BI-STABLE DISPLAY FAIL SAFES AND DEVICES INCORPORATING THE SAME

摘要

A control circuit and method for controlling a bi-stable display having bi-stable segments each capable of transitioning between an on state and an off state via application of a voltage are disclosed. The voltage is provided to a display driver (174) from a charge pump, and supplied to individual ones of the bi-stable segments via outputs (118) from the display driver in accordance with display instructions provided by a system controller (102). Both a bi-stable segment voltage level of at least one of the outputs of the display driver and a charge pump voltage level of the voltage are detected and compared to a valid bi-stable segment voltage level and a valid charge pump voltage level, respectively. A malfunction signal may be provided to the system controller (136) if either of the detected voltage levels is not valid. The control circuit is useful in an electronic device such as, for example, a blood glucose measuring device.