Electroscopic (e.g., Movable Electrodes Or Electrostatic Elements) Patents (Class 345/85)
  • Patent number: 11669293
    Abstract: An electronic device is coupled to electronic paper display. The electronic device may be utilized as part of an industrial control system. The central processing unit programmatically and automatically updates the electronic paper display with information to be displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: INTELLIGENT PLATFORMS, LLC
    Inventors: Darrell Lee Halterman, Darrell James Hatfield
  • Patent number: 11363728
    Abstract: A display device includes a display panel in which a plurality of pixels is defined. The display device further includes a back cover configured to be rolled together with the display panel. The display device further includes a roller winding or unwinding the back cover and the display panel, and including a flat surface and a curved surface. The display device further includes a buffer member covering at least a part of the back cover fixed to the roller, and having a width smaller than a width of the display panel. Therefore, the display panel is wound around the roller with a gentle slope, and non-display areas on both side portions of the display panel are wound around a roller with a space by the buffer member. Accordingly, a stress applied to the display panel and a crack may be reduced to improve reliability of the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: LG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hoiyong Kwon, JiHun Song
  • Patent number: 11221510
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a movable electrode structure and a liquid crystal lens. The movable electrode structure includes: a substrate; a support on the substrate; a first beam having elasticity and attached to the support; an electrode attached to the first beam; and an opposing member located on the substrate and at least partially facing the first beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhidong Wang, Lijia Zhou, Junrui Zhang, Rongjian Yan, Quanguo Zhou, Li Tian, Ronghua Lan, Xuehui Zhu
  • Patent number: 11074835
    Abstract: A flexible display device includes a display panel configured to display an image, and a first electrical actuation part disposed at a first side of the display panel. The first electrical actuation part includes a first electro-active polymer and a first pair of electrodes. A first unit structure including the first electro-active polymer and the first pair of electrodes is repeatedly formed in the first electrical actuation part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dong Jin Park, Dong Cheol Kim
  • Patent number: 10916226
    Abstract: A display device includes a body; a roller rotatably installed in the body; a flexible display configured to be wound or unwound from the roller in response to a rotation of the roller; and a controller configured to detect a type of a content to be displayed, and change a screen size of the flexible display according to the detected type of the content by winding or unwinding of the flexible display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Hawjun Oh, Hyungnam Lee, Taejun Kim, Hyein Jung, Kunsik Lee
  • Patent number: 10884241
    Abstract: An optical element for a head mounted display (HMD) includes an illumination layer, an optical combiner, and an optically transparent layer. The illumination layer is configured to emit infrared light towards an eyeward side of the optical element. The optical combiner is configured to receive reflected infrared light that is reflected by an eye of a user and to direct the reflected infrared light towards an infrared camera. The optically transparent layer is disposed between the illumination layer and the eyeward side of the optical element. The optical element may further include one or both of a confinement layer and an infrared extractor. The confinement layer is disposed on a surface of the optically transparent layer to induce waveguiding of confined infrared light propagating within the optically transparent layer. The infrared extractor is disposed on a side-edge of the optically transparent layer to absorb or frustrate the confined infrared light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Karol Constantine Hatzilias, Robin Sharma, Qi Zhang, Gregory Olegovic Andreev, Christopher Yuan-Ting Liao, Andrew John Ouderkirk
  • Patent number: 10490169
    Abstract: A display device including a body; a roller rotatably installed in the body; a flexible display configured to be wound or unwound from the roller in response to a rotation of the roller; and a controller configured to detect a type of a content to be displayed, and change a screen size of the flexible display according to the detected type of the content by winding or unwinding of the flexible display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Hawjun Oh, Hyungnam Lee, Taejun Kim, Hyein Jung, Kunsik Lee
  • Patent number: 10417988
    Abstract: Disclosed is a gate driver on array driving circuit, coupled to a liquid crystal display panel. A voltage stabilizing capacitor and a transistor switch are arranged at an output end of a power circuit of the gate driver on array driving circuit of the present invention. The voltage stabilizing capacitor stabilizes a voltage output of the power circuit when the liquid crystal display panel is in a normal display state. The transistor switch controls the voltage stabilizing capacitor to be disconnected with the power circuit when the liquid crystal display panel is in an on state or an off state. Apparently, the gate driver on array driving circuit can avoid the overcurrent protection function of the power circuit triggered by the excessive instantaneous current generated by the charging and discharging of the voltage stabilizing capacitor at the instant when the liquid crystal display panel is turned on or off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Xiangyang Xu
  • Patent number: 10296041
    Abstract: The disclosure described herein generally relates to an image panel and a method of compressing the image panel. A breather assembly is coupled to at least one edge of the image panel and a vacuum is drawn through the breather assembly to pull the image panel portion and the front panel into intimate contact with phosphors sandwiched therebetween. The breather assembly draws the vacuum from the air pockets between adjacent phosphors to pull the image panel flat and thus prevent image artifacts from forming while also permitting the image panel portion and the front plane panel to move independently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: PRYSM, INC.
