SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF ACTUATING MEMS DISPLAY ELEMENTS
Methods of writing display data to MEMS display elements are configured to minimize charge buildup and differential aging. The methods may include writing data with opposite polarities, and periodically releasing and/or actuating MEMS elements during the display updating process. Actuating MEMS elements with potential differences higher than those used during normal display data writing may also be utilized.
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This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/159,073, filed Feb. 25, 2005, entitled “Systems and Methods of Actuating MEMS Display Elements,” issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,560,299, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. Section 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Nos. 60/606,223, filed on Aug. 31, 2004, and 60/604,896, filed on Aug. 27, 2004, all of which applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
BACKGROUNDMicroelectromechanical systems (MEMS) include micro mechanical elements, actuators, and electronics. Micromechanical elements may be created using deposition, etching, and or other micromachining processes that etch away parts of substrates and/or deposited material layers or that add layers to form electrical and electromechanical devices. One type of MEMS device is called an interferometric modulator. An interferometric modulator may comprise a pair of conductive plates, one or both of which may be transparent and/or reflective in whole or part and capable of relative motion upon application of an appropriate electrical signal. One plate may comprise a stationary layer deposited on a substrate, the other plate may comprise a metallic membrane separated from the stationary layer by an air gap. Such devices have a wide range of applications, and it would be beneficial in the art to utilize and/or modify the characteristics of these types of devices so that their features can be exploited in improving existing products and creating new products that have not yet been developed.
SUMMARYThe system, method, and devices of the invention each have several aspects, no single one of which is solely responsible for its desirable attributes. Without limiting the scope of this invention, its more prominent features will now be discussed briefly. After considering this discussion, and particularly after reading the section entitled “Detailed Description of Certain Embodiments” one will understand how the features of this invention provide advantages over other display devices.
An embodiment includes a method of writing display data to an array of MEMS display elements. The method includes periodically writing display data to MEMS elements in a portion of the array, and actuating all MEMS elements in the portion of the array prior to each periodic writing of the display.
Another embodiment includes a system for writing display data to an array of MEMS display elements. The system includes a column driver configured to apply a first voltage to one or more columns of the MEMS display elements, and a row driver configured to apply a second voltage to one or more rows of the MEMS display elements so as to create a potential difference between the first voltage and the second voltage across a plurality of MEMS elements. The column and row drivers are configured to periodically apply the first and second voltages so as to write display data to all MEMS elements in the plurality, and are further configured to apply the first and second voltages so as to actuate all MEMS elements in the plurality prior to each periodic application of the first and second voltages.
Yet another embodiment includes a method of writing display data to an array of MEMS display elements. The method includes setting substantially all MEMS elements in the array to a common state, and writing display data to substantially all elements in the array.
The following detailed description is directed to certain specific embodiments of the invention. However, the invention can be embodied in a multitude of different ways. In this description, reference is made to the drawings wherein like parts are designated with like numerals throughout. As will be apparent from the following description, the invention may be implemented in any device that is configured to display an image, whether in motion (e.g., video) or stationary (e.g., still image), and whether textual or pictorial. More particularly, it is contemplated that the invention may be implemented in or associated with a variety of electronic devices such as, but not limited to, mobile telephones, wireless devices, personal data assistants (PDAs), hand-held or portable computers, GPS receivers/navigators, cameras, MP3 players, camcorders, game consoles, wrist watches, clocks, calculators, television monitors, flat panel displays, computer monitors, auto displays (e.g., odometer display, etc.), cockpit controls and/or displays, display of camera views (e.g., display of a rear view camera in a vehicle), electronic photographs, electronic billboards or signs, projectors, architectural structures, packaging, and aesthetic structures (e.g., display of images on a piece of jewelry). MEMS devices of similar structure to those described herein can also be used in non-display applications such as in electronic switching devices.
One interferometric modulator display embodiment comprising an interferometric MEMS display element is illustrated in
The depicted portion of the pixel array in
The fixed layers 16a, 16b are electrically conductive, partially transparent and partially reflective, and may be fabricated, for example, by depositing one or more layers each of chromium and indium-tin-oxide onto a transparent substrate 20. The layers are patterned into parallel strips, and may form row electrodes in a display device as described further below. The movable layers 14a, 14b may be formed as a series of parallel strips of a deposited metal layer or layers (orthogonal to the row electrodes 16a, 16b) deposited on top of posts 18 and an intervening sacrificial material deposited between the posts 18. When the sacrificial material is etched away, the deformable metal layers are separated from the fixed metal layers by a defined air gap 19. A highly conductive and reflective material such as aluminum may be used for the deformable layers, and these strips may form column electrodes in a display device.
