Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus for electromechanical systems (EMS) devices with a plurality of electrically isolated electrode segments each connected to a distinct thin film transistor (TFT), where a plurality of TFTs drive the EMS device by applying a common voltage to the plurality of electrode segments. The plurality of TFTs can be configured to allow each electrode segment to have its own voltage during actuation. The EMS device can include a substrate, a stationary electrode over the substrate, and a movable electrode over the stationary electrode with a gap defined between the stationary electrode and the movable electrode. At least one of the stationary electrode and the movable electrode includes the plurality of electrode segments. The plurality of TFTs and the plurality of electrode segments can increase the stable range of the EMS device.

Abstract: This disclosure provides apparatus, systems and methods for an electromechanical systems (EMS) device having one or more flexible support posts. In one aspect, the EMS device includes a substrate, a stationary electrode over the substrate, one or more flexible support posts over the substrate, and a movable electrode over the stationary electrode and supported by the one or more flexible support posts. The movable electrode is configured to move across a gap between the movable electrode and the stationary electrode upon electrostatic actuation, where the one or more flexible support posts include a first organic material and can be configured to compress to permit the movable electrode to move across the gap.

Abstract: Various implementations described herein involve interferometric modulators (IMODs), which may be single-mirror IMODs (SMIs). Such IMODs may include an absorber stack and a mirror stack. The absorber stack and the mirror stack may define a gap therebetween and may be capable of being positioned in a plurality of positions relative to one another to form a plurality of gap heights. A hinge area may physically connect the mirror stack and an anchor area. Some such IMODs have hinge areas without any metal layer. However, the hinge area may be capable of forming an electrical connection with at least one metal layer of the mirror stack. For example, such IMODs may have a hinge area that includes a non-metal conductor.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for a display drive scheme without a reset. In one aspect, a first voltage can be applied to an electrode of a display unit to position a movable element from a first position towards a second position, and a second voltage can be applied to the electrode of the display unit to position the movable element to the second position.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems and apparatus for an arrangement of pixels and interconnects in a display. In one aspect, interconnect for the arrangement of pixels may be routed to reduce parasitic capacitance.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for forming electromechanical devices having a gap between a movable layer and a fixed layer. In one aspect, the movable layer may be supported by hinge structures, and the design of the hinge structure may be controlled to provide a desired amount of flexure, providing electromechanical devices with a desired gap height. The height of the gap may be larger than the thickness a sacrificial material used during the fabrication process. In another aspect, the design of the hinge structure may be used to control threshold voltages of electromechanical devices.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for an arrangement of pixels and interconnects in a display. In one aspect, polarities of pixels may be in a dot inversion configuration, or checkerboard pattern, to reduce the visibility of flicker. Various interconnect alternatively couple between modules in different columns or rows to provide dot inversion.

Abstract: A power converter includes a full-bridge converter circuit and a regulation circuit. The full-bridge converter circuit includes a full-bridge circuit having a first and a second input terminals and a first and a second output terminals. The regulation circuit is bridged across the first and the second input terminals of the full-bridge circuit and connected to the first output terminal of the full-bridge circuit. The regulation circuit is configured for operatively regulating an output voltage across the first and the second output terminals of the full-bridge circuit by cooperating with the full-bridge converter circuit, such that the output voltage across the first and the second output terminals of the full-bridge circuit has more than three voltage levels. A method for controlling a power converter is also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A display apparatus comprising an array of electromechanical display elements and a driver circuit coupled to the array is provided. The driver circuit is configured to apply a DC voltage to a first stationary electrode of the display element and adjust a bias voltage applied to a second stationary electrode of the display element from a first bias voltage to a second bias voltage before a reset period. The driver circuit is further configured to apply a first reset voltage to a movable electrode of the display element during the reset period, apply a write voltage to the movable electrode during a charging period to charge the movable electrode with a charge Q defined at least in part by the write voltage, and adjust the bias voltage applied to the second stationary electrode from the second bias voltage to a third bias voltage during a bias period.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for providing voltages to an arrangement of display modules in a display. In one aspect, a group including multiple rows of display modules may be provided a reset signal at the same time. Each row may be provided its own driver circuit to provide a row enable signal such that each row of display modules in the group may be biased row-by-row following the reset. Additionally, driver circuitry providing a variety of voltages to the display modules may be implemented in chip-on-glass (COG).

Abstract: An optical communication system may include a light transmission unit transmitting a light beam having a first polarization, a quarter waveplate to receive the light beam and to modify the light beam to have a second polarization, and a retroreflector to receive the light beam from the quarter waveplate and reflect the light beam to the quarter waveplate, which modifies the light beam to have a third polarization. The optical communication system may also include a half waveplate to modify the first polarization such that the first polarization is about 90 degrees rotated compared to the third polarization, and a polarizer to pass the light beam having the third polarization and to block most of the light beam having the first polarization.