    Inventor: John L. Ritter
  • Patent number: 10013955
    Abstract: A display device including a body; a roller rotatably installed in the body; a flexible display configured to be wound or unwound from the roller in response to a rotation of the roller; and a controller configured to change a screen size for displaying information related to a prescribed content in response to the winding or the unwinding of the flexible display, and execute a multitude of modes for displaying different quantities of information according to the changed screen sizes, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Hawjun Oh, Hyungnam Lee, Taejun Kim, Hyein Jung, Kunsik Lee
  • Patent number: 9653014
    Abstract: A method of driving an electro wetting display panel includes applying a first data voltage to a pixel part of the display panel during a first section of a frame and applying a second data voltage different from the first data voltage to the same pixel part during a second section of the frame. The first data voltage is converted from display data based on a first gamma curve. The second data voltage is converted from the display data based on a second gamma curve. Light transmittance through the pixel part is changed based on movement of a fluid within the pixel part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hyun-Sik Hwang, Uk-Chul Choi, Yong-Jun Jang, Su-Hyeong Park, Ji-Myoung Seo
  • Patent number: 9599906
    Abstract: A method for driving a spatial light modulator includes setting a plurality of mirror elements in a first region into a state of phase 0, setting a plurality of optical elements in a second region adjacent in a Y-direction to the first region into a state of phase ?, and setting auxiliary pattern elements consisting of a plurality of mirror elements arranged at a pitch P over a resolution limit of a projection optical system in an X-direction in a boundary region extending in the X-direction between the first region and the second region, into the state of phase ?. In projecting a pattern onto an object with use of the spatial light modulator having the array of optical elements, the pattern can be formed in position accuracy or shape accuracy finer than the width of images of the optical elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Yoji Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9529240
    Abstract: An electro-optic display containing a two-phase, light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer comprising a first phase made of a highly electronically-conductive matrix and a second phase made of a polymeric material composition having a controlled volume resistivity. The matrix of the first phase may be formed from carbon nanotubes, silver nanowires, a metal coated open foam structure, or a printed mesh of wires. The polymeric material composition of the second phase may be a conductive polymer, or a polymer and an additive such as a salt, a polyelectrolyte, a polymer electrolyte, or a solid electrolyte, or combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: E INK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Richard J. Paolini, Jr., Stephen J. Telfer
  • Patent number: 9230296
    Abstract: A method of controlling micromirrors of reset groups of a spatial light modulator (SLM) digital micromirror array is disclosed. In a first reset operation, the positions of a first subgroup of micromirrors of a reset group are set based on a first portion of a first bitplane and the positions of a second subgroup of micromirrors of the same reset group are set based on a first portion of a second bitplane. Then, in a second reset operation, the positions of the first subgroup are set based on a second portion of the second bitplane and the positions of the second subgroup are set based on a second portion of a first bitplane. In one example, subsets of alternating rows of micromirrors of the same reset group are successively set according to alternating data corresponding to different ones of first and second bitplanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Todd Alan Clatanoff, Philip Scott King, Jeffrey Mathew Kempf
  • Patent number: 9223337
    Abstract: A single layer self-capacitance touch screen and its data processing method which can realize multi-touch identification, the said touch screen includes at least two self-capacitance electrode assemblies independent of each other, all of which are located in the same plane layer and fully cover the whole touch zone of the touch screen without overlapping each other; the said self-capacitance electrode assembly includes at least a pair of self-capacitance coupling electrode couples, which include two electrode plates seated in the same plane, and these two electrode plates all include their own straight-line electrode plate coupling side and straight-line electrode plate base, which have included angle of acute angle; in the self-capacitance electrode assembly, the center lines of the self-capacitance coupling electrode couples are placed parallel to each other, and the center lines of arbitrarily two self-capacitance coupling electrode couples are also placed parallel to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: FocalTech Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Weiping Liu, J K Zhang
  • Patent number: 9196201
    Abstract: A method for controlling an electro-optic device includes a third, a fourth, a first, and a second control steps of supplying a third, a fourth, a first, and a second voltage pulse, in this order. In the first control step, a first limit optical state is reached. In the second control step, a first intermediate optical state is reached. The period of each of the third control step and the fourth control step is set to satisfy a relation W (A?B)=?W (B?A), where W (A?B) is an integrated value of drive voltage and drive time when changing the pixel from an optical state A to an optical state B, and W (B?A) is an integrated value of drive voltage and drive time when changing the pixel from the optical state B to the optical state A.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keitaro Fujimori, Takafumi Sano
