Weighted frame rate control with dynamically variable driver bias voltage for producing high quality grayscale shading on matrix displays

A bias voltage control module for establishing a desired image having a desired grayshading on a passive matrix display, the display including row electrodes and column electrodes, a bias voltage being applied to the row electrodes and column electrodes, the control module comprising:

• logic means for receiving a signal representative of the desired grayshading from an image storage apparatus;
• logic means for generating a predetermined number of frames to establish the desired grayshading, the frames together establishing the desired image;
• and
• logic means for dynamically establishing the bias voltage for each frame based on the desired grayshading, only a single row electrode at a time being selected for energization.

A bias voltage module for use with a matrix display system having a plurality of row and column electrodes and a plurality of electrode drivers associated with the row and column electrodes and requiring a bias voltage for presenting a sequence of images on the display, each image being established by a plurality of frames, comprising:

• logic means for establishing a grayshading for each frame to establish a desired grayshading for each image;
• logic means for receiving a signal representative of the desired grayshading;
• and
• logic means for dynamically varying the bias voltage used by at least some of the row and column electrodes in response to the signal, only a single row at a time being energized.

A passive matrix display, comprising:

• a plurality of row electrodes and column electrodes establishing a passive matrix and defining a plurality of pixels;
• a reference voltage network receiving a bias voltage;
• a plurality of electrode drivers associated with the electrodes to energize the pixels, the electrode drivers receiving signals from the reference voltage network;
• and
• at least one bias voltage generator connected to the reference voltage network for selectively generating, for use by the electrode drivers and based on a desired grayshading, a selected one of at least two predetermined bias voltages to cause the matrix display to present an image characterized by a desired grayshading.