Patents Assigned to Qualcomm MEMS Technologies, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8105496
    Abstract: Improvements in an interferometric modulator that cavity defined by two walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Qualcomm MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark W Miles
  • Publication number: 20120019894
    Abstract: At least some subpixels in an interferometric modulator display are formed in a triangular shape. Such triangular subpixels may be formed and/or addressed in a variety of manners. At least some individual triangular subpixels may be separately addressable. However, a plurality of triangular subpixels may be addressable as a group, e.g., as a group of 2, 3, 4 or more. A single pixel may include varying numbers of triangular subpixels. For example, a single pixel may include 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21 or some other number of triangular subpixels. Alternatively, a single pixel may include 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, or some other number of triangular subpixels. A single pixel may include triangular subpixels that are configured to be separately addressable and/or triangular subpixels are configured to be addressable as a group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: Qualcomm MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: David Leslie Heald
  • Patent number: 8102590
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for controlling a depth of a cavity between two layers of a light modulating device. A method of making a light modulating device includes providing a substrate, forming a sacrificial layer over at least a portion of the substrate, forming a reflective layer over at least a portion of the sacrificial layer, and forming one or more flexure controllers over the substrate, the flexure controllers configured so as to operably support the reflective layer and to form cavities, upon removal of the sacrificial layer, of a depth measurably different than the thickness of the sacrificial layer, wherein the depth is measured perpendicular to the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ming-Hau Tung, Lior Kogut
  • Patent number: 8102407
    Abstract: Embodiments include methods and devices for controlling the spectral profile and color gamut of light produced by an interferometric display. Such devices include illuminating a display with selected wavelengths of light. Embodiments also include a display comprising separate sections that output different predetermined colors of light. Other embodiments include methods of making the aforementioned devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Gally, William J. Cummings
  • Patent number: 8097174
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical systems device having an electrical interconnect connected to at least one of an electrode and a movable layer within the device. At least a portion of the electrical interconnect is formed from the same material as a movable layer of the device. A thin film, particularly formed of molybdenum, is provided underneath the electrical interconnect. The movable layer preferably comprises aluminum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Wonsuk Chung, SuryaPrakash Ganti, Stephen Zee
  • Patent number: 8098416
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device includes a first electrode, a second electrode electrically insulated from the first electrode, and a third electrode electrically insulated from the first electrode and the second electrode. The MEMS device also includes a support structure which separates the first electrode from the second electrode and a reflective element located and movable between a first position and a second position. The reflective element is in contact with a portion of the device when in the first position and is not in contact with the portion of the device when in the second position. An adhesive force is generated between the reflective element and the portion when the reflective element is in the first position. Voltages applied to the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode at least partially reduce or counteract the adhesive force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Manish Kothari, Lior Kogut, Jeffrey B Sampsell
  • Patent number: 8098431
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention relate to methods and systems for generating the color white in displays created from interferometric modulators and more specifically, to the generation of the color white through the use of reflected light at two wavelengths. In one embodiment, a display device displays the color white. The color white is generated by reflecting light from two pluralities of interferometric modulator types. The first modulator type reflects colored light at a specific wavelength. The second modulator type reflects colored light selected to be at a wavelength complementary to the first. The combined light reflected from the two types appears white in the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Philip D. Floyd
  • Patent number: 8098417
    Abstract: An electromechanical device includes a partially reflective and partially transmissive layer and a movable functional element. The movable functional element includes a patterned flexible dielectric layer and a reflective layer mechanically coupled to the flexible dielectric layer. The patterned flexible dielectric layer is configured to flex in response to voltages applied to the partially reflective and partially transmissive layer to move the functional element in a direction generally perpendicular to the partially reflective and partially transmissive layer. The reflective layer is situated between the flexible dielectric layer and the partially reflective and partially transmissive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Qualcomm MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Teruo Sasagawa
  • Patent number: 8094362
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are iMoD displays optimized by utilizing different materials for one or more different color subpixels. Such optimized displays have improved color gamut over displays where all subpixels are constructed with the same material. Also disclosed are methods for manufacturing such displays and methods for optimizing iMoD displays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian Gally
  • Patent number: 8094363
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to interferometric display devices comprising an interferometric modulator and a solar cell and methods of making thereof. In some embodiments, the solar cell is configured to provide energy to the interferometric modulator. The solar cell and the interferometric modulator may be formed above the same substrate. A layer of the solar cell may be shared with a layer of the interferometric modulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Teruo Sasagawa, Lior Kogut, Ming-Hau Tung
  • Patent number: 8094358
    Abstract: A dimming mirror comprises an array of interferometric light modulators is disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, the dimming mirror comprises a plurality of interferometric light modulators and a control circuit adapted to configure the plurality of interferometric light modulators to at least one of a plurality of predefined states, including a first state having a substantially reflective appearance and a second state having a dimmed visual appearance as contrasted with the first state. Additional features may include additional states having an appearance with a dimmed visual appearance as contrasted with the first state and a reflective appearance as contrasted with the second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Kasra Khazeni
