Method and device for manipulating color in a display

• US 8,102,407 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2005
• Issued: 01/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Snaptrack Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm MEMS Technologies Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gally, Brian J., Cummings, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mengistu, Amare
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sharifi-Tafreshi, Koosha
• Application Number:
  US11/208,167
• Publication Number:
  US 20060066641A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,349 Days
• Field of Search: 345/698, 359/273, 359/337.22
• US Class Current: 345/698
• 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: G09G 3/3413 Details of control of colour illumination sources
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3433 using light modulating elements actuated by an electric field and being other than liquid crystal devices and electrochromic devices using liquid crystal devices G09G3/36; using electrochromic devices G09G3/38

Abstract

Embodiments include methods and devices for controlling the spectral profile and color gamut of light produced by an interferometric display. Such devices include illuminating a display with selected wavelengths of light. Embodiments also include a display comprising separate sections that output different predetermined colors of light. Other embodiments include methods of making the aforementioned devices.

Claims

1. A display comprising separate sections, the display comprising:

a first plurality of pixels in a first contiguous section of the display configured to display a first image, each of the first plurality of pixels including one or more modulators each having times of driving in relaxed and actuated states, each of the one or more modulators configured to produce a same first color as all other modulators in the first plurality of pixels at a time of driving and structurally not capable of producing a color that is different from the same first color during an other time of driving the first section of the display including only the one or more modulators configured to produce the same first color and not including an modulators configured to produce a color different from the same first color; and

a second plurality of pixels in a second section of the display configured to display a second image, each of the second plurality of pixels including one or more modulators each having relaxed and actuated states,

wherein the first plurality of pixels is different from the second plurality of pixels when each of the modulators in the first and second plurality of pixels are in the relaxed state, and wherein the first plurality of pixels is different from the second plurality of pixels when each of the modulators in the first and second plurality of pixels are in the actuated state, such that the first plurality of pixels output light of the same first color that is a different color than output by the second plurality of pixels.

2. The display of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of pixels form a first monochrome region and the second plurality of pixels form a second monochrome region.

3. The display of claim 1, wherein each of the pixels in the first section of the display includes a first plurality of subpixels defining a first pixel structure, wherein each of the first subpixels outputs light of a first color.

4. The display of claim 3, wherein each of the pixels in the second section of the display includes a second plurality of subpixels defining a second pixel structure, wherein each of the second subpixels outputs light of a second color, wherein the first and second colors are different.

5. The display of claim 4, wherein the pixels of the first plurality of pixels form a first monochrome region and wherein the pixels of the second plurality of pixels form a second monochrome region.

6. The display of claim 1, wherein the first section is adjacent to the second section.

7. The display of claim 1, wherein the first and second sections share at least one common border.

8. The display of claim 1, wherein the pixels are configured to reflect light.

9. The display of claim 1, wherein each of the pixels includes at least one interferometric modulator.

10. The display of claim 1, wherein each of the first plurality of pixels includes a first plurality of subpixels defining a first pixel structure, wherein each of the subpixels is configured to output the same first color and wherein each of the second plurality of pixels includes a second plurality of subpixels defining a second pixel structure, wherein each of which is configured to output the same second color.

11. The display of claim 10, wherein each of the subpixels includes at least one light modulator.

12. The display of claim 1, wherein each of the first plurality of pixels includes a single light modulator configured to output a first color and defining a first pixel structure and wherein each of the second plurality of pixels includes a single light modulator configured to output a second color and defining a second pixel structure.

43. The display of claim 1, wherein each of the first plurality of pixels includes a movable reflective surface and a partially reflective surface separated by a first distance and each of the second plurality of pixels includes a movable reflective surface and a partially reflective surface separated by a second distance.

44. The display of claim 43, wherein the first plurality of pixels is different from the second plurality of pixels in that the first distance is different from the second distance.

