Abstract: A touch sensor may include a digital resistive touch (DRT) sensor architecture that is substantially free of air gaps. The DRT touch sensor may include a layer of force-sensitive resistor (FSR) material on an array of row and column electrodes. The electrodes may be formed on a substantially transparent substrate. Near the intersection of each row and column, one or more thin transparent patterned conductive bridges may be situated above the FSR. The conductive bridges may be configured for electrical connection with row and column electrodes when force is applied to the conductive bridge or surface of the touch sensor. Some touch sensors may include both DRT and projected capacitive touch (PCT) functionality.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for making and using x-axis gyroscopes, y-axis gyroscopes, z-axis gyroscopes, two-axis accelerometers and three-axis accelerometers. Combining fabrication processes for such devices can enable the monolithic integration of six inertial sensing axes on a single substrate, such as a single glass substrate. Such devices may be included in a mobile device, such as a mobile display device.

Abstract: An optical interference color display comprising a transparent substrate, an inner-front optical diffusion layer, a plurality of first electrodes, a patterned support layer, a plurality of optical films and a plurality of second electrodes is provided. The inner-front optical diffusion layer is on the transparent substrate and the first electrodes are on the inner-front optical diffusion layer. The patterned support layer is on the inner-front optical diffusion layer between the first electrodes. The optical film is on the first electrodes and the second electrodes are positioned over the respective first electrodes. The second electrodes are supported through the patterned support layer. Furthermore, there is an air gap between the second electrodes and their respective first electrodes.

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

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for a touch screens configured to determine a position of a touch event by selectively redirecting light to correlated locations on a light sensor. In one aspect, the touch screen apparatus can include a light guide forming a touch interface, a light source for injecting light into the light guide, a light sensor for detecting the injected light, and a pixilated light-turning layer. The pixilated light-turning layer can include a plurality of light-turning features forming pixels. The pixels can receive incident light corresponding to the emitted light scattered by an object contacting the light guide. The pixels can redirect the incident scattered light towards the light sensor such that light selectively propagates to one or more correlated light receiving locations. A processor can map the light receiving location to an area contacted by the object, thereby determining a position of a touch event.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improving frame rate in electromechanical display devices are disclosed. Rows or columns in a display device are given priorities and are selected for updating or for skipping during updates based on the priorities, the target frame rate, and the visual effect of skipping the particular line.

Abstract: A spatial light modulator comprises an integrated optical compensation structure, e.g., an optical compensation structure arranged between a substrate and a plurality of individually addressable light-modulating elements, or an optical compensation structure located on the opposite side of the light-modulating elements from the substrate. The individually addressable light-modulating elements are configured to modulate light transmitted through or reflected from the transparent substrate. Methods for making such spatial light modulators involve fabricating an optical compensation structure over a substrate and fabricating a plurality of individually addressable light-modulating elements over the optical compensation structure. The optical compensation structure may be a passive optical compensation structure.

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.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for an arrangement of pixels and interconnects in a display. In one aspect, polarities of pixels may be in a dot inversion configuration, or checkerboard pattern, to reduce the visibility of flicker. Various interconnect alternatively couple between modules in different columns or rows to provide dot inversion.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for measuring capacitance of a display unit, such as an interferometric modulator (IMOD). In one example, a circuit may include an operational amplifier (op-amp), a voltage controlled current source, and feedback from an output of the op-amp as an input to the voltage controlled current source. An output of the voltage controlled current source may be provided to a display unit as well as an input of the op-amp. A second input of the op-amp may be provided a ramping reference voltage.

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

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for low-profile lighting systems. In one aspect, an LED-based light engine, which may be thinner and/or lighter than conventional light engines, may be retained in both conventionally-dimensioned and low-profile light fixtures. In another aspect, a light engine can include both convective and conductive heat transfer components, the efficacy of which will vary based on the dimensions of a light fixture in which the light engine is installed.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, apparatus, and devices and methods of fabrication for electromechanical devices. In one implementation, an apparatus includes a metal proof mass and a piezoelectric component as part of a MEMS device. Such apparatus can be particularly useful for MEMS gyroscope devices. For instance, the metal proof mass, which may have a density several times larger than that of silicon, is capable of reducing the quadrature and bias error in a MEMS gyroscope device, and capable of increasing the sensitivity of the MEMS gyroscope device.

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.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for vias in an integrated circuit structure such as a passive device. In one aspect, an integrated passive device includes a first conductive trace and a second conductive trace over the first conductive trace with an interlayer dielectric between a portion of the first conductive trace and the second conductive trace. One or more vias are provided within the interlayer dielectric to provide electrical connection between the first conductive trace and the second conductive trace. A width of the vias is greater than a width of at least one of the conductive traces.

Abstract: A semiconductor device comprising a second surface of a logic die and a second surface of a via bar coupled to a first surface of a substrate, a second surface of a memory die coupled to a first surface of the via bar, a portion of the second surface of the memory die extending over the first surface of the logic die, such that the logic die and the memory die are vertically staggered, and the memory die electrically coupled to the logic die through the via bar. The via bar can be formed from glass, and include through-glass vias (TGVs) and embedded passives such as resistors, capacitors, and inductors. The semiconductor device can be formed as a single package or a package-on-package structure with the via bar and the memory die encapsulated in a package and the substrate and logic die in another package.

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

Abstract: Methods and devices for reducing the voltage required to update an array of display elements having variable capacitance are described herein. In one implementation, the method includes driving a display element to a first state using a reset drive line. The method further includes driving the display element to a second state using a column drive line. The capacitance of the display element is higher in the first state than in the second state.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for a display with inactive dummy pixels. A display apparatus may include subpixels having a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer. The first electrode layer of an edge subpixel may include an opening, which may be made large enough to prevent the edge subpixel from actuating. The size of the openings also may be selected to attain a desired overall reflectivity for an array of edge subpixels. For example, the size of the openings may