Abstract: The various embodiments include a near-eye display having a transmissive display and a diffractive micro-lens array. The transmissive display may be positioned relative to the diffractive micro-lens array so that the distance between the transmissive display and the diffractive micro-lens array is be approximately equal to focal length of the diffractive micro-lens array. The transmissive display may also be positioned relative to the diffractive micro-lens array so that a percentage of light emitted from the transmissive display is diffracted by the micro-lens array and collimated into focus on a retina of a human eye. The transmissive display may be further positioned relative to the diffractive micro-lens array so that light from a real world scene passes through transparent portions of the transmissive display and is diffracted by the micro-lens array out of focus of the human eye.

Abstract: A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for modulating optics in a display are provided. An apparatus forms a plurality of zone plates in a liquid crystal using electric fields. Each zone plate has a center, and the centers are aligned along a first axis of the display. The apparatus moves the plurality of zone plates in a first direction along a second axis of the display different from the first axis of the display, while maintaining alignment of the centers of the plurality of zone plates along the first axis. Such movement is provided through repositioning of electric fields through the liquid crystal.

Abstract: Some implementations described herein involve defining a viewing angle range, also referred to herein as a viewing cone. The viewing cone may be produced by an array of optical fibers on a display. The optical fiber array may include tapered optical fibers that are capable of increasing the amount of light transmitted through the optical fiber array. The optical fiber array may be a graded index optical fiber array, wherein the refractive index of the optical fiber cores varies along the axis of the optical fibers.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus related to electromechanical systems display devices. In one aspect, an apparatus includes a display assembly, a sensor, and a processor. The display assembly may include an array of electromechanical systems display devices. The sensor may be configured to provide a signal indicative of an illumination angle, a viewing angle, or both, with respect to a line perpendicular to the display assembly. The processor may be configured to receive the signal from the sensor, to determine the illumination angle and/or viewing angle, and to process image data to compensate for the determined illumination angle and/or viewing angle. In one implementation, the image data is processed to compensate for a shift in a wavelength of light reflected from at least one of the electromechanical systems display devices that would have occurred as a result of a non-normal illumination and/or viewing angle.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for displaying high bit-depth images using a hybrid image dithering method that combines aspect of spatial error diffusion and temporal dithering on display devices including display elements that can display multiple primary colors.

Abstract: A method for reducing bit-depth of image data for an imaging device includes receiving an image frame for display to the imaging device. The method additionally includes applying temporal error diffusion for the image frame to produce a plurality of image subframes, wherein temporal errors generated in one subframe of the image frame are passed to a next subframe of the image frame for temporal error diffusion. The method also includes applying spatial error diffusion to remaining temporal errors from the temporal error diffusion of the image frame.

Abstract: A display apparatus may include a multi-state IMOD, such as an analog IMOD (AIMOD), a 3-state IMOD (such as having a white state, a black state and one colored state) or a 5-state IMOD (such as having a white state, a black state and three colored states). The multi-state IMOD may include a movable reflective layer and an absorber stack. The absorber stack may include a first absorber layer having a first absorption coefficient and a first absorption peak at a first wavelength, a second absorber layer having a second absorption coefficient and a second absorption peak at a second wavelength, and a third absorber layer having a third absorption coefficient and a third absorption peak at a third wavelength. The first, second and third absorption layers may have absorption levels that drop to nearly zero at the center of each neighboring absorber layer's absorption peak.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for diffusing light in a display device, such as a reflective display device. In one aspect, the display can include an array of display elements and an optical diffuser forward of the array. The diffuser can include an optically transmissive filler material and a plurality of spaced-apart protrusions extending into the filler material. The protrusions can have varying heights. In some portions of the diffuser, the protrusions may be formed of optically transmissive material, to provide diffusion. In some other portions, the protrusions may be formed of light absorbing material to form a black mask in those sections.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for rendering colors in displays, such as adjustable interferometric modulation displays can produce many colors with different sub-sets of primary colors. Received colors to be rendered are analyzed to determine when the colors to be rendered are within a predefined neutral region of a color space. Temporal primary colors may be generated to be used for rendering the received colors in a color space that are generated by temporal modulation using at least two temporal subframes to mix first and second primary colors of a display, such as white and black primaries. The temporal primary colors are used when rendering colors that lie within the predefined neutral region of the color space. When white and black primaries are used for temporal modulation, the produced grayscale temporal primaries are more robust than using two complementary colors, affording more robust neutral and near neutral colors.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus for an analog or multistate electromechanical systems display devices including movable absorber together with a movable reflective layers. In one aspect, an electromechanical systems display device may include a movable reflector assembly and a movable absorber assembly. The absorber assembly may be disposed between the reflector assembly and a substrate. The absorber assembly may be configured to move to an absorber white state position proximate the reflector assembly and defining a first gap when the reflector assembly is in a reflector white/black position. The absorber assembly may be configured to move to a closed position closer to the substrate, defining a second gap, when the reflector assembly is in the reflector white/black position. The reflector assembly may be configured to move from the reflector white/black position to increase a height of the second gap when the absorber assembly is in the closed position.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for making and controlling single-mirror interferometric modulators (IMODs), which may be multi-state IMODs or analog IMODs. In one aspect, a movable reflector stack or an absorber stack of an IMOD may include at least one protrusion that is configured to cause the movable reflector stack to be tilted relative to the absorber layer when the movable reflector stack is moved close to the absorber stack. The protrusion may be configured to cause color averaging when the IMOD is in a white state. The absorber stack may include an absorber layer having a lower extinction coefficient value at a red wavelength and a higher extinction coefficient value at a blue wavelength.