13. A display comprising:

a first plurality of light modulators located in a first contiguous region of the display, each of the light modulators having times of driving in relaxed and actuated states, each of the light modulators including a reflective surface configured to be positioned at a first distance from a partially reflective surface, wherein the first distance is configured so as to produce a first color,

wherein the first plurality of light modulators is configured to display a first image, and wherein the first contiguous region is configured to only produce the first color and white, the first color and black, a plurality of shades of the first color between the first color and white, or a plurality of shades of the first color between the first color and black as visible optical output at a time of driving, the first plurality of light modulators not structurally capable of producing a color that is different from the first color and white, the first color and black, the plurality of shades of the first color between the first color and white, or the plurality of shades of the first color between the first color and black as visible optical output during any other time of driving; and

a second plurality of light modulators located in a second contiguous region of the display, each of the light modulators having relaxed and actuated states, each of the light modulators including a reflective surface configured to be positioned at a second distance from a partially reflective surface, wherein the second distance is configured so as to produce a second color,

wherein the first plurality of light modulators is different from the second plurality of light modulators when each of the modulators in the first and second plurality of light modulators are in the relaxed state, and wherein the first plurality of light modulators is different from the second plurality of light modulators when each of the modulators in the first and second plurality of light modulators are in the actuated state, state such that the first plurality of light modulators output light of a different color than output by the second plurality of light modulators,

wherein the second plurality of light modulators is configured to display a second image, and wherein the second contiguous region is configured to only produce the second color and white, the second color and black, a plurality of shades of the second color between the second color and white, or of the second color between the second color and black as visible optical output,

wherein the first and second contiguous regions of the display are non-overlapping regions.

14. The display of claim 13, further comprising a third plurality of light modulators located in a third region of the display, wherein the third plurality of light modulators is configured to display a third image in at least two colors.

15. The display of claim 13, wherein at least the first plurality of modulators is configured to display text.

16. The display of claim 13, wherein each of the first and second plurality of light modulators includes at least one interferometric modulator.

17. The display of claim 13, further comprising:

a processor that is in electrical communication with at least one of the first and second plurality of light modulators, the processor being configured to process image data; and

a memory device in electrical communication with the processor.

18. The display of claim 17, further comprising:

a driver circuit configured to send at least one signal to at least one of the first and second plurality of light modulators.

19. The display of claim 18, further comprising:

a controller configured to send at least a portion of the image data to the driver circuit.

20. The display of claim 17, further comprising:

an image source module configured to send the image data to the processor.

21. The display of claim 20, wherein the image source module includes at least one of a receiver, transceiver, and transmitter.

22. The display of claim 17, further comprising:

an input device configured to receive input data and to communicate the input data to the processor.

45. The display of claim 13, wherein the distance configured so as to produce a first color is different from the distance configured so as to produce a second different color.

23. A display comprising:

a first means for displaying a pixel of a first image in a first section of the display wherein the first means is configured to only produce a first color and white, the first color and black, a plurality of shades of the first color between the first color and white, or a plurality of shades of the first color between the first color and black as visible optical output at a time of driving, the first means structurally not capable of producing a color that is different from the first color and white, the first color and black, the plurality of shades of the first color between the first color and white, or the plurality of shades of the first color between the first color and black as visible optical output during any other time of driving, the first means having relaxed and actuated states during the times of driving; and

a second means for displaying a pixel of a second image in a second section of the display wherein the second means is configured to only produce a second color and white, the second color and black, a plurality of shades of the second color between the second color and white, or of the second color between the second color and black as visible optical output, the second means having relaxed and actuated states,

wherein the structure of the first means is different from the structure of the second means when both the first and second means are in the actuated state, and wherein the structure of the first means is different from the structure of the second means when both the first and second means are in the relaxed state such that the first means output light of a different color than output by the second means.

24. The display of claim 23, wherein the first means for displaying a pixel of the first image includes a pixel in the display.

25. The display of claim 24, wherein the display pixel includes a plurality of interferometric modulators.

26. The display of claim 24, wherein the display pixel includes a single interferometric modulator.

27. The display of claim 23, wherein the second means for displaying a pixel of the second image includes a pixel in the display.

