Color electrophoretic displays incorporating methods for reducing image artifacts during partial updates

A method of driving a bistable electro-optic display including a controller, the bistable electro-optic display having a matrix of pixels arranged in rows and columns and including:

• a primary pixel that undergoes a transition from a first optical state to a second optical state,
• a secondary pixel immediately adjacent the primary pixel, wherein the secondary pixel does not undergo an optical state transition, and
• a tertiary pixel immediately adjacent the secondary pixel, the secondary pixel being between the primary pixel and the tertiary pixel in a row or in a column, wherein the tertiary pixel does not undergo an optical state transition,
• the method comprising:
• a) providing from the controller to the bistable electro-optic display a first update including a first waveform to the primary pixel, a third waveform to the secondary pixel, and a fifth waveform to the tertiary pixel;
• and
• b) providing from the controller to the bistable electro-optic display a second update including a second waveform to the primary pixel, a fourth waveform to the secondary pixel, and no waveform to the tertiary pixel,
• wherein the first and second optical states are different in color or gray scale, and
• wherein the third waveform, the fourth waveform, and the fifth waveform are all the same, and wherein the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth waveforms each include both positive and negative voltages.