Addressing a matrix of bistable pixels.

摘要

A matrix of bistable pixels defined by ferroelectric liquid crystal material situated at the areas of overlap of row and column electrodes is addressed by blanking the rows and subsequently setting selected pixels to the unblanked state row by row by applying a select waveform (21) to the relevant row electrode while applying charge-balanced data waveforms (35 or 37) in parallel to the column electrodes. One data waveform (35) leaves the corresponding pixel in the blanked state while the other (37) switches it to the unblanked state. Each data waveform comprises a pair of contiguous pulses (39, 41 or 45, 47) the transition between which coincides with the start of the select pulse (31). In order to prepare each pixel to be switched or non-switches the first pulse (39 or 45) of each pair is longer than the select pulse (31). <IMAGE>