28. The display of claim 27, wherein the display pixel includes a plurality of interferometric modulators.

29. The display of claim 27, wherein the display pixel includes a single interferometric modulator.

30. The display of claim 23, wherein the first and second sections are monochrome.

31. The display of claim 23, wherein the first and second sections are non-overlapping.

46. The display of claim 23, wherein the first means includes a movable reflective surface and a partially reflective surface separated by a first distance and the second means includes a movable reflective surface and a partially reflective surface separated by a second distance.

47. The display of claim 46, wherein the first distance is different from the second distance.

32. A method of making a display comprising separate sections, the method comprising:

forming a first plurality of pixels in a first section of the display, each of the first plurality of pixels including at least one light modulator having times of driving relaxed and actuated states the at least one light modulator configured to produce a same first color as all other modulators in the first plurality of pixels at a time of driving and structurally not capable of producing a color that is different from the same first color during an other time of driving the first section of the display including only the at least one modulator configured to produce the same first color and not including any modulators configured to produce a color different from the same first color; and

forming a second plurality of pixels in a second section of the display, the second plurality of pixels including at least one light modulator having relaxed and actuated states,

wherein the second plurality of pixels is formed differently than the first plurality of pixels such that the first plurality of pixels output light of a different color than output by the second plurality of pixels when each of the modulators in the first and second plurality of pixels are in the relaxed states.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising forming a third plurality of pixels in a third section of the display such that the third plurality of pixels has a third pixel structure that is different from first and second pixel structures of the first and second plurality of pixels and the first and second plurality of pixels each output light of a different color than the third plurality of pixels.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein forming each of the first plurality of pixels includes forming a movable reflective layer and a partially reflective layer separated by a first distance and each of the second plurality of pixels includes a movable reflective layer and a partially reflective layer separated by a second distance.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the first pixel structure is different from second pixel structure at least in that the first distance is different from the second distance.

36. The method of claim 32, wherein the at least one light modulator includes a single interferometric modulator.

37. The method of claim 32, wherein the at least one light modulator includes a plurality of interferometric modulators.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein each of the interferometric modulators in the first plurality of light modulators output light of substantially the same color as other interferometric modulators in the first plurality of light modulators and wherein each of the interferometric modulators in the second plurality of light modulators output light of substantially the same color as other interferometric modulators in the second plurality of light modulators.

39. The method of claim 32, wherein forming the first plurality of pixels further comprises including at least one color filter.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein forming the second plurality of pixels further comprises including at least one color filter.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the at least one color filter for the first plurality of pixels is different from the at least one color filter for the second plurality of pixels.

42. A display formed by the method of claim 32.

48. A display comprising:

a first plurality of light modulators located in a first contiguous region of the display, each of the light modulators having times of driving in relaxed and actuated states, each of the light modulators including a reflective surface configured to be positioned at a distance from a partially reflective surface, wherein the distance is configured so as to produce a first color, wherein the first plurality of light modulators is configured to display a first image, and wherein the first contiguous region is configured to only produce the first color and white, the first color and black, white and a plurality of shades of the first color between the first color and white, or black and a plurality of shades of the first color between the first color and black as visible optical output at a time of driving, the first plurality of light modulators structurally not capable of producing a color that is different from the first color and white, the first color and black, white and the plurality of shades of the first color between the first color and white, or black and the plurality of shades of the first color between the first color and black as visible optical output during any other time of driving, and

a second plurality of light modulators located in a second contiguous region of the display, each of the light modulators having relaxed and actuated states, wherein the second plurality of light modulators is configured to display a second image in at least two colors,

wherein the first plurality of light modulators is different from the second plurality of light modulators when each of the modulators in the first and second plurality of light modulators are in the relaxed state, and wherein the first plurality of light modulators is different from the second plurality of light modulators when each of the modulators in the first and second plurality of light modulators are in the actuated state, state such that the first plurality of light modulators output light of a different color than the second plurality of light modulators; and

wherein the first and second contiguous regions of the display are non-overlapping regions.

49. The display of claim 48, wherein at least the first plurality of modulators is configured to display text.

50. The display of claim 48, wherein each of the first and second plurality of light modulators includes at least one interferometric modulator.