With no applied voltage, the cavity 19 remains between the layers 14a, 16a and the deformable layer is in a mechanically relaxed state as illustrated by the pixel 12a in
In one embodiment, the processor 21 is also configured to communicate with an array controller 22. In one embodiment, the array controller 22 includes a row driver circuit 24 and a column driver circuit 26 that provide signals to a pixel array 30. The cross section of the array illustrated in
In typical applications, a display frame may be created by asserting the set of column electrodes in accordance with the desired set of actuated pixels in the first row. A row pulse is then applied to the row 1 electrode, actuating the pixels corresponding to the asserted column lines. The asserted set of column electrodes is then changed to correspond to the desired set of actuated pixels in the second row. A pulse is then applied to the row 2 electrode, actuating the appropriate pixels in row 2 in accordance with the asserted column electrodes. The row 1 pixels are unaffected by the row 2 pulse, and remain in the state they were set to during the row 1 pulse. This may be repeated for the entire series of rows in a sequential fashion to produce the frame. Generally, the frames are refreshed and/or updated with new display data by continually repeating this process at some desired number of frames per second. A wide variety of protocols for driving row and column electrodes of pixel arrays to produce display frames are also well known and may be used in conjunction with the present invention.
In the
The details of the structure of interferometric modulators that operate in accordance with the principles set forth above may vary widely. For example,
It is one aspect of the above described devices that charge can build on the dielectric between the layers of the device, especially when the devices are actuated and held in the actuated state by an electric field that is always in the same direction. For example, if the moving layer is always at a higher potential relative to the fixed layer when the device is actuated by potentials having a magnitude larger than the outer threshold of stability, a slowly increasing charge buildup on the dielectric between the layers can begin to shift the hysteresis curve for the device. This is undesirable as it causes display performance to change over time, and in different ways for different pixels that are actuated in different ways over time. As can be seen in the example of
This problem can be reduced by actuating the MEMS display elements with a potential difference of a first polarity during a first portion of the display write process, and actuating the MEMS display elements with a potential difference having a polarity opposite the first polarity during a second portion of the display write process. This basic principle is illustrated in
In
Frame N+1 is written in accordance with the table in
A wide variety of modifications of this scheme can be implemented. For example, Frame N and Frame N+1 can comprise different display data. Alternatively, it can be the same display data written twice to the array with opposite polarities. It can also be advantageous to dedicate some frames to setting the state of all or substantially all pixels to a released state, and/or setting the state of all or substantially all the pixels to an actuated state prior to writing desired display data. Setting all the pixels to a common state can be performed in a single row line time by, for example, setting all the columns to +5 V (or −5 V) and scanning all the rows simultaneously with a −5 V scan (or +5 V scan).
In one such embodiment, desired display data is written to the array in one polarity, all the pixels are released, and the same display data is written a second time with the opposite polarity. This is similar to the scheme illustrated in
In another embodiment, a row line time is used to actuate all the pixels of the array, a second line time is used to release all the pixels of the array, and then the display data (Frame N for example) is written to the display. In this embodiment, Frame N+1 can be preceded by an array actuation line time and an array release line time of opposite polarities to the ones preceding Frame N, and then Frame N+1 can be written. In some embodiments, an actuation line time of one polarity, a release line time of the same polarity, an actuation line time of opposite polarity, and a release line time of opposite polarity can precede every frame. These embodiments ensure that all or substantially all pixels are actuated at least once for every frame of display data, reducing differential aging effects as well as reducing charge buildup.
In some cases, it may be advantageous to use an extra high actuation voltage during the array actuation line times. For example, during the array actuation line times described above, the row scan voltages can be 7 V or 10 V instead of 5 V. In this embodiment, the highest voltages applied to the pixel occur during these “over-actuation” array actuation times, and not during display data updates. This can also help reduce differential aging effects for different pixels, some of which may change frequently during display updates, whereas others may change very infrequently during display updates, depending on the images being displayed.
It is also possible to perform these polarity reversals and actuation/release protocols on a row by row basis. In these embodiments, each row of a frame may be written more than once during the frame writing process. For example, when writing row 1 of Frame N, the pixels of row 1 could all be released, and the display data for row 1 can be written with positive polarity. The pixels of row 1 could be released a second time, and the row 1 display data written again with negative polarity. Actuating all the pixels of row 1 as described above for the whole array could also be performed. It will further be appreciated that the releases, actuations, and over-actuations may be performed at a lower frequency than every row write or every frame write during the display updating/refreshing process.
While the above detailed description has shown, described, and pointed out novel features of the invention as applied to various embodiments, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions, and changes in the form and details of the device or process illustrated may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. As one example, it will be appreciated that the test voltage driver circuitry could be separate from the array driver circuitry used to create the display. As with current sensors, separate voltage sensors could be dedicated to separate row electrodes. The scope of the invention is indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.
