Method and apparatus for low range bit depth enhancements for MEMS display architectures

• US 7,471,442 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2006
• Issued: 12/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Snaptrack Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm MEMS Technologies Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sampsell, Jeffrey B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sugarman; Scott J
• Assistant Examiner(s): PINKNEY, DAWAYNE
• Application Number:
  US11/454,162
• Publication Number:
  US 20070290961A1
• Time in Patent Office: 929 Days
• Field of Search: 359290-292, 359/296, 359223-225, 359/298, 359/198, 359301-303, 359/237, 359/242
• US Class Current: 359/290
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0271 Adjustment of the gradation levels within the range of the gradation scale, e.g. by redistribution or clipping
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/207 by domain size control G09G3/3637 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/2074 using sub-pixels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3466 based on interferometric effect

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.

Claims

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.

2. The light modulator device of claim 1, wherein the first actuation voltage is substantially equal to the second actuation voltage and wherein the first release voltage is different from the second release voltage.

3. The light modulator device of claim 1, wherein the first release voltage is substantially equal to the second release voltage and wherein the first actuation voltage is different from the second actuation voltage.

4. The light modulator device of claim 1, wherein the first display element has a first optically active area and the second display element has a second optically active area, wherein the ratio of the first optically active area to the second optically active area is approximately equal to an integer to one.

5. The light modulator device of claim 4, wherein the integer is 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10.

6. The light modulator device of claim 4, wherein the integer is 3, 7, 15, 31, 63, 127, or 255.

7. The light modulator device of claim 1, wherein the first display element is an interferometric display element and the second display element is an interferometric display element.

8. The light modulator device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises an array of pixels, the first display element and the second display element in the same pixel.

9. The light modulator of claim 1, wherein a magnitude of the first release voltage is less than a magnitude of the first actuation voltage.

10. The light modulator of claim 9, wherein a magnitude of the second actuation voltage is greater than a magnitude of the second release voltage.

11. A display including the light modulator of claim 1, comprising:

a processor that is configured to communicate with said display, said processor being configured to process image data; and

a memory device that is configured to communicate with said processor.

12. The display as recited in claim 11, further comprising a driver circuit configured to send at least one signal to said display.

13. The display as recited in claim 12, further comprising a controller configured to send at least a portion of said image data to said driver circuit.

14. The display as recited in claim 11, further comprising an image source module configured to send said image data to said processor.

15. The display as recited in claim 14, wherein said image source module comprises at least one of a receiver, transceiver, and transmitter.

16. The display as recited in claim 11, further comprising an input device configured to receive input data and to communicate said input data to said processor.

17. A light modulator device comprising:

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.

18. The light modulator device of claim 17, wherein the first conducting means comprises an electrical conduit.

19. The light modulator device of claim 17, wherein the second conducting means comprises an electrical conduit.

20. The light modulator device of claim 17, wherein the first modulating means comprises an interferometric modulator.

21. The light modulator device of claim 17, wherein the second modulating means comprises an interferometric modulator.

22. A method of manufacturing a light modulator device, the method comprising:

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.

23. A light modulator device fabricated by the method of claim 22.