Pixtronix, Incorporated

Analog Devices,inc.

Snaptrack Incorporated

Analog Deivces, Incorporated

Stephen R Lewis

Abraham McAllister

Roger W Barton

Nesbitt W Hagood

Jasper Lodewyk Steyn

Stephen English

Jignesh Gandhi

Nesbitt Ward Hagood, Iv

Richard S Payne

Alan G Lewis

Timothy J Brosnihan

John Fijol

Mark Todorovich

Scott Avram Lefton

Nada Vukovic-Radic

Alain Blaing Nadiguebe

A Paul Brokaw

Yang Zhao

John Edward DeRoo

Jianguo Yao

Rainer M Malzbender

Javier Villarreal

Gerald A Miller

Andrew M Mallinson

John W Fernandes

Abraham Mcallister

A method of operating a display including loading image data to pixels in multiple rows of pixels in an array of pixels during a data loading phase, actuating the pixels in the multiple rows during an update phase, and illuminating at least one lamp during an lamp illumination phase to illuminate the actuated pixels to form an image on the display, in which each of the loading, actuating and illuminating phases partially overlap in time.

Circuits for controlling display apparatus

This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for a display apparatus including dummy display elements that can be switched between being coupled to a test bus and a drive bus. When connected to the drive bus, the circuit components, including thin-film transistors, of the dummy display element experience exposure to typical operating signals. When connected to the test bus, the display apparatus can test the operating parameters of the dummy display element circuit components.

Display apparatus including dummy display element for TFT testing

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.

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.

This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for a display apparatus including dummy display elements that can be switched between being coupled to a test bus and a drive bus. When connected to the drive bus, the circuit components, including thin-film transistors, of the dummy display element experience exposure to typical operating loads. When connected to the test bus, the display apparatus can test the operating parameters of the dummy display element circuit components.

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.

This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for providing relatively thinner and less stiff compliant beams for a shutter assembly. A protective coating is deposited and patterned over the shutter assembly before it is released from a sacrificial mold over which the shutter assembly is formed. Because some primary surfaces of the compliant beams are in contact with the sacrificial mold, these primary surfaces are not coated with the protective coating. Therefore, when the shutter assembly is finally released, the resulting compliant beams are relatively thinner and less stiff providing a reduction in an actuation voltage used to operate the shutter assembly. In some instances, the protective coating is patterned into discontinuous segments before release.

Low-voltage MEMS shutter assemblies

This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for reducing undesired capacitance and electrostatic attraction among components of electromechanical systems (EMS) displays. An apparatus includes an array of display elements, a control matrix, and an electric insulation layer. The display elements each include a movable light blocking component coupled to a conductive beam. The control matrix includes a plurality of interconnects, including at least one switched interconnect, which passes under and is electrically isolated from at least one of the conductive beam and the movable light blocking component.

Display apparatus with densely packed electromechanical systems display elements

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

The invention relates to method and apparatus for forming images on a display utilizing a control matrix to control the movement of MEMs-based light modulators. The control matrix is formed on a transparent substrate and includes a first actuator controlled by a first switch to drive the light modulator into a first state, and a second actuator for driving the light modulator into a second state.

Display methods and apparatus

A direct-view display includes an array of MEMS light modulators and a control matrix formed on a transparent substrate, where each light modulator can be driven into at least two states, and a controller for controlling the states of each light modulator in the array. The control matrix transmits data and actuation voltages to the array. The controller includes an input, a processor, a memory, and an output. The input receives image data encoding an image frame for display. The processor derives a plurality of sub-frame data sets from the image data, where each sub-frame data set indicates desired states of light modulators in multiple rows and multiple columns of the array. The memory stores the plurality of sub-frame data sets. The output outputs the plurality of sub-frame data sets according to an output sequence to drive light modulators into the states indicated in the sub-frame data sets.

Direct-view MEMS display devices and methods for generating images thereon

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.

Growing community of inventors

Reading, MA, United States of America

Stephen R Lewis