Abstract: A diffuser stack may include a first film with a first index of refraction and a second film proximate the first film. The second film may have a second index of refraction that is higher than the first index of refraction. An interface between the first film and the second film may include an array of microlenses of substantially randomized sizes. The microlenses may include sections of features that are substantially spherical, polygonal, conical, etc. The first and second films may be disposed between an array of pixels and a substantially transparent substrate. An anti-reflective layer may be disposed between the first film and the second film.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for an illumination system. In one aspect, the illumination system is a light guide that includes spaced-apart regions of medium containing diffractive features. For example, the medium may include holographic medium having holograms that are configured to redirect light, propagating through the light guide, out of the light guide. The spaces between the spaced-apart regions of media may be filled with a material having a lower refractive index than the light guide, thereby functioning as a reflective cladding in those spaces.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus related to an electromechanical display device. In one aspect, an analog interferometric modulator includes a reflective display pixel having a reflector, and a movable first absorbing layer positionable at a distance d1 from the reflector, the first absorbing layer and the reflector defining a first gap therebetween. The apparatus also includes a second absorbing layer disposed at a distance d2 from the first absorbing layer, the first absorbing layer disposed between the second absorbing layer and the reflector, the second absorbing layer and the first absorbing layer defining a second gap therebetween. In addition, at least two of the reflector, the first absorbing layer and second absorbing layer are movable to synchronously either increase or decrease the thickness dimension of the first gap and the second gap.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for displaying high bit-depth images using temporal modulation on display devices including display elements that have multiple primary colors. In order to reduce visual artifacts produced by angular metamerism, the display elements are configured to display only those combinations of the different primary colors that satisfy certain constraints. Color combinations of the multiple primary colors that satisfy these constraints are included in a constrained color palette that includes fewer than all the possible colors that can be provided by all combinations of the primary colors.

Abstract: An optical touch sensor may include traces of photoconductive material formed on a substantially transparent substrate. Each photoconductive trace may be capable of responding to an incident light intensity increase on a portion of the photoconductive trace by increasing the number of charged carriers, thereby raising the electrical conductivity of that portion of the photoconductive trace. An incident light intensity decrease on a portion of the photoconductive trace will lower the electrical conductivity of that portion of the photoconductive trace. The corresponding changes in voltage may be measured by circuits that include conductive traces formed substantially perpendicular to, and configured for electrical connection with, the traces of photoconductive material. A diode (such as a Schottky diode) may be formed at the electrical connections between the conductive traces and the photoconductive traces.

Abstract: Some implementations described herein involve defining a viewing angle range, also referred to herein as a viewing cone. The viewing cone may be produced by an array of optical fibers on a display. The optical fiber array may include tapered optical fibers that are capable of increasing the amount of light transmitted through the optical fiber array. The optical fiber array may be a graded index optical fiber array, wherein the refractive index of the optical fiber cores varies along the axis of the optical fibers.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for multi-state interferometric modulator (MS-IMOD) implementations with an improved white-state color by incorporating an attenuator. The attenuator may be part of a mirror stack or part of an absorber stack. The attenuator may be capable of reducing the amount of green light reflected when the MS-IMOD is in a white state. The attenuator may include an absorber and/or a notch filter. In some implementations, the white color that is reflected when the MS-IMOD is in the white state may be substantially similar to that of CIE Standard Illuminant D65.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for making and controlling single-mirror interferometric modulators (IMODs), which may be multi-state IMODs or analog IMODs. In one aspect, a movable reflector stack or an absorber stack of an IMOD may include at least one protrusion that is configured to cause the movable reflector stack to be tilted relative to the absorber layer when the movable reflector stack is moved close to the absorber stack. The protrusion may be configured to cause color averaging when the IMOD is in a white state. The absorber stack may include an absorber layer having a lower extinction coefficient value at a red wavelength and a higher extinction coefficient value at a blue wavelength.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatus for rending colors in displays, such as adjustable interferometric modulation displays that can produce many colors with different sub-sets of primary colors. Received colors to be rendered are analyzed to determine when the colors to be rendered are within a predefined neutral region of a color space. Temporal primary colors may be generated to be used for rendering the received colors in a color space that are generated by temporal modulation using at least two temporal subframes to mix first and second primary colors of a display, such as white and black primaries. The temporal primary colors are used when rendering colors that lie within the predefined neutral region of the color space. When white and black primaries are used for temporal modulation, the produced grayscale temporal primaries are more robust than using two complementary colors, affording more robust neutral and near neutral colors.