  • Patent number: 9197704
    Abstract: An electronic label system and an operation method thereof are provided. The electronic label system includes a control unit and a plurality of electronic label units. The control unit is used for sending display information. The electronic label units are coupled to the control unit to receive the display information and display according to the corresponding display information, respectively. The electronic label units respectively output a plurality of state information to the control unit so that the control unit can monitor operation states of the electronic label units according to the state information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: SiPix Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Wei-Min Sun, Yao-Jen Hsieh, Ming-Jong Jou, Chi-Mao Hung
  • Patent number: 9158106
    Abstract: The invention relates to method and apparatus for forming images on a display utilizing a control matrix to control the movement of MEMs-based light modulators. The control matrix is formed on a transparent substrate and includes a first actuator controlled by a first switch to drive the light modulator into a first state, and a second actuator for driving the light modulator into a second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Pixtronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Nesbitt W. Hagood, Abraham McAllister, Stephen R. Lewis, Roger W. Barton
  • Patent number: 9148726
    Abstract: A micro electrical mechanical system includes a membrane structure and a backplate structure. The backplate structure includes a backplate material and at least one pre-tensioning element mechanically connected to the backplate material. The at least one pre-tensioning element causes a mechanical tension on the backplate material for a bending deflection of the backplate structure in a direction away from the membrane structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Alfons Dehe
  • Patent number: 9075226
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jian J. Ma, Tallis Young Chang, John Hyunchul Hong, Chong Uk Lee
  • Patent number: 9035934
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for driving three-terminal electromechanical systems (EMS) devices. The driving systems and methods described herein include a switched capacitor charge injection circuit that is configured to isolate a single EMS device and transfer a desired amount of charge to the isolated device such that the device can be actuated to produce a desired optical, electrical or mechanical effect. The charge injection circuit can include an operational amplifier and can be connected such that the EMS device is placed in the feedback path of the operational amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward K. Chan, John H. Hong, Cheonhong Kim, Chong U. Lee, Bing Wen
  • Patent number: 9030391
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for accurately positioning a movable conductive layer of a reflective display element. In one aspect, an initial position of the movable conductive layer with respect to at least one or more fixed conductive layers is sensed. A charging voltage may be determined based at least in part on the initial position. The charging voltage may be applied to the movable conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John H. Hong, Chong U. Lee, Cheonhong Kim, Edward K. Chan
  • Patent number: 9030403
    Abstract: A pixel circuit includes a first control electrode and a second control electrode between which a mechanical shutter is put, and a first control voltage application circuit for inputting a first control voltage to the first control electrode according to an image signal. The first control voltage application circuit includes an input transistor, a retaining capacitor and a first transistor. One of current terminals of the input transistor is connected to a signal line. A gate of the input transistor is connected to a scanning line. One terminal of the retaining capacitor is input with a capacitor control signal and the other terminal is connected to the input transistor. The first transistor has a gate connected to the retaining capacitor and two current terminals, one of which is connected to a first control electrode and the other of which is input with a first control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Pixtronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Hajime Akimoto, Toshio Miyazawa
  • Patent number: 9024925
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jian J. Ma, John Hyunchul Hong, Tallis Young Chang, Huanzhao Zeng
  • Patent number: 9019183
    Abstract: Various embodiments of a display device described herein include an optical propagation region, at least one optical loss structure, an optical isolation layer, and a plurality of display elements. The propagation region includes a light guide in which light is guided via total internal reflection and turning features configured to redirect the light out of the propagation region. The loss structure would disrupt the total internal reflection of at least some of the light guided within the propagation region if disposed directly adjacent thereto. The optical isolation layer includes a non-gaseous material between the propagation region and the loss structure, and is configured to increase an amount of light that is totally internal reflected in the propagation region. The plurality of display elements are positioned to receive the light redirected out of the propagation region. The loss structure is positioned between the plurality of display elements and the propagation region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Qualcomm MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ion Bita, Gang Xu, Marek Mienko, Russell W. Gruhlke
