Method and apparatus for low range bit depth enhancement for MEMS display architectures
First Claim
1. A light modulator device comprising:
- a first electrical conduit;
a second electrical conduit electrically isolated from the first conduit;
a first display element configured to communicate with the first conduit and the second conduit, the first display element in an actuated state when a voltage difference between the first conduit and the second conduit has a magnitude greater than a first actuation voltage, the first display element in a released state when the voltage difference between the first conduit and the second conduit has a magnitude less than a first release voltage; and
a second display element configured to communicate with the first conduit and the second conduit, the second display element in an actuated state when a voltage difference between the first conduit and the second conduit has a magnitude greater than a second actuation voltage, the second display element in a released state when the voltage difference between the first conduit and the second conduit has a magnitude less than a second release voltage, wherein either the first actuation voltage is substantially equal to the second actuation voltage and the first release voltage is different from the second release voltage or the first actuation voltage is different from the second actuation voltage and the first release voltage is substantially equal to the second release voltage.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A light modulator device includes a first electrical conduit, a second electrical conduit electrically isolated from the first conduit, a first display element, and a second display element. The first display element is in an actuated state when a voltage difference between the first conduit and the second conduit has a magnitude greater than a first actuation voltage and is in a released state when the voltage difference has a magnitude less than a first release voltage. The second display element is in an actuated state when the voltage difference has a magnitude greater than a second actuation voltage and is in a released state when the voltage difference has a magnitude less than a second release voltage. Either the actuation voltages are substantially equal and the release voltages are different, or the actuation voltages are different and the release voltages are substantially equal.
108 Citations
41 Claims
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1. A light modulator device comprising:
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a first electrical conduit; a second electrical conduit electrically isolated from the first conduit; a first display element configured to communicate with the first conduit and the second conduit, the first display element in an actuated state when a voltage difference between the first conduit and the second conduit has a magnitude greater than a first actuation voltage, the first display element in a released state when the voltage difference between the first conduit and the second conduit has a magnitude less than a first release voltage; and a second display element configured to communicate with the first conduit and the second conduit, the second display element in an actuated state when a voltage difference between the first conduit and the second conduit has a magnitude greater than a second actuation voltage, the second display element in a released state when the voltage difference between the first conduit and the second conduit has a magnitude less than a second release voltage, wherein either the first actuation voltage is substantially equal to the second actuation voltage and the first release voltage is different from the second release voltage or the first actuation voltage is different from the second actuation voltage and the first release voltage is substantially equal to the second release voltage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A light modulator device comprising:
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a first means for conducting electrical signals; a second means for conducting electrical signals, the second conducting means electrically isolated from the first conducting means; a first means for modulating light configured to communicate with the first conducting means and the second conducting means, the first modulating means in an actuated state when a voltage difference between the first conducting means and the second conducting means has a magnitude greater than a first actuation voltage, the first modulating means in a released state when the voltage difference between the first conducting means and the second conducting means has a magnitude less than a first release voltage; and a second means for modulating light configured to communicate with the first conducting means and the second conducing means, the second modulating means in an actuated state when a voltage difference between the first conducting means and the second conducting means has a magnitude greater than a second actuation voltage, the second modulating means in a released state when the voltage difference between the first conducting means and the second conducting means has a magnitude less than a second release voltage, wherein either the first actuation voltage is substantially equal to the second actuation voltage and the first release voltage is different from the second release voltage or the first actuation voltage is different from the second actuation voltage and the first release voltage is substantially equal to the second release voltage. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of modulating light, the method comprising:
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providing a first display element configured to communicate with a first conduit and a second conduit, the first display element in an actuated state when a voltage difference between the first conduit and the second conduit has a magnitude greater than a first actuation voltage, the first display element in a released state when the voltage difference between the first conduit and the second conduit has a magnitude less than a first release voltage; providing a second display element configured to communicate with the first conduit and the second conduit, the second display element in an actuated state when a voltage difference between the first conduit and the second conduit has a magnitude greater than a second actuation voltage, the second display element in a released state when the voltage difference between the first conduit and the second conduit has a magnitude less than a second release voltage, wherein either the first actuation voltage is substantially equal to the second actuation voltage and the first release voltage is different from the second release voltage or the first actuation voltage is different from the second actuation voltage and the first release voltage is substantially equal to the second release voltage; and selectively applying voltages to the first and second conduits to selectively actuate and release the first display element and the second display element. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method of displaying images, the method comprising:
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providing a plurality of pixels, each pixel comprising a plurality of display elements; selectively actuating the display elements of a pixel to provide a first bit density for a first range of intensities of the pixel; and selectively actuating the display elements of the pixel to provide a second bit density for a second range of intensities of the pixel, the second range of intensities higher than the first range of intensities, the second bit density less than the first bit density. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A method of manufacturing a light modulator device, the method comprising:
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forming a first electrical conduit; forming a second electrical conduit electrically isolated from the first conduit; forming a first display element configured to communicate with the first conduit and the second conduit, the first display element in an actuated state when a voltage difference between the first conduit and the second conduit has a magnitude greater than a first actuation voltage, the first display element in a released state when the voltage difference between the first conduit and the second conduit has a magnitude less than a first release voltage; and forming a second display element configured to communicate with the first conduit and the second conduit, the second display element in an actuated state when a voltage difference between the first conduit and the second conduit has a magnitude greater than a second actuation voltage, the second display element in a released state when the voltage difference between the first conduit and the second conduit has a magnitude less than a second release voltage, wherein either the first actuation voltage is substantially equal to the second actuation voltage and the first release voltage is different from the second release voltage or the first actuation voltage is different from the second actuation voltage and the first release voltage is substantially equal to the second release voltage. - View Dependent Claims (41)
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Specification