a subset of the time the first transistor and the second transistor are activated. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The electro-optic display of claim 14 further comprising a physical gap between the first subpixel electrode and the second subpixel electrode. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The electro-optic display of claim 14 further comprising a physical gap between at least one adjacent edge of the first and second subpixel electrodes.