  • Patent number: 9007676
    Abstract: An electrostatic display employing MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical System) technology is disclosed. The transition from white to black pixel color occurs as two cantilevers covering the pixel area are electrostatically turned from their position parallel to the substrate plane to the position normal to the substrate plane. Four electrode pixel control circuits are used to form row and column matrix. This matrix employs a bi-stability effect resulting from the difference in voltages needed to move the cantilever into an upright position and hold the cantilever in this position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Copytele, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Kastalsky, Anthony J. Campisi
  • Patent number: 9001412
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical (MEMS) device includes a substrate, a movable element over the substrate, and an actuation electrode above the movable element. The movable element includes a deformable layer and a reflective element. The deformable layer is spaced from the reflective element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Clarence Chui, William Cummings, Brian James Gally, Lior Kogut, Ming-Hau Tung, Yeh-Jiun Tung, Chih-Wei Chiang, Denis Endisch
  • Patent number: 8994635
    Abstract: The invention provides an image display device capable of reducing the transmission delay of a scanning signal. A plurality of scanning signal lines are wired in one pixel circuit row. Pixel circuits of the pixel circuit row are connected to any of the plurality of scanning signal lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignees: Japan Display Inc., Panasonic Liquid Crystal Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenta Kajiyama, Takeshi Izumida, Norihiro Nakamura, Naoki Tokuda
  • Patent number: 8970939
    Abstract: A multi-state light modulator comprises a first reflector. A first electrode is positioned at a distance from the first reflector. A second reflector is positioned between the first reflector and the first electrode. The second reflector is movable between an undriven position, a first driven position, and a second driven position, each having a corresponding distance from the first reflector. In one embodiment, the three positions correspond to reflecting white light, being non-reflective, and reflecting a selected color of light. Another embodiment is a method of making the light modulator. Another embodiment is a display including the light modulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Clarence Chui, William J. Cummings, Brian J. Gally
  • Patent number: 8941607
    Abstract: A display system using microelectromechanical system (MEMS) is disclosed. The display system includes a first substrate, a touch control unit and a plurality of MEMS display units. The first substrate has a control array. The MEMS display units are disposed in the first substrate. The control array controls the MEMS display units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Inventor: Hung-Ta Liu
  • Patent number: 8879143
    Abstract: A screen includes a light diffusion layer in which microcapsules, each having therein a light diffusion liquid that scatters light for displaying a video image, are planarly arranged. The light diffusion layer is fixed to a supporting sheet by a binder material. On a surface of the supporting sheet, a Fresnel lens is formed. A light diffusion plate is made up of the light diffusion layer and the supporting sheet. The screen is made up of the light diffusion plate and a light diffusion plate. Scattering distribution of a scattered wave of light that passes through the light diffusion layer temporally changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Satoru Okagaki, Eiji Yokoyama, Tomohiro Sasagawa, Jun Kondo, Muneharu Kuwata, Kuniko Kojima, Yuzo Nakano
  • Patent number: 8864321
    Abstract: A controller or control method may be designed or configured to operate without information about the current temperature of the device and/or the device's environment. Further, in some cases, the controller or control method is designed or configured to control transition of an optical device to an intermediated state between two end states. For example, the controller may be configured to control a transition to a state of transmissivity that is intermediate between two end states of transmissivity. In such case, the device has three or more stable states of transmissivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: View, Inc.
    Inventors: Disha Mehtani, Gordon Jack, Anshu Pradhan
  • Patent number: 8847862
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus for controlling the actuation of an analog interferometric modulator. In one aspect, a voltage may be determined from a sense electrode. A distance between one or more of the electrodes may be determined based on the voltage. The sense electrode may be capacitively coupled to another electrode, and may be implemented in a mirror of a movable layer of an interferometric modulator, or may be implemented in a floating fixed layer of an interferometric modulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Alok Govil
  • Patent number: 8766887
    Abstract: Described is a device comprising: an array of light modulating elements; and one or more processing elements for controlling each of the light modulating elements, wherein the light modulating elements are arranged in a two-dimensional array, and wherein the one or more processing elements are adapted to skip some bit locations and use other bit locations of bit values when performing multiple bit logical and/or arithmetic operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Syndiant, Inc.