  • Patent number: 8094366
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for testing the electrical characteristics of reflective displays, including interferometric modulator displays. In one embodiment, a controlled voltage is applied to conductive leads in the display and the resulting current is measured. The voltage may be controlled so as to ensure that interferometric modulators do not actuate during the resistance measurements. Also disclosed are methods for conditioning interferometric modulator display by applying a voltage waveform that causes actuation of interferometric modulators in the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William Cummings, Brian Gally, Manish Kothari
  • Publication number: 20120002265
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a display is provided and includes a plurality of interferometric display elements. The display further includes at least one diffuser. Optical properties of the diffuser are selected to reduce color shift of the display when viewed from at least one angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Manish Kothari
  • Patent number: 8090229
    Abstract: A MEMS-based display device is described, wherein an array of interferometric modulators are configured to reflect light through a transparent substrate. The transparent substrate is sealed to a backplate and the backplate may contain electronic circuitry fabricated on the backplane. The electronic circuitry is placed in electrical communication with the array of interferometric modulators and is configured to control the state of the array of interferometric modulators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Karen Tyger
  • Publication number: 20110317245
    Abstract: A system and method for determining humidity based on determination of an offset voltage shift are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system for determining humidity comprises an electromechanical device comprising a first layer, a second layer, and a dielectric between the two layers, wherein the dielectric is spaced apart from at least one of the first and second layers in an unactuated state of the electromechanical device, and wherein the dielectric contacts both the first and second layers in an actuated state of the electromechanical device, a voltage source configured to apply, between the first and second layers, one or more voltages, and a processor configured to control the voltage source, to determine an offset voltage shift based on the applied voltages, and to determine information regarding humidity about the device based on the offset voltage shift.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey B. Sampsell
  • Publication number: 20110316832
    Abstract: Electromechanical devices such as MEMS can be controlled by “drive schemes” comprising electrical signals applied to the display to cause selective actuation or release of the electromechanical devices. In some drive schemes, all pixels on a line are released during a phase when a release voltage is applied along the common line. In some invention embodiments, the release phase sets the common line voltage to the maximum segment drive voltage for a portion of the release phase and the minimum segment drive voltage for the remainder of the release phase. This ensures that all electromechanical devices have a resulting voltage of zero during a portion of the release phase sufficient to release the devices without regard to the segment line voltages. This scheme eliminates slow and no release problems and also eliminates the need for additional voltage transitions on the segment lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Todorovich
  • Patent number: 8085461
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods of actuating MEMS display elements are disclosed. The disclosed embodiments can be incorporated into other drive schemes for MEMS display elements. In one embodiment, an apparatus for controlling a MEMS display element to display a frame of video data, said MEMS display element comprising a portion of an array of MEMS display elements, includes an array controller configured to assert a potential difference on said MEMS display element during a first portion of a frame display write process to place the MEMS display element in a first display state, and to assert a potential difference on said MEMS display element during a second portion of the frame display write process to place the MEMS display element in a second display state to display the frame of the video data, where the first display state is different from the second display state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Gally, William J. Cummings
  • Patent number: 8085458
    Abstract: Described herein is the use of a diffusion barrier layer between metallic layers in MEMS devices. The diffusion barrier layer prevents mixing of the two metals, which can alter desired physical characteristics and complicate processing. In one example, the diffusion barrier layer may be used as part of a movable reflective structure in interferometric modulators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hsin-Fu Wang, Ming-Hau Tung, Stephen Zee
  • Publication number: 20110308609
    Abstract: Reflectors formed in front of a solar cell reduce loss from reflections from specular conductors formed in front of the photovoltaic material in the solar cell by reflecting light otherwise incident upon the conductors onto the photovoltaic material. In one embodiment, a solar cell includes a photovoltaic material having a front surface, a conductive bus line extending along a first direction, the conductive bus line being disposed over the front surface of the photovoltaic material, a primary reflector disposed on the bus line, the primary reflector comprising a first reflective surface obtusely angled relative to the front surface of the photovoltaic material to reflect light onto the photovoltaic material, and a first secondary reflector extending along the first direction, spaced apart from the conductive bus line, the first secondary reflector comprising at least one reflective surface to reflect a portion of light reflected from the primary reflector towards the photovoltaic material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey B. Sampsell
  • Patent number: 8081370
    Abstract: A method of making an interferometric modulator element includes forming at least two posts, such as posts formed from spin-on glass, on a substrate. In alternate embodiments, the posts may be formed after certain layers of the modulator elements have been deposited on the substrate. An interferometric modulator element includes at least two spin-on glass support posts located on the substrate. In alternate embodiments, the support posts may be located over certain layers of the modulator element, rather than on the substrate. A method of making an interferometric modulator element includes forming a rigid cap over a support post. An interferometric modulator element includes support posts having rigid cap members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey B. Sampsell