Driving method and circuit for an array of display cells or light valves

摘要

An image output device, such as a display or a light valve, has array circuitry (14) with cells, each with an electrooptical element (22) and a switching element (26). During a duty interval of a scan signal on a scan line (30), the switching element electrically connects the electrooptical element to receive a data signal from a data line (32). Scan drive circuitry (16) can provide the scan signal with a scanning frequency that is at least K times the lesser of the maximum response frequency of the electrooptical element and a normal human viewer's maximum perceptual frequency, where K can be eight or more. Data drive circuitry (18) can receive digital input signals and respond by providing, during each duty interval of the scan signal, a signal segment with either a maximum or a minimum voltage magnitude. The electrooptical element can receive, during each duty interval, either approximately the maximum voltage magnitude or approximately the minimum voltage magnitude and can present, through time averaging, any of K distinct, continuous gray levels without perceptible flicker.