    Inventor: Karl M. Guttag
  • Patent number: 8730151
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for writing an image on electronic paper, the apparatus including a writing head having a plurality of pixel electrodes corresponding to a plurality of pixels forming an image, the writing head applying a voltage to the pixel electrodes according to inputted address signals and data signals; a driver for generating the address and data signals according to an inputted image frame signal and outputting the address and data signals to the writing head; and a controller for generating the image frame signal and outputting the image frame signals to the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sun-Tae Jung, Dong-Hoon Jang
  • Patent number: 8681079
    Abstract: An optical device suitable for forming a pixel in a video display. The optical device includes a first layer having a first refractive index; a second layer over the first layer, the second layer having a second refractive index less than the first refractive index; and a third layer over the second layer, the third layer having a third refractive index larger than the second refractive index; and a fourth layer that is at least partially optically absorptive, wherein the optical stack and the fourth layer are a first distance from one another when the device is in a first state and are a second distance from one another when the device is in a second state, the first distance different from the second distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Gang Xu
  • Patent number: 8669926
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for writing a display image to a display having an array of pixels according to a selected driving sequence. In one aspect, display elements in a row are driven using a tall and narrow voltage pulse. This allows display elements of a row to be driven in a shorter line time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Marc M. Mignard, Clarence Chui, Alan G. Lewis
  • Patent number: 8659816
    Abstract: This disclosure provides mechanical layers and methods of forming the same. In one aspect, a method of forming a pixel includes depositing a black mask on a substrate, depositing an optical stack over the black mask, and forming a mechanical layer over the optical stack. The black mask is disposed along at least a portion of a side of the pixel, and the mechanical layer defines a cavity between the mechanical layer and the optical stack. The mechanical layer includes a reflective layer, a dielectric layer, and a cap layer, and the dielectric layer is disposed between the reflective layer and the cap layer. The method further includes forming a notch in the dielectric layer of the mechanical layer along the side of the pixel so as to reduce the overlap of the dielectric layer with the black mask along the side of the pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Qualcomm Mems Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yi Tao, Hojin Lee, Fan Zhong
  • Patent number: 8618715
    Abstract: A driving method for driving an electrostatic actuator including a fixed electrode and a movable electrode opposing each other with a dielectric layer interposed therebetween, includes applying a first voltage, between the fixed electrode and the movable electrode, to bring the movable electrode into contact with the dielectric layer, and applying a second voltage, between the fixed electrode and the movable electrode, after application of the first voltage is stopped and before the movable electrode moves away from the dielectric layer. Here, the second voltage has a polarity opposite to a polarity of the first voltage and an absolute value smaller than an absolute value of the first voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Takeaki Shimanouchi, Masahiko Imai, Takashi Katsuki, Osamu Toyoda, Satoshi Ueda
  • Patent number: 8576148
    Abstract: An optical device suitable for forming a pixel in a video display. The optical device includes a first layer having a first refractive index; a second layer over the first layer, the second layer having a second refractive index less than the first refractive index; and a third layer over the second layer, the third layer having a third refractive index larger than the second refractive index; and a fourth layer that is at least partially optically absorptive, wherein the optical stack and the fourth layer are a first distance from one another when the device is in a first state and are a second distance from one another when the device is in a second state, the first distance different from the second distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Gang Xu
  • Patent number: 8553315
    Abstract: An electrophoretic device includes: a first substrate and a second substrate; an electrophoretic layer including colored particles that is arranged between the first substrate and the second substrate; first electrodes; first transistors connected to the first electrodes; opposing electrodes that have larger areas than the first electrodes and have transparency; and a reflecting layer that has a larger area than the first electrodes, wherein the gradation is controlled by the area of the colored particles that is visible when the electrophoretic layer is seen from the second substrate side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Sato
  • Patent number: 8531755
    Abstract: The present invention describes a micro-mechanical light modulator including a two-dimensional array of modulating elements, in which small modulating elements are organized into larger modulating areas. Using smaller elements organized into larger areas increases the resonant frequency of the modulators and the modulation speed. In some implementations, multiple modulating elements are driven by shared signals, allowing the number of elements driven and the resulting area to increase without increasing the data traffic. In some implementations, an anamorphic optical path is used that leaves individual modulating elements of the micro-mechanical light modulator that are operated as a single area unresolved at an image plane of the workpiece being patterned. Devices and methods are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Micronic Laser Systems AB
    Inventors: Torbjörn Sandström, Per Askebjer
  • Patent number: 8514479
