Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for providing multi-level multi-state shutter assemblies. The shutter assembly includes at least a first shutter at a first height over a substrate and a second shutter at a second height over the substrate. Both the first shutter and the second shutter can be operated in an open or closed state for passing or partially blocking light propagating through an aperture. In some implementations, the shutter assembly can operate in four states: a fully transmissive state, a fully obstructive state and two partially transmissive states based on the open or closed states of the first and second shutters.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for displaying images. A display apparatus includes display elements formed on a transparent substrate. An elevated aperture layer (EAL) is fabricated over the display elements. An opposing substrate is coupled to the transparent substrate, with the display elements and the EAL positioned between the two substrates. To prevent the opposing substrate from coming into contact with the EAL and potentially damaging the EAL or the display elements, a spacer is built from the same materials used to form the display elements and the EAL. The spacer extends to a distance above the transparent substrate beyond upper surface of the EAL and encapsulates layers of polymer material used in creating a mold for the EAL.

Abstract: A display device includes: a plurality of pixels each having a shutter plate formed and an actuator portion, wherein the actuator portion has a beam portion connected to the shutter plate, a drive electrode causing the beam portion to bend to drive the shutter plate, a first supporting portion supporting the drive electrode and fixed on a substrate, and a second supporting portion supporting the beam portion and fixed on the substrate, at least one of the first supporting portion and the second supporting portion has a planar portion, and a recessed portion formed to be concaved from the planar portion and connected to the substrate, and the recessed portion has a vertically formed portion formed to be inclined substantially vertically from the planar portion, and a portion starting from the vertically formed portion and formed such that the inclination of the portion becomes gentle toward the substrate.

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.

Abstract: A display includes an array of light modulators each having a first actuator and a second actuator. A control matrix includes a circuit having a first state inverter having an output coupled to an input of a second state inverter. A data store capacitor is coupled to an input of the first inverter and configured to store a data voltage corresponding to a future pixel state of the pixel. A first update interconnect is coupled to the first state inverter and configured such that altering a voltage applied to the first update interconnect causes the first actuator to respond to the stored data voltage. A second update interconnect is coupled to the second state inverter and configured such that altering a voltage applied to the second update interconnect causes the second actuator to respond to a voltage state of the first inverter.

Abstract: A display for imaging includes an aperture layer and a set of light modulators. The aperture layer includes a light absorbing layer disposed over a light reflecting layer, each layer having a set of apertures defined therein. The light absorbing layer includes light absorbing material suspended in a photosensitive resin. The set of light modulators are for modulating light passing through the apertures defined in the aperture layer.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for improving power efficiency of display devices. Control logic of a display device can use content adaptive backlight control (CABC) for displaying certain image frames with reduced illumination intensity. CABC can be used to determine a scaling factor for scaling up pixel values in an image frame and for scaling down the illumination intensity of a backlight used for illuminating the image frames. The control logic can determine a number of image subframes that have been rendered imperceptible to the human visual system (HVS) due to the reduced illumination intensity of the backlight, and refrain from displaying the determined number of image subframes. The control logic can utilize the additional time made available as a result of not displaying the determined number of subframes to further improve the power efficiency of the display device and/or improve image quality.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for generating images using dual-shutter shutter assemblies. Such shutter assemblies include two shutters that move over a common aperture to selectively obstruct the passage of light there through. In the closed position, portions of one of the shutters overlaps a portion of the other shutter to provide such light obstruction without the two shutters needing to come into contact.

Abstract: A direct-view display includes an array of MEMS light modulators and a control matrix formed on a transparent substrate, where each light modulator can be driven into at least two states, and a controller for controlling the states of each light modulator in the array. The control matrix transmits data and actuation voltages to the array. The controller includes an input, a processor, a memory, and an output. The input receives image data encoding an image frame for display. The processor derives a plurality of sub-frame data sets from the image data, where each sub-frame data set indicates desired states of light modulators in multiple rows and multiple columns of the array. The memory stores the plurality of sub-frame data sets. The output outputs the plurality of sub-frame data sets according to an output sequence to drive light modulators into the states indicated in the sub-frame data sets.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for improving the reliability of dual actuator light modulators by equalizing voltages provided to the two actuators of the light modulator. A pixel circuit for driving the dual actuator light modulator can include a data loading circuit coupled to an actuation circuit. The data loading circuit is utilized to store data received from a controller for a pixel associated with the light modulator. The actuation circuit is utilized to control a first actuator and a second actuator of the dual actuator light modulator based on the data stored by the data loading circuit. The actuation circuit includes a first stabilization capacitor and a second stabilization capacitor for stabilizing voltages provided to the first and second actuators. The actuation circuit also includes an equalization switch for equalizing voltages provided to the first and second actuators.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for providing multiple dielectric coatings for a shutter assembly. The multiple dielectric coatings include an outer dielectric coating and one or more inner dielectric coatings. The outer dielectric coating has an electrical trap density that is lower than electrical trap densities of the one or more inner dielectric coatings. The lower electrical trap density reduces the amount of charge buildup over various surfaces of the shutter assembly. This reduction in charge buildup also reduces electrostatic forces that may cause incorrect operation of the shutter assembly.

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 shutters having asymmetric light obstructing portions extending out from opposing sides of a shutter aperture along an axis of motion of the shutter. Actuators move the shutters laterally along the axis of motion to move the shutter between fully closed, partially open, and fully open states to modulate light, thereby forming an image.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for incorporating tip-gap adjustment features (TGAF) in actuators of shutter assemblies. The TGAF are incorporated into a drive beam of the actuator during the formation of the shutter assembly over a mold. The TGAF are configured such that they develop a mechanical stress or stress gradient. When the shutter assembly is released from the mold, the stress or stress gradient in the TGAF bend the drive beam such that a tip-gap between the drive beam and a load beam of the actuator is reduced. The reduced tip-gap, in turn, reduces an actuation voltage needed to actuate the shutter assembly.

Abstract: Provided is a display device, including: a sealing member including an opening and surrounding a space defined by a pair of light transmissive substrates; an end seal for closing the opening of the sealing member to form an encapsulation space; oil filled in the encapsulation space; a spacer for maintaining an interval between the pair of light transmissive substrates; a shutter; a drive portion arranged in the oil, for mechanically driving the shutter; and a wall portion formed on at least one of opposed surfaces of the pair of light transmissive substrates. The wall portion includes a part arranged at a position interrupting a shortest path between the opening of the sealing member and a display region. The wall portion is made of a material forming the spacer, the shutter, and the drive portion.

Abstract: The invention relates to a light modulator including a substrate having a surface and a modulation assembly coupled to the substrate that includes a modulation element and a first compliant beam. The first compliant beam includes a first segment that extend away from a first anchor and a second segment that extends back towards the first anchor. The length of the first segment is different than the length of the second segment.

Abstract: A metal layer is formed on a highly light-transmissive substrate; a resist mask having an opening pattern is formed on the metal layer; exposed portions of the metal layer is etched away in this state to form openings; then the resist mask is removed; and a surface of the metal layer and an inner side wall of each of the openings are oxidized to form a metal oxide layer. Thus, a front surface and a rear surface of the aperture plate are caused to have different reflectances. The oxide layer is formed at the same time as when the resist mask is ashed to remove resist.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for enabling a display to have a faster switching rate and an increased aperture ratio by using looped electrical interconnects with a reduced footprint. In one aspect, a display apparatus includes an array of display elements and a high-aspect ratio electrical interconnect connected to at least one display element in the array of display elements, wherein the high-aspect ratio electrical interconnect forms a loop that defines a closed boundary.

Abstract: A MEMS substrate is formed from a transparent substrate and a movable type shutter arranged on each pixel of a surface of the transparent substrate. An AP substrate includes another substrate and a light blocking film arranged on the other transparent substrate formed with an aperture corresponding to each shutter. A plurality of supporting columns is formed on a surface of the transparent substrate of the MEMS substrate. A plurality of cylindrical contact holes having the same inner diameter as an outer diameter of each supporting column are formed at a position corresponding to one part of the supporting columns. Both substrates are arranged with a certain interval so that each shutter and an aperture oppose each other, thereby a tip end of corresponding supporting columns is inserted into each contact hole and in this way, both substrate are mutually positioned.

Abstract: A display device according to the present invention includes a plurality of pixels provided on a substrate; a first insulating film provided on the substrate; a second insulating film provided on the first insulating film in contact with at least a part thereof and formed of a different material from that of the first insulating film; a plurality of MEMS shutters provided on the second insulating film respectively in correspondence with the plurality of pixels, the plurality of MEMS shutters having a third insulating film formed on side surfaces thereof; and a plurality of terminals for supplying a potential to the plurality of gate lines and the plurality of data lines, the plurality of terminals receiving the potential through openings formed in the first insulating film and the second insulating film, the openings being formed on the plurality of terminals.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for preventing particles from entering electromechanical systems (EMS) display devices. In one aspect, an apparatus includes a plate, a substrate supporting at least one EMS device, a seal joining the plate and the substrate to define a cavity therebetween and at least one port for receiving a fluid, and a filter disposed between the port and the EMS device. The filter includes elements formed on at least one of a surface of the substrate and a surface of the plate, defining a gap sized to allow the received fluid to pass and to inhibit non-fluidic particles carried in the fluid from the EMS device.