Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus incorporating display elements having light modulators that can operate in more than two states. In some implementations, the light modulator assembly includes an electrostatic actuator that includes a load electrode coupled to a shutter and a drive electrode set positioned proximate to the load electrode. The drive electrode set includes a plurality of discrete portions that are configured to drive the light modulator assembly to a plurality of different light modulator states. In some such implementations, the portions of the drive electrode set are positioned opposite to corresponding regions of the load electrode. In some implementations, the portions are arranged such that the portions are configured to electrostatically engage with adjacent regions of the load electrode.

Abstract: A display apparatus includes a first substrate, a plurality of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) light modulators formed from a structural material coupled to the first substrate and a second substrate separated from the first substrate. A plurality of spacers extend from the first substrate to keep the second substrate a minimum distance away from the plurality of light modulators. The spacers include a first polymer layer having a surface in contact with the first substrate, a second polymer layer encapsulating the first polymer layer and a layer of the structural material encapsulating the second polymer layer. The spacers can be used as fluid barriers and configured to surround more than one but less than all of the MEMS light modulators in the display apparatus.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for an all n-type transistor inverter circuit. A circuit can include an input thin film transistor (TFT), a pull-down TFT, a discharge TFT, a first pull-up TFT, a second pull-up TFT, and a floating capacitor. The circuit also can include first and second low-voltage voltage sources and first and second high-voltage voltage sources. The TFTs, the capacitor, and the voltage sources can be coupled such that an output of the circuit is the logical opposite of an input of the circuit. In some implementations, the circuit can exhibit zero DC current in both logic states and can output voltages substantially equal to the voltage output by the first low-voltage voltage source and the second high-voltage voltage source. In some implementations, the circuit can be used to construct D flip-flops, buffers, and controllers for an active matrix electronic display.

Abstract: Systems and methods for displays that have a moveable shutter formed on a substrate having an aperture. The shutter, in at least one position, is asymmetrically aligned over the aperture. The asymmetric alignment provides an overlap between shutter and the substrate on one side of the aperture that is larger than an overlap between the shutter and the substrate on another side of the aperture. Typically, the larger overlap increases the ability of the shutter to reduce light passing through the aperture when then shutter is the in the at least one position.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for displaying images using a frame-specific contributing color (FSCC). In one aspect, an input is configured to receive image data corresponding to a current image frame. Contributing color selection logic is configured, based on received image data, to obtain a FSCC for use in conjunction with a set of frame-independent contributing colors (FICCs) to generate the current image frame on a display. In addition, subframe generation logic is configured to process the received image data for the current image frame to generate at least two subframes for each of the FICCs and the obtained FSCC such that an output by the display of the generated subframes results in the display of the current image frame.

Abstract: A cut which penetrates a resin layer is formed in the resin layer such that the cut surrounds a third upper surface. A film is formed such that the film covers the whole resin layer except for a bottom surface of the resin layer inside the cut and at least a portion of the resin layer is exposed outside the cut. The resin layer which is wholly covered with the film is left inside the cut, and the whole resin layer continuously formed with a surface exposed from the film is removed outside the cut. A bump is formed by the resin layer and the film inside the cut, and a shutter and at least a portion of a drive part are formed by the film outside the cut in a state where these parts are floated from a first substrate.

Abstract: A display apparatus includes a plurality of electromechanical systems (EMS) devices disposed on a first surface defined by a face of a substrate. Each EMS device includes a component which is movable in a plane that is substantially parallel to the first surface. The apparatus also includes a second surface positioned proximate to the substrate such that the plurality of EMS devices are located between the first surface and the second surface. In addition, each EMS device includes at least one anti-stiction projection positioned between the movable component and the second surface.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for forming electromechanical systems (EMS) displays where the area of a substrate occupied by a pixel circuit can be reduced if portions of the pixel circuit can be built in three dimensions. In some aspects, certain EMS displays can incorporate structures that are substantially normal to the surface of a substrate. Incorporating circuit components, such as transistors, into such structures, can reduce the area they occupy within the plane of the substrate. In some aspects, the components of a transistor can be fabricated directly into a MEMS anchor that supports a light modulator or a portion of an actuator over the substrate. In some other aspects, the transistor can be fabricated on one or more sidewalls of any MEMS structure.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for a multi-state shutter assembly. The multi-state shutter assembly can be used in an electronic display. The shutter assembly can include a movable light obstructing component. The shutter assembly also can include first and second actuators configured to move the light obstructing component between three states, including a fully light obstructive state, a substantially transmissive state, and a partially transmissive state. At least one of the three states is a neutral state in which both the first and second actuators are in an unactuated state. The shutter assembly also can include a controller configured to control the first and second actuator to selectively move the light obstructing component into each of the three states.

