Matrix-addressed display having micromachined electromechanical switches
First Claim
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1. A display, comprising:
- a plurality of light-emitting elements; and
a circuit coupled to each respective light-emitting element and comprising a plurality of switches operable to control the plurality of light-emitting elements;
wherein each switch of the plurality of switches comprises a cantilever beam and a control electrode spaced therefrom;
the plurality of switches including a first switch and a second switch;
the first switch being operable to couple at least one of the plurality of light-emitting elements to a power supply; and
the second switch being operable to couple the control electrode of the first switch to an input signal representative of light emission data for at least one of the plurality of light-emitting elements.
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Abstract
A display includes a plurality of light-emitting devices arranged as a matrix of pixels and an addressing circuit coupled to each respective light-emitting device. The addressing circuit includes a plurality of micromachined electromechanical (MEM) switches operable to control the plurality of light-emitting devices. Each MEM switch includes a cantilever beam and a control electrode spaced therefrom to deflect the cantilever beam electrostatically in order to close or open the switch.
147 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A display, comprising:
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a plurality of light-emitting elements; and a circuit coupled to each respective light-emitting element and comprising a plurality of switches operable to control the plurality of light-emitting elements; wherein each switch of the plurality of switches comprises a cantilever beam and a control electrode spaced therefrom;
the plurality of switches including a first switch and a second switch;the first switch being operable to couple at least one of the plurality of light-emitting elements to a power supply; and the second switch being operable to couple the control electrode of the first switch to an input signal representative of light emission data for at least one of the plurality of light-emitting elements. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An electromechanical switch for use in a circuit disposed on a substrate, comprising:
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a control electrode secured to the substrate; a cantilever beam structure having a plurality of beams spaced from the substrate; and a plurality of conductors for connecting the electromechanical switch in the circuit wherein each respective conductor comprises a disconnect associated with a corresponding beam of the plurality of beams; wherein at least one beam of the plurality of beams is spaced from the control electrode. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A circuit coupled to a first input signal source and a second input signal source for controlling a light-emitting element powered by a power supply, comprising:
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a first switch having a first control electrode and a cantilever beam structure having a beam spaced from the first control electrode; a second switch having a second control electrode coupled to the second input signal source and a cantilever beam spaced from the second control electrode wherein the cantilever beam has a conductive end portion; a first conductor coupled to the first input signal source and the first control electrode and having a gap spaced from the conductive end portion of the cantilever beam of the second switch; and a second conductor coupled to the power supply and the light-emitting element and having a gap spaced from the beam of the cantilever beam structure of the first switch. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification