MEMS display with touch control function

• US 8,941,607 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2012
• Issued: 01/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hung-Ta Liu
• Original Assignee: Hung-Ta Liu
• Inventors: Liu, Hung-Ta
• Primary Examiner(s): Bolotin, Dmitriy
• Application Number:
  US13/475,799
• Publication Number:
  US 20120229420A1
• Time in Patent Office: 984 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/174, 345/84, 345/85, 178/18.06, 178/18.07
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0445 using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0446 using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/046 by electromagnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/0426 Layout of electrodes and connections
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3466 based on interferometric effect

Abstract

A display system using microelectromechanical system (MEMS) is disclosed. The display system includes a first substrate, a touch control unit and a plurality of MEMS display units. The first substrate has a control array. The MEMS display units are disposed in the first substrate. The control array controls the MEMS display units.

Claims

1. A display system using microelectromechanical system (MEMS), comprising:

a first substrate;

a touch control unit for detecting a touch position; and

a plurality of MEMS display units disposed in the first substrate, wherein the touch control unit controls the MEMS display units,

wherein the touch control unit further comprises;

a sensor;

a first selective unit coupling with the sensor;

a second selective unit coupling with the sensor;

a first control unit coupling with the sensor;

a second control unit coupling with the sensor;

a plurality of first conductive lines arranged in parallel to each other and in a first direction, each of the first conductive lines has a first end and a second end, the first end of each of the first conductive lines couples with the first control unit, the second end of each of the first conductive lines couples with the first selective unit; and

a plurality of second conductive lines arranged in parallel to each other and in a second direction, each of the second conductive lines has a first end and a second end, the first end of each of the second conductive lines couples with the second control unit, the second end of each of the second conductive lines couples with the second selective unit; and

a plurality of transistors forming in positions that the first conductive lines cross the second conductive lines respectively;

wherein the MEMS display units are optical interference display units, each of the optical interference display units further comprises a first electrode formed on the first substrate and a second electrode formed over the first electrode,

the first electrodes couple with a common electrode, the second electrodes couple with the transistors, signals in the first conductive lines control movement, deformation, vibration or rotation of the second electrodes through the transistors.

2. The display system of claim 1, wherein each of the optical interference display unit has a single cavity or a plurality of cavities.

3. The display system of claim 2, the system further comprises a cover lens disposed over the optical interference display units.

4. The display system of claim 2, wherein each of the optical interference display units further comprises:

a post disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode to support the second electrode, a cavity is formed between the first electrode and the second electrode;

wherein the touch control unit moves the second electrode related to the first electrode.

5. The display system of claim 2, wherein the plurality of cavities have different depths of cavity.

6. The display system of claim 5, wherein the plurality of cavities have three depths of cavity to reflect or transmissive red light, green light and blue light respectively.

7. The display system of claim 5, wherein the plurality of cavities composed of a optical interference display to reflect or transmissive cyan color light, magenta color light, and yellow color light.

8. The display system of claim 1, wherein the first substrate is a semiconductor substrate, the MEMS display units are micro-lens apparatus, the micro-lens apparatus includes a plurality of micro-lens arranged in array and located on the first substrate, wherein each of the micro-lens includes a mirror and at least two control electrodes, wherein the touch control unit controls tilt angle, and tilt direction of the micro-lens.

9. The display system of claim 8, wherein when a light source is provided to the micro-lens apparatus, a touch sensing process is performed when the light source is turned off.

10. The display system of claim 1, the system further comprises a color filter disposed over the MEMS display units, and a cover lens disposed over the color filter, wherein the touch control unit is disposed inside of the cover lens, disposed outside of the cover lens, disposed in the cover lens, or disposed between the cover lens and the color filter, or disposed between the color filter and the MEMS display units.

11. The display system of claim 1, wherein the touch control unit detects the touch position by a resistive touch sensing technology, an electromagnetic touch sensing technology, a capacitive touch sensing technology, an optical sensing technology, an Ultrasonic sensing technology, a pressure sensing technology, a Surface acoustic wave sensing technology or any combination of the above.

12. The display system of claim 1, further comprising a front light source disposed over the MEMS display units, wherein the front light source is a white light source, a single color light source or comprises a plurality of color light source.

13. The display system of claim 12, wherein a touch sensing process is performed on the MEMS display units when the front light source is turned off wherein the touch control unit is disposed over the front light source.

14. The display system of claim 1, wherein when the touch control unit performs an electromagnetic touch sensing technology, the first control unit connects the second end of each of the first conductive lines to a first transmission line and the first selective unit sequentially connects the first ends of the first conductive lines based on an order to form sensing loops in the first direction;

the second control unit connects the second end of each of the second conductive lines to a second transmission line, the second selective unit sequentially connects the first ends of the second conductive lines based on an order to form sensing loops in the second direction; and

a first sensing method is performed to sense the magnetic flux, electromagnetic induction, current, voltage or frequency of sensing loops to determine distance, height, strength, a touch position or a touch strength.

15. The display system of claim 14, further comprising:

grouping the first conductive lines and the second conductive lines, wherein each group includes at least two first conductive lines, or at least two second conductive lines;

the first selective unit sequentially connects the first ends of the first conductive lines in each group based on an order to form sensing loops in the first direction;

the second selective unit sequentially connects the first end of the second conductive lines in each group based on an order to form sensing loops in the second direction;

transferring a sensing signal to the sensing loops; and

performing the first sensing method to sense the magnetic flux, electromagnetic induction, current, voltage or frequency of sensing loops to determine, distance, height, strength, a touch position or a touch strength.

16. The display system of claim 15, wherein the first sensing method is to transfer a sensing signal with a special frequency to the sensing loops to sense the magnetic flux, electromagnetic induction, current, voltage or frequency of the sensing loops, wherein the sensor determine whether or not the magnetic flux, electromagnetic induction, current or frequency of the sensing loops are changed.

17. The display system of claim 1, wherein when the touch control unit performs a capacitive touch sensing technology, the first control unit disconnects the connection between the second end of each of the first conductive lines and a first transmission line, and the second control unit disconnects the connection between the second end of each of the second conductive lines and a second transmission line, and a second sensing method is performed to sense the capacitance, current or voltage to determine, distance, height, strength, a touch position or a touch strength.