Claims
1. A method of writing display data to an array of MEMS display elements, comprising:
- periodically writing display data to MEMS elements in a portion of said array; and
- actuating all MEMS elements in said portion of said array prior to each periodic writing of said display data.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein said portion of said array comprises a row of MEMS elements of said array.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein said portion of said array comprises said entire array.
4. The method of claim 1, comprising releasing all MEMS elements in said portion of said array prior to writing display data to said portion of said array.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the array comprises a plurality of rows of the MEMS display elements and a plurality of columns of the MEMS display elements, and wherein the portion of the array comprises at least a plurality of aligned MEMS elements.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the portion comprises a plurality of MEMS elements in each of a plurality of rows of the array.
7. The method of claim 1, comprising:
- placing substantially all MEMS elements in a row of said array in an actuated state a first time;
- writing a first set of display data to said row of said array with a potential difference of a first polarity;
- placing substantially all MEMS elements in said row of said array in an actuated state a second time; and
- writing a second set of display data to said row of said array with a potential difference of a polarity opposite said first polarity.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein said first set of display data and said second set of display data comprise identical data.
9. The method of claim 7, wherein said first set of display data and said second set of display data comprise different data.
10. The method of claim 7, wherein said writing a first set or said writing a second set comprises releasing certain of said MEMS display elements in said row.
11. The method of claim 7, further comprising releasing substantially all MEMS elements in said row of said array, and wherein said writing a first set or said writing a second set comprises actuating certain of said MEMS display elements in said row.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein said actuating all MEMS elements in said portion comprises actuating at least some of said MEMS elements in said portion with a potential difference greater than a potential difference used when writing said display data to said at least some MEMS elements.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein said actuating at least some of said MEMS elements comprises actuating said at least some of said MEMS elements with a potential difference that is approximately twice the potential difference used when writing said display data.
14. The method of claim 12, wherein said potential difference used when writing said display data is approximately 5 volts, and wherein said actuating at least some of said MEMS elements comprises actuating said at least some of said MEMS elements with a potential difference of approximately 7 volts or approximately 10 volts.
15. A system for writing display data to an array of MEMS display elements, comprising:
- a column driver configured to apply a first voltage to one or more columns of the MEMS display elements; and
- a row driver configured to apply a second voltage to one or more rows of the MEMS display elements so as to create a potential difference between the first voltage and the second voltage across a plurality of MEMS elements,
- wherein said column and row drivers are configured to periodically apply said first and second voltages so as to write display data to all MEMS elements in said plurality, and
- wherein said column and row drivers are further configured to apply said first and second voltages so as to actuate all MEMS elements in said plurality prior to each said periodic application of said first and second voltages.
16. The system of claim 15, wherein said MEMS elements in said plurality comprise a row of MEMS elements of said array.
17. The system of claim 15, wherein said MEMS elements in said plurality comprise said entire array.
18. The system of claim 15, wherein said column and row drivers are configured to release all MEMS elements in said plurality prior to writing display data to said MEMS elements in said plurality.
19. The system of claim 15, wherein said column and row drives are configured to:
- place substantially all MEMS elements in a row of said array in an actuated state a first time;
- write a first set of display data to said row of said array with a potential difference of a first polarity;
- place substantially all MEMS elements in said row of said array in an actuated state a second time; and
- write a second set of display data to said row of said array with a potential difference of a polarity opposite said first polarity.
20. The system of claim 19, wherein said first set of display data and said second set of display data comprise identical data.
21. The system of claim 15, wherein a potential difference created across at least some of the MEMS elements in said plurality during said actuating all MEMS elements in said plurality is greater than a potential difference created across said at least some MEMS elements when writing said display data to all MEMS elements in said plurality.
22. A method of writing display data to an array of MEMS display elements, comprising:
- setting substantially all MEMS elements in the array to a common state; and
- writing display data to said substantially all elements in the array.
23. The method of claim 22, comprising:
- actuating substantially all elements in the array; and
- releasing substantially all elements in the array after said actuating.
24. The method of claim 23, wherein said actuating and releasing is performed between writing frames comprising different display data.
25. The method of claim 23, wherein said actuating and releasing is performed between writing frames comprising display data that is the same.
26. The method of claim 22, comprising:
- releasing substantially all elements in the array; and
- actuating substantially all elements in the array after said releasing.
27. The method of claim 26, wherein said releasing and actuating is performed between writing frames of display data.
28. The method of claim 22, wherein said setting comprises:
- applying a first voltage to substantially all columns in the array; and
- scanning substantially all rows in the array simultaneously with a second voltage.
29. The method of claim 22, wherein said array comprises a plurality of rows of the MEMS display elements and a plurality of columns of the MEMS display elements.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 10, 2009
Publication Date: Nov 5, 2009
Applicant: IDC, LLC (Pleasanton, CA)
Inventor: William J. Cummings (Millbrae, CA)
Application Number: 12/501,338
International Classification: G09G 5/00 (20060101);