Abstract: A display includes pixels and a controller. The controller can cause the pixels to generate colors corresponding to an image frame. The controller can cause the display to display the image frame using sets of subframe images corresponding to contributing colors according to a field sequential color (FSC) image formation process. The contributing colors include component colors and at least one composite color, which is substantially a combination of at least two component colors. A greater number of subframe images corresponding to a first component color can be displayed relative to a number of subframe images corresponding to another component color. The display can be configured to output a given luminance of a contributing color for a first pixel by generating a first set of pixel states and output the same luminance of the contributing color for a second pixel by generating a second, different set of pixel states.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for improving an aperture ratio of a display apparatus. In particular, display elements are configured to have a length that is greater in one dimension than that in the other dimension. This implementation can reduce overhead costs associated with components such as actuators and actuator circuitry and improves the aperture ratio. Furthermore, display elements within the display apparatus can be arranged in a staggered manner. The staggered arrangement improves the perceived display element density of the display apparatus. In some implementations, the display elements are staggered along the rows of the display apparatus, while in some other implementations, the display elements are staggered along the columns of the display apparatus. In some implementations, multiple image pixels in one dimension are utilized to generate signals for each display elements.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods, non-transitory computer readable storage media, and apparatus for displaying images using hue-based frame-specific contributing colors (FSCCs). In one aspect, an input is configured to receive image data corresponding to a current image frame. Contributing color selection logic is configured, based on received image data, to obtain a set of FSCCs for use in conjunction with a set of frame-independent contributing colors (FICCs) to generate the current or a subsequent image frame on a display. The set of FSCCs are obtained from determining the dominant hues in the image frame. The image frame is displayed such that subframes associated with displaying the FSCCs have weights that are greater than the subframes associated with displaying the FICCs.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for addressing an array of pixels in a display. In one aspect, an electromechanical device includes an array of pixels and control circuitry including, for each pixel in the array of pixels, a first switch coupled to a first node for discharging an accumulated charge across the first node, a second switch coupled to a second node for discharging an accumulated charge across the second node, and a third switch coupled to the first switch, the second switch and a third node, the third switch capable of discharging an accumulated charge across the third node. In certain implementations, a method for addressing an array of pixels in a display is provided including charging a first and second node to an actuate voltage, charging a third node to a Vmid voltage, and moving a light modulator to a first position.

Abstract: The invention relates, in various aspects, to systems and methods for MEMS actuated displays that can be driven at high speeds and at low voltages for improved image quality and reduced power consumption.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and methods are disclosed herein for adjusting the operation of a display based on ambient lighting conditions. One such apparatus includes a sensor input for receiving sensor data indicative of an ambient lighting condition, output logic and color gamut correction logic. The output logic is configured to simultaneously cause light sources of at least two colors to be illuminated to form each of at least three generated primary colors. The color gamut correction logic is configured to cause the output logic to adjust the output of at least one display light source for each of the at least three generated primary colors to change the saturation of each of the at least three generated primary colors based on the received ambient light sensor data.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus for forming a display apparatus. In some implementations, a conductive material used for the formation of terminal contacts of a transistor can be also used to form a light absorbing coating over sidewalls of a plurality of apertures formed in an aperture layer of a display apparatus. In some implementations, the conductive material can be patterned such that the display apparatus also includes front facing light absorbing coating over the aperture layer. In some implementations, the front facing light absorbing coating can be electrically connected to a shutter assembly formed over the aperture layer.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus for providing pixel circuits for controlling the state of operation of light modulators in a display device. The state of operation of the light modulator can be controlled by the pixel circuit based on a data voltage stored in a data storage element of the pixel circuit. The pixel circuit includes an actuation circuit for providing an actuation voltage to the light modulator and a feedback circuit for providing a positive feedback voltage from an output node of the actuation circuit to an input node of the actuation circuit. In some implementations, the feedback circuit includes the data storage element connected between the input node and the output node.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and apparatus for forming images on a display utilizing a control matrix to control the movement of MEMs-based light modulators.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for modulating light to form an image on a display, as well as methods manufacturing such apparatus. The display apparatus includes dual-level shutter assemblies. Each dual-level shutter assembly includes front and rear light obstructing levels positioned adjacent to respective front and rear light blocking layers. The front and rear light blocking layers define apertures providing optical paths from a backlight to the front of the display. The dual-level shutters selectively obstruct these optical paths to generate an image.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods of manufacturing fluid-filled MEMS displays, where the fluid is sealed in the display assembly and substantially surrounds the moving components of the display to reduce the effects of stiction and to improve the optical and electromechanical performance of the display.