IP Library Granted Patent US 8,937,616
Granted Patent B2
US 8,937,616 · App. 13/419,727 · Granted Jan 20, 2015

Electro-optical apparatus, method for driving electro-optical apparatus, apparatus for controlling electro-optical apparatus, and electronic apparatus

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,937,616
App. No.
13/419,727
Granted
Jan 20, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

When a first data line becomes an H level and a second data line becomes an L level at the time that a scan line is at the H level, a first TFT is turned on and a second TFT is turned off. When the first TFT is turned on, a voltage higher than the voltage of a common electrode is applied to a pixel electrode, so that a pixel is displayed in black. When the first data line becomes the L level and the second data line becomes the H level at the time that the scan line is at the H level, the first TFT is turned off and the second TFT is turned on. When the second TFT is turned on, a voltage lower than the voltage of the common electrode is applied to the pixel electrode, so that a pixel is displayed in white.

Claims (34)

1. An electro-optical apparatus comprising:

a plurality of pixels, each pixel including:

charged particles between a first electrode and a second electrode; and

a pixel circuit, the pixel circuit including:

a scan line;

a data line;

a clock line;

a first transistor, a drain of the first transistor being connected to the first electrode, a predetermined first voltage being applied to a source of the first transistor;

a second transistor, a drain of the second transistor being connected to the first electrode, a predetermined second voltage being applied to a source of the second transistor;

a third transistor, a drain of the third transistor being connected to a gate of the first transistor, a gate of the third transistor being connected to the scan line, a source of the third transistor being connected to the data line; and

a fourth transistor, a drain of the fourth transistor being connected to a gate of the second transistor, a gate of the fourth transistor being connected to the clock line, a source of the fourth transistor being connected to the drain of the third transistor;

wherein a state in which the first voltage or the second voltage is applied to the first electrode is made or the first electrode becomes a high impedance state using a signal which is supplied to the gate of the third transistor and the gate of the fourth transistor and using a signal which is supplied to the source of the third transistor and the source of the fourth transistor.

2. The electro-optical apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:

a seventh transistor, an eighth transistor, and a ninth transistor are provided for each row of the pixel circuits;

a gate of the seventh transistor for each row is connected to a scan line corresponding to the corresponding row;

a gate of the eighth transistor for each row is connected to a scan line corresponding to a subsequent row of the corresponding row;

a voltage, used to turn off the ninth transistor, is applied to a source of the seventh transistor;

a voltage, used to turn on the ninth transistor, is applied to a source of the eighth transistor;

a drain of the seventh transistor and a drain of the eighth transistor are connected to a gate of the ninth transistor;

the first voltage is applied to a source of the ninth transistor; and

a drain of the ninth transistor is connected to the source of the first transistor.

3. A method for driving an electro-optical apparatus having a plurality of pixels having charged particles between a first electrode and a second electrode, each pixel including a pixel circuit, the pixel circuit including a scan line, a data line, a clock line, a first transistor, a second transistor, a third transistor and a fourth transistor, drains of the first transistor and the second transistor being connected to the first electrode, a gate of the first transistor being connected to a drain of the third transistor, a gate of the second transistor being connected to a drain of the fourth transistor, a gate of the third transistor being connected to the scan line, a source of the third transistor being connected to the data line, a gate of the fourth transistor being connected to the clock line, and a source of the fourth transistor being connected to the drain of the third transistor, the driving method comprising:

applying a predetermined first voltage to a source of the first transistor;

applying a predetermined second voltage to a source of the second transistor;

supplying a signal, used to turn on the third transistor, to a gate of the third transistor during a first period and a second period via the scan line;

supplying a signal, used to turn on the fourth transistor, to a gate of the fourth transistor during a first period via the clock line;

supplying a signal, used to turn off the fourth transistor, to the gate of the fourth transistor during a second period via the clock line; and

supplying an image signal, used to define a pixel display state, to the source of the third transistor and the source of the fourth transistor.

4. An apparatus for controlling an electro-optical apparatus having a plurality of pixels having charged particles between a first electrode and a second electrode, each pixel including a pixel circuit, the pixel circuit including a scan line, a data line, a clock line, a first transistor, a second transistor, a third transistor and a fourth transistor, drains of the first transistor and the second transistor being connected to the first electrode, a gate of the first transistor being connected to a drain of the third transistor, a gate of the second transistor being connected to a drain of the fourth transistor, a gate of the third transistor being connected to the scan line, a source of the third transistor being connected to the data line, a gate of the fourth transistor being connected to the clock line, and a source of the fourth transistor being connected to the drain of the third transistor, a predetermined first voltage being applied to a source of the first transistor, a predetermined second voltage being applied to a source of the second transistor,

wherein a signal, used to turn on the third transistor, is supplied to a gate of the third transistor during a first period and a second period via the scan line;

wherein a signal, used to turn on the corresponding fourth transistor, is supplied to a gate of the fourth transistor during a first period via the clock line;

wherein a signal, used to turn off the fourth transistor, is supplied to the gate of the fourth transistor during a second period via the clock line; and

wherein an image signal, used to define a pixel display state, is supplied to the source of the third transistor and the source of the fourth transistor.

5. An electronic apparatus comprising the electro-optical apparatus according to claim 1 .

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 13, 2018
From: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
To: E INK CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 047072/0325 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 14, 2012
From: YAMAZAKI, KATSUNORI
To: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 027861/0019 →