Control of an electrowetting element

1. A method of controlling an electrowetting element, the method comprising:

receiving first data indicative of a first display effect;

using the first data, determining a first magnitude of a first voltage;

generating the first voltage with the first magnitude;

applying the first voltage to the electrowetting element;

receiving second data indicative of a second display effect different from the first display effect;

using the second data, determining a second magnitude of a second voltage, the second magnitude equal to the first magnitude;

generating the second voltage with the second magnitude; and

applying the second voltage to the electrowetting element.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a first brightness of the first display effect is greater than a second brightness of the second display effect.

3. The method according to claim 1 , comprising:

receiving third data indicative of a third display effect, a third brightness of the third display effect greater than a first brightness of the first display effect;

using the third data, determining a third magnitude of the third voltage, the third magnitude larger than the first magnitude;

generating the third voltage with the third magnitude; and

applying the third voltage to the electrowetting element.

4. The method according to claim 1 , comprising:

receiving fourth data indicative of a fourth display effect, a first brightness of the first display effect greater than a fourth brightness of the fourth display effect;

using the fourth data, determining a fourth magnitude of the fourth voltage, the fourth magnitude substantially equal to the first magnitude;

generating the fourth voltage with the fourth magnitude; and

applying the fourth voltage to the electrowetting element.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the determining the second magnitude of the second voltage comprises determining that a value corresponding to the second data is less than a threshold value.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the threshold value corresponds to a voltage value for application to the electrowetting element for switching a first fluid of the electrowetting element and a second fluid of the electrowetting element, the first fluid substantially immiscible with the second fluid, from a first configuration substantially without the second fluid adjoining a surface of a support plate of the electrowetting element to a second configuration with the second fluid in contact with a portion of the surface.

7. The method according to claim 1 , comprising:

before the applying the first voltage to the electrowetting element, applying a zero voltage to the electrowetting element such that a first fluid of the electrowetting element and a second fluid of the electrowetting element, the first fluid substantially immiscible with the second fluid, are in a configuration substantially without the second fluid adjoining a surface of a support plate of the electrowetting element,

wherein the first magnitude of the first voltage is a non-zero magnitude.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first display effect corresponds to a configuration of a first fluid of the electrowetting element and a second fluid of the electrowetting element, the first fluid substantially immiscible with the second fluid, with the second fluid in contact with at least: 1%, 5% or 10% of a surface of a support plate of the electrowetting element.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the applying the second voltage comprises applying the second voltage as a direct current voltage.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of: the applying the first voltage or the applying the second voltage, is between a first electrode of the electrowetting element and a second fluid of the electrowetting element, the electrowetting element further comprising a first fluid substantially immiscible with the second fluid.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein:

the applying the first voltage comprises applying the first voltage between a first electrode of the electrowetting element and a second fluid of the electrowetting element, the electrowetting element further comprising a first fluid substantially immiscible with the second fluid, and

the applying the second voltage comprises applying the second voltage between a second electrode of the electrowetting element and the second fluid.

12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein:

the applying the first voltage comprises applying the first voltage between a first electrode of the electrowetting element and a second fluid of the electrowetting element, the electrowetting element further comprising a first fluid substantially immiscible with the second fluid;

the applying the second voltage comprises applying the second voltage between a second electrode of the electrowetting element and the second fluid; and

the first display effect corresponds to a configuration of the first fluid and the second fluid, with the second fluid adjoining a portion of a surface of a support plate of the electrowetting element, the portion of the surface substantially corresponding to an extent of the second electrode.

13. A device comprising:

an electrowetting element comprising:

a first support plate;

a second support plate;

a first fluid; and

a second fluid substantially immiscible with the first fluid, the first fluid and the second fluid located between the first support plate and the second support plate; and

a control system operable to:

receive first data indicative of a first display effect;

using the first data, determine a first magnitude of a first voltage;

generate the first voltage with the first magnitude;

apply the first voltage to the electrowetting element;

receive second data indicative of a second display effect different from the first display effect;

using the second data, determine a second magnitude of a second voltage, the second magnitude equal to the first magnitude;

generate the second voltage with the second magnitude; and

apply the second voltage to the electrowetting element.