    Abstract: An electro-wetting display includes a first substrate, a second substrate which faces the first substrate, and a fluid layer between the first and second substrates. The first substrate includes a plurality of gate lines, a plurality of data lines, and a plurality of pixels connected to the gate lines and the data lines. A fluid layer includes a first fluid layer having a color and a second fluid layer which is transparent. Each pixel includes a switching device, a pixel electrode in connection with the switching device, and a spacing electrode. The switching device is connected to an i-th gate line of the gate lines and a j-th data line of the data lines. The spacing electrode is adjacent to a side of the pixel electrode and in connection with a (i?1)th gate line of the gate lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Joo-Han Bae, Tae Hyung Hwang, Kyungtae Chae, Sang-Myoung Lee, Seok-Joon Hong
  • Patent number: 8508447
    Abstract: A pixel includes a primary element and a secondary element. At least a portion of the primary element is deformable between two positions. In one position, the light source is reflected such that the observer observes a dark pixel. In the other position, the light is reflected such that the observer observes a bright pixel. Gray levels of light are viewable by varying between the two positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Anna Pyayt, Gary K. Starkweather, Michael J. Sinclair
  • Patent number: 8497821
    Abstract: A display device, including a substrate; an array of pixels arranged in rows and columns forming a light-emitting area over the substrate, each pixel including a first electrode, one or more layers of light-emitting material located over the first electrode, and a second electrode located over the one or more layers of light-emitting material; a first serial buss having a plurality of electrical conductors, each electrical conductor connecting one chiplet in a first set of chiplets to only one other chiplet in the first set in a serial connection, the chiplets being distributed over the substrate in the light-emitting area, each chiplet including one or more store-and-forward circuits for storing and transferring data connected to its corresponding electrical conductor; and a driver circuit in each chiplet for driving at least one pixel in response to data stored in the store-and-forward circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Global OLED Technology LLC
    Inventor: Ronald S. Cok
  • Patent number: 8482497
    Abstract: The invention provides a switch matrix and display matrix of a display device. The display matrix of a display device includes: a switch matrix including M×N MEMS switches, wherein M is the number of rows and N is the number of columns, and MEMS switches in each row are controlled by a corresponding row drive signal to output respective column data signals; and a pixel matrix including M×N pixel units each of which is coupled with a corresponding one of the M×N MEMS switches and displays in response to the column data signal output from the corresponding MEMS switch. The switch matrix can simplify pixel design and reduce layout area of each pixel. Moreover, conventional design needs special process to handle high voltage of source driver. This invention can realize a display device with one common process while source driver uses high voltage process conventionally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Jiangsu Lexvu Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Lei Zhang, Herb He Huang
  • Patent number: 8466858
    Abstract: Devices and methods for determining an operational state of a selected display device in an array of display devices. One method includes determining the operational state of a particular display device in the array by measuring an electrical characteristic of a plurality of the display devices, and determining the operational state based at least in part on the three measurements. In some embodiments, the electrical characteristic is capacitance, in other embodiments impedance can be the measured electrical characteristic. Such methods can be applied to interferometric modulator displays and other displays, including liquid crystal display displays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Alok Govil
  • Publication number: 20130147696
    Abstract: A method to display moving images is described. The method includes shuttering one or more display pixels in a plurality of display pixels. Shuttering blocks substantially all light emanating from the display pixel. The method also includes, while shuttered, refreshing the one or more display pixels and allowing the one or more display pixels to stabilize. Backlights for the shuttered display pixels may be turned off while shuttered. After the one or more display pixels have substantially stabilized, unshuttering the one or more display pixels is included in the method. Apparatus and computer readable media are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Inventor: Jani Edvin Penttilä
  • Publication number: 20130100003
    Abstract: A method and device for manipulating color in a display is disclosed. In one embodiment, a display comprises interferometric display elements formed to have spectral responses that produce white light. In one embodiment, the produced white light is characterized by a standardized white point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: QUALCOMM MEMS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: QUALCOMM MEMS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
  • Patent number: 8422108
    Abstract: An interferometric modulator (Imod) cavity has a reflector and an induced absorber. A direct view reflective flat panel display may include an array of the modulators. Adjacent spacers of different thicknesses are fabricated on a substrate by a lift-off technique used to pattern the spacers which are deposited separately, each deposition providing a different thickness of spacer. Or a patterned photoresist may be used to allow for an etching process to selectively etch back the thickness of a spacer which was deposited in a single deposition. A full-color static graphical image may be formed of combined patterns of interferometric modulator cavities. Each cavity includes a reflector, and an induced absorber, the induced absorber including a spacer having a thickness that defines a color associated with the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark W. Miles