# US 9,753,272 B2 · Method and apparatus for controlling electrowetting cell > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,753,272 B2 - Document ID: US9753272B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/469,142 - Filed: 2014-08-26 - Published: 2015-04-30 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2013-10-28 - Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.; Seoul National University R&Db Foundation - Applicants: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.; Seoul National University R&DB Foundation - Inventors: Yong-joo Kwon; Kyu-hwan Choi; Yun-hee Kim; Jung-mok Bae; Yoon-sun Choi; Jung-hoon Lee; Seung-yul Choi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9753272B2 ## CPC - G02B 26/005: {based on electrowetting} - G09G 3/006: {Electronic inspection or testing of displays and display drivers, e.g. of LED or LCD displays (testing individual LED's G01R31/2635; testing lamps G01R31/44; testing of optical features of LCD displays G02F1/1309)} - G09G 3/348: {based on the deformation of a fluid drop, e.g. electrowetting} - G09G 2330/12: Test circuits or failure detection circuits included in a display system, as permanent part thereof - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - 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) ## Abstract Provided is a technology for controlling an electrowetting cell. The electrowetting cell may be controlled by applying a preset first voltage to the electrowetting cell, measuring a first circuit parameter between any one side surface and a conductive liquid disposed in the electrowetting cell and determining whether a reset second voltage is to be applied to the electrowetting cell based on the measured first circuit parameter. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for controlling an electrowetting cell, the apparatus comprising: a voltage application unit configured to apply a preset first voltage to the electrowetting cell; a measurement unit configured to measure a first circuit parameter between a conductive liquid in the electrowetting cell and any one side surface of the electrowetting cell; and a processor configured to predict a second circuit parameter based on the preset first voltage and to determine whether to apply a reset second voltage to the electrowetting cell, based on a difference between the measured first circuit parameter and the predicted second circuit parameter. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first circuit parameter is one of an impedance, a current, a voltage, and a capacitance between the side surface of the electrowetting cell and the conductive liquid. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to compare the measured first circuit parameter with a second circuit parameter, and when a difference between the first circuit parameter and the second circuit parameter is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, apply the reset second voltage to the side surface of the electrowetting cell. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the processor is further configured to transmit, to the voltage application unit, a control signal for applying the reset second voltage to the side surface of the electrowetting cell. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor comprises a lookup table including information about the second circuit parameter which is a predicted parameter determined based on the preset first voltage. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the measurement unit comprises a bridge circuit. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a signal amplification unit configured to amplify a signal output from the bridge circuit. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a noise removing unit configured to remove noise in a signal output from the bridge circuit. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the voltage application unit is further configured to apply one of a direct current voltage and an alternating current voltage to the side surface of the electrowetting cell. ### Claim 10 A method of controlling an electrowetting cell, the method comprising: applying a preset first voltage to the electrowetting cell; measuring a first circuit parameter between any one side surface of the electrowetting cell and a conductive liquid disposed in the electrowetting cell; predicting a second circuit parameter based on the preset first voltage; and determining whether a reset second voltage is to be applied to the electrowetting cell, based on a difference between the measured first circuit parameter and the predicted second circuit parameter. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the first circuit parameter is one of an impedance, a current, a voltage, and a capacitance between the side surface of the electrowetting cell and the conductive liquid. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the determining comprises comparing the measured first circuit parameter with a second circuit parameter; and wherein the method further comprises: applying a reset second voltage to the side surface of the electrowetting cell when a difference between the first circuit parameter and the second circuit parameter is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the applying the reset second voltage comprises transmitting, to a voltage application unit, a control signal for applying the reset second voltage. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the determining comprises using a lookup table comprising information about the second circuit parameter which is a predicted parameter determined based on the first preset voltage. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the measuring comprises measuring the first circuit parameter by using a bridge circuit. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising amplifying a signal that is output from the bridge circuit. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising removing noise in a signal that is output from the bridge circuit. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the applying comprises applying one of a direct current voltage and an alternating current voltage to the electrowetting cell. ### Claim 19 A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having embodied thereon a program executing a method of controlling an electrowetting cell, the method comprising: applying a reset first voltage to the electrowetting cell; measuring a first circuit parameter between any one side surface of the electrowetting cell and a conductive liquid disposed in the electrowetting cell; predicting a second circuit parameter based on the preset first voltage; and determining whether a reset second voltage is to be applied to the electrowetting cell based on a difference between the measured first circuit parameter and the predicted second circuit parameter.