Abstract: This disclosure provides apparatus, systems and methods for an electromechanical systems (EMS) device having a non-electrically active absorber. In one aspect, the EMS device includes a stationary electrode over a substrate, a dielectric layer over the stationary electrode, an absorber over the dielectric layer, and a movable electrode over the absorber. The movable electrode is configured to move to a plurality of positions between the absorber and the movable electrode to define a plurality of gap heights. Furthermore, the absorber includes a non-electrically active material. In some implementations, the absorber can include an optical layer having a plurality of particles in an electrically insulating material.

Abstract: This disclosure provides apparatus, systems and methods for an electromechanical systems (EMS) device having one or more flexible support posts. In one aspect, the EMS device includes a substrate, a stationary electrode over the substrate, one or more flexible support posts over the substrate, and a movable electrode over the stationary electrode and supported by the one or more flexible support posts. The movable electrode is configured to move across a gap between the movable electrode and the stationary electrode upon electrostatic actuation, where the one or more flexible support posts include a first organic material and can be configured to compress to permit the movable electrode to move across the gap.

Abstract: This disclosure provides apparatus, systems and methods for an electromechanical systems (EMS) device made of organic materials. In one aspect, the EMS device includes a stationary electrode over a substrate and a movable electrode over the stationary electrode, where the movable electrode is configured to move across a gap between the movable electrode and the stationary electrode by electrostatic actuation. One or more layers between the movable electrode and the stationary electrode may be made of polymer material. One or more layers in the EMS device may include an optical layer made of polymer material and configured to attenuate energy of light corresponding to one or more wavelength ranges. In some implementations, the optical layer may include a plurality of absorber particles in a host material that is electrically insulating.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for enhancing the brightness and/or contrast ratio of display devices. In one aspect, the display devices can include an annular diffuser that is configured to scatter light into a ring shaped region. The annular diffuser can include a plurality of axicon lenses or holographic features. The reflective display can include an annular diffuser to shift the direction along which most of the modulated light is scattered away from the direction along which light is specularly reflected by the display devices to reduce specular glare and enhance brightness and/or contrast ratio.

Abstract: The disclosure discloses an antenna module and an electronic system. The antenna module includes a waterproof protective cover, a transparent cap, a printed circuit board, a wireless communication unit and an antenna unit. The waterproof protective cover is removably assembled onto an opening on a metal shielding case of the electronic system. The water-proof protective cover has a housing slot. The transparent cap is mounted on the waterproof protective cover. A first part of the printed circuit board is inserted into the housing slot. A second part of the printed circuit is located within the metal shielding case. The wireless communication unit is disposed on the second part of the printed circuit board. The antenna unit is disposed on the first part of the printed circuit board and electrically connected with the wireless communication unit.

Abstract: The disclosed technology relates to methods of patterning elongated structures. In one aspect, a method of forming pillars includes providing a substrate and providing a plurality of beads on a surface of the substrate. Regions of the surface without a directly overlying bead are exposed. The method additionally includes selectively etching the exposed regions of the substrate between the beads such that a plurality of pillars is formed under areas masked by the beads. Selectively etching completely removes at least some of the beads. The pillars that are not covered by beads are etched, thereby leaving some pillars taller than others, with the pillar height pending on the amount of time a pillar was left exposed to etchant by a removed bead.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus for an electromechanical systems (EMS) device with one or more protrusions connected to a surface of the EMS device. In one aspect, the EMS device includes a substrate, a stationary electrode over the substrate, and a movable electrode over the stationary electrode. The movable electrode is configured to move to three or more positions across a gap by electrostatic actuation between the movable electrode and the stationary electrode. When the protrusions contact any surface of the EMS device at one of the positions across the gap, the protrusions change the stiffness of the EMS device. At least one of the surfaces in contact with the one or more protrusions is non-rigid. In some implementations, the protrusions have a height greater than about 20 nm.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an inverter and a control method thereof. The inverter includes a first bridge leg having a series of first switch, second switch, third switch, fourth switch and fifth switch, and a second first bridge leg having a series of sixth switch, seventh switch, eighth switch, ninth switch, tenth switch. The control method includes steps of synchronously turning on or off the first switch, second switch, ninth switch and tenth switch, controlling that an on/off state of the third switch or eighth switch is complementary to an on/off state of the first switch, second switch, ninth switch and tenth switch, and synchronously turning on or off the fourth switch, fifth switch, sixth switch and seventh switch.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an inverter and a control method thereof. The inverter includes a first bridge leg having a series of first switch, second switch, third switch, fourth switch and fifth switch, and a second first bridge leg having a series of sixth switch, seventh switch, eighth switch, ninth switch, tenth switch. The control method includes steps of synchronously turning on or off the first switch, second switch, ninth switch and tenth switch, controlling that an on/off state of the third switch or eighth switch is complementary to an on/off state of the first switch, second switch, ninth switch and tenth switch, and synchronously turning on or off the fourth switch, fifth switch, sixth switch and seventh switch.