System and method for display device with end-of-life phenomena

• US 20060077524A1
• Filed: 04/08/2005
• Published: 04/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snaptrack Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm MEMS Technologies Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Inventors: Palmateer, Lauren
• Granted Patent: US 7,916,103 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/291
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/001 based on interference in an adjustable optical cavity interference filters G02B5/28; devices or arrangements using multiple reflections in spectrometry or monochromators G01J3/26
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0841 the reflecting element being moved or deformed by electrostatic means
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/06 Passive matrix structure, i.e. with direct application of both column and row voltages to the light emitting or modulating elements, other than LCD or OLED
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/04 Maintaining the quality of display appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/04 Display protection
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3466 based on interferometric effect

Abstract

Systems and methods of displaying an end-of-life image on an electronic display are disclosed. An end-of-life image is displayed on a MEMS display device in the presence of sufficient water vapor and without continued activation of the display. The image can he displayed in response to user input, in response to detection of a predefined level of water vapor within the display package, according to a prestored lifetime of the device, or according to the natural expiration of the lifetime of the display device and packaging.

Claims

1. A method of displaying an image on a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) display, comprising:

contacting a MEMS display with water vapor;

activating the display in response to user input; and

displaying a predefined image on the display in response to activation, wherein the image is displayed without continued activation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the predefined image comprises at least one of a user selected image and a prestored image.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the predefined image comprises displaying at least one of text and one or more graphics.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein contacting the MEMS display with water vapor comprises creating an opening in a packaging structure of the MEMS display to ambient conditions.

5. A method of displaying an image on a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) display, comprising:

detecting water vapor above a predefined level in a MEMS display package;

activating the display in response to detection of water vapor above the predefined level; and

displaying a predefined image on the display in response to activation.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the image is displayed without continued activation

7. The method of claim 5, wherein detecting water vapor above the predefined level comprises detecting water vapor above a plurality of predefined levels, and displaying a predefined image comprises displaying a different predefined image in response to detection of water vapor above each of the plurality of predefined levels.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the predefined image comprises at least one of text and one or more graphics.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the predefined image comprises at least one of a user selected image and a prestored image.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein the MEMS display is an interferometric modulator display.

11. A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) display device, comprising:

a MEMS display encapsulated within a package; and

a water vapor sensor within the package and coupled to the MEMS display, wherein the water vapor sensor is configured to sense water vapor in the package above a predefined level and generate the display of a predefined image in response thereto.

12. The MEMS display device of claim 11, wherein the predefined image comprises at least one of text and one or more graphics.

13. The MEMS display device of claim 11, wherein the water vapor sensor is configured to sense water vapor in the package above a plurality of predefined levels and generate the display of a different predefined image in response. to sensing the presence of water vapor in the package above each of the predefined levels.

14. The MEMS display device of claim 13, wherein at least a first predefined image displayed in response to sensing a first predefined level of water vapor indicates a remaining lifetime of the display device.

15. The MEMS display device of claim 11, wherein the predefined image comprises at least one of a user selected image and a prestored image.

16. The MEMS display device of claim 11, wherein the MEMS display device is configured to store information input by a user to a flash memory in response to sensing water vapor above a predefined level.

17. The MEMS display device of claim 11, wherein the MEMS display is an interferometric modulator display.

18. A method of displaying an image on a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) display comprising a plurality of display elements, the method comprising:

storing data representing a predetermined lifetime of the MEMS display in memory coupled to control circuitry configured to control operation of the display;

determining when the predetermined lifetime of the MEMS display has expired; and

displaying a predefined image in response to determining that the predetermined lifetime of the MEMS display has expired.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the predefined image comprises at least one of text and one or more graphics.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the predefined image comprises at least one of a user selected image and a prestored image.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising determining when the current life of the MEMS display is within a predefined range of the predetermined lifetime, and displaying a warning image in response to determining that the current life the MEMS display is within the predefined range.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the MEMS display is an interferometric modulator display.

23. A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) display device configured to display a predefined image at the end of an operational lifetime, comprising a plurality of display elements each comprising a mechanical layer and a substantially fixed conductive layer separated by a cavity in an undriven state, wherein a cavity height for a plurality of preselected display elements is less than a cavity height for unselected display elements, such that the mechanical layers of the plurality of preselected display elements remain in contact with the substantially fixed conductive layers of the plurality of preselected display elements in the presence of sufficient water vapor such that a predefined image is displayed according to the preselected display elements.

24. The MEMS display device of claim 23, wherein the predefined image comprises at least one of text and one or more graphics.

25. A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) display device configured to display a predefined image at the end of an operational lifetime, comprising:

a substrate including a MEMS device formed thereon, wherein the MEMS device comprises a plurality of MEMS elements configured to remain in an active state in the presence of sufficient water vapor;

a backplane;

a seal, positioned between the backplane and the substrate, wherein the MEMS device is encapsulated within the substrate and the backplane; and

a desiccant deposited on the backplane proximate the MEMS device, wherein the desiccant comprises one or more preselected areas with substantially less desiccant than unselected areas, such that a plurality of the MEMS elements proximate the predefined areas of the desiccant remain in an active state in the presence of less water vapor than a plurality of the MEMS elements proximate the unselected areas of the desiccant.

26. A method of displaying an image on a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) display, comprising:

applying a temperature differential to selective areas of a MEMS display package; and

displaying an image on the display corresponding to the selective areas.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the temperature differential is applied with a stylus.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein applying the temperature differential comprises applying a reduced temperature.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein applying the temperature differential comprises applying an increased temperature.

30. The method of claim 26, further comprising detecting water vapor above a predefined level in the MEMS display package, and notifying a user in response to said detection.

31. The method of claim 26, further comprising activating a plurality of MEMS elements of the MEMS display.