Pixtronix, Incorporated

Analog Devices,inc.

Stephen English

Stephen R Lewis

Abraham McAllister

Eric G Nestler

Roger W Barton

John Edward DeRoo

Jianguo Yao

Christopher M Toliver

The invention relates to methods and apparatus for forming images on a display utilizing a control matrix to control the movement of MEMS-based light modulators.

Circuits for controlling display apparatus

A display apparatus includes an array of light modulators. Each light modulator has a first actuator configured to drive the light modulator into a first state and a second actuator configured to drive the light modulator into a second state. The display apparatus also includes a control matrix including, for each light modulator in the array, a single actuation voltage interconnect. The actuation voltage interconnect is configured to apply a first drive voltage to the first actuator of the light modulator and apply a second drive voltage to the second actuator of the light modulator. In addition, the actuation voltage interconnect is configured to control application of a data voltage to a latch circuit to control the application of the first and second drive voltages to the first and second actuators.

A display includes an array of light modulators each having a first actuator and a second actuator. A control matrix includes a circuit having a first state inverter having an output coupled to an input of a second state inverter. A data store capacitor is coupled to an input of the first inverter and configured to store a data voltage corresponding to a future pixel state of the pixel. A first update interconnect is coupled to the first state inverter and configured such that altering a voltage applied to the first update interconnect causes the first actuator to respond to the stored data voltage. A second update interconnect is coupled to the second state inverter and configured such that altering a voltage applied to the second update interconnect causes the second actuator to respond to a voltage state of the first inverter.

Circuits for controlling an array of light modulators of a display apparatus to generate display images

An apparatus includes a plurality of display elements arranged in an array and a control matrix coupled to the plurality of display elements to communicate data and drive voltages to the display elements. For each display element, the control matrix includes an actuation circuit coupling a voltage source to the display element. The control matrix is configured to apply an actuation voltage to an actuator of the display element throughout an actuation stroke of the actuator and to initiate the actuation of the actuator after a pre-charging signal that initiated the application of the actuation voltage to the actuator has been deactivated.

An oscillator includes a comparator and a variable voltage element. The comparator has a first input set to a reference voltage, a second input, and an output configured to produce an output voltage as a function of the voltages at the first and second inputs. The variable voltage element delivers to the second input a second voltage that is a function of a switched current. The switched current is a function of the reference voltage.

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Billerica, MA, United States of America

Stephen English