14. The device according to claim 13 , wherein the first support plate comprises a first electrode and a second electrode,

the control system further operable to:

apply the first voltage between the first electrode and the second fluid; and

apply the second voltage between the second electrode and the second fluid.

15. The device according to claim 13 , wherein:

the first support plate comprises a first electrode and a second electrode, and

the first display effect corresponds to a configuration of the first fluid and the second fluid with the second fluid in contact with a portion of a surface of the first support plate, the portion of the surface substantially corresponding to an extent of the second electrode,

the control system further operable to:

apply the first voltage between the first electrode and the second fluid; and

apply the second voltage between the second electrode and the second fluid.

16. The device according to claim 15 , wherein the second electrode is substantially absorbing for radiation in the visible spectrum.

17. The device according to claim 15 , comprising a layer substantially absorbing for radiation in the visible spectrum, the layer located to substantially overlap the portion of the surface of the first support plate.

18. The device according to claim 13 , wherein the control system comprises:

a display controller operable to:

receive the first data;

using the first data, determine the first magnitude of the first voltage;

receive the second data; and

using the second data, determine the second magnitude of the second voltage; and

a driver stage operable to:

generate the first voltage with the first magnitude;

apply the first voltage to the electrowetting element;

generate the second voltage with the second magnitude; and

apply the second voltage to the electrowetting element.

19. A method of controlling an electrowetting element, the method comprising:

receiving first data indicative of a first display effect; and

using the first data to:

determine a first magnitude of a first voltage;

generate the first voltage with the first magnitude;

apply the first voltage to the electrowetting element;

determine a second magnitude of a second voltage, the second magnitude larger than zero volts and smaller than the first magnitude;

generate the second voltage with the second magnitude; and

apply the second voltage to the electrowetting element.

20. The method according to claim 19 , comprising:

before the applying the first voltage to the electrowetting element, applying a zero voltage to the electrowetting element such that a first fluid of the electrowetting element and a second fluid of the electrowetting element, the first fluid substantially immiscible with the second fluid, are in a configuration substantially without the second fluid adjoining a surface of a support plate of the electrowetting element,

wherein the first magnitude of the first voltage is a non-zero magnitude.

21. The method according to claim 19 , wherein the second magnitude of the second voltage is for switching a first fluid of the electrowetting element and a second fluid of the electrowetting element, the first fluid substantially immiscible with the second fluid, from a first configuration with the second fluid in contact with a first portion of a surface of a support plate of the electrowetting element to a second configuration with the second fluid in contact with a second portion of the surface smaller than the first portion.

22. A device comprising:

an electrowetting element comprising:

a first support plate;

a second support plate;

a first fluid; and

a second fluid substantially immiscible with the first fluid, the first fluid and the second fluid located between the first support plate and the second support plate;

a control system operable to:

receive first data indicative of a first display effect; and

using the first data to:

determine a first magnitude of a first voltage;

generate the first voltage with the first magnitude;

apply the first voltage to the electrowetting element;

determine a second magnitude of a second voltage, the second magnitude larger than zero volts and smaller than the first magnitude;

generate the second voltage with the second magnitude; and

apply the second voltage to the electrowetting element.

23. The device according to claim 22 , wherein the control system is further operable to:

before applying the first voltage to the electrowetting element, apply a zero voltage to the electrowetting element such that the first fluid and the second fluid are in a configuration substantially without the second fluid adjoining a surface of the first support plate,

wherein the first magnitude of the first voltage is a non-zero magnitude.

24. The device according to claim 22 , wherein the second magnitude of the second voltage is for switching the first fluid and the second fluid from a first configuration with the second fluid in contact with a first portion of a surface of the first support plate to a second configuration with the second fluid in contact with a second portion of the surface smaller than the first portion.