Method and system for driving a bi-stable display

Abstract

Methods and systems are disclosed for providing video data and display signals. In one embodiment, a system is configured to display video data on an array of bi-stable display elements, where the system includes a processor, a display comprising an array of bi-stable display elements, a driver controller connected to the processor and configured to receive video data from the processor, and an array driver configured to receive video data from the driver controller and display signals from the processor, and to display the video data on the array of bi-stable display elements using the display signals. In another embodiment, a method of displaying data on a bi-stable display includes transmitting display signals from a processor to a driver of an array of bi-stable display elements, and updating an image displayed on the array of bi-stable display elements, wherein the updating is based on signals from the driver and performed on a periodic basis that is based at least in part upon the transmitted display signals.

1 . A system configured to display video data on an array of bi-stable display elements, the system comprising:
 a processor configured to receive video data;   a display comprising an array of bi-stable display elements;   a driver controller in data communication with the processor and configured to receive video data from the processor; and   an array driver connected to the driver controller and configured to receive video data from the driver controller, the array driver further being directly connected to the processor and configured to receive display signals directly from the processor, the array driver being further configured to display the video data on the array of bi-stable display elements based on the display signals.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to generate the display signals based on at least one of the video data and a property of the display. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the array of bi-stable display elements comprise interferometric modulators. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the display signals comprise instructions that are used by the array driver to control a drive scheme for the array of bi-stable display elements. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the array driver is configured to partition the array into one or more regions based on the display signals. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the array driver receives region information from the processor that identifies a group of bi-stable display elements of the array of bi-stable display elements, and wherein the display signals are used to control a refresh rate for the identified group of bi-stable display elements. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the array driver is further configured to display the video data in an interlaced format. 
     
     
         8 . A method of displaying data, comprising:
 transmitting video data from a processor to a driver controller;   transmitting video data from the driver controller to an array driver through a first connection, the array driver being connected to an array of bi-stable display elements;   transmitting display signals directly from the processor to the array driver through a second connection, the second connection directly connecting the processor and the array driver to allow data communication between the processor and the array driver; and   updating an image displayed on the array of bi-stable display elements, wherein the updating is based on the transmitted display signals.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising generating the display signals based on at least one of the video data and a property of the array of bi-stable display elements. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , additionally comprising:
 determining a display rate of video data; and   generating display signals based at least in part upon the determined display rate.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , additionally comprising partitioning the array into one or more groups of bi-stable display elements using partition information contained in the display signals, wherein updating an image displayed comprises updating an image displayed on the one or more groups of bi-stable display elements of the array, wherein each of the one or more groups is updated at a refresh rate that is specified by information contained in the display signals. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the array of bi-stable display elements comprises a plurality of interferometric modulators. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein updating an image displayed on the array comprises displaying the image in an interlaced format. 
     
     
         14 . A system for displaying video data on a bi-stable display, comprising:
 first means for coupling a processor to a driver controller and transmitting video data from the processor to the driver controller;   second means for directly coupling the processor to an array driver of an array of bi-stable display elements and transmitting display signals directly from the processor to the array driver;   means for transmitting video data from the driver controller to the array driver; and   means for updating an image displayed by the array of bi-stable display elements, wherein the updating is based on the transmitted display signals.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising means for generating the display signals based on at least one of the video data and a property of the array of bi-stable display elements. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the array of bi-stable display elements comprise interferometric modulators. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , additionally comprising:
 means for determining a display rate of video data; and   means for generating display signals based at least in part upon the determined display rate.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14 , additionally comprising:
 means for transmitting region information identifying a group of the bi-stable display elements; and   wherein updating the image that is displayed is performed for the group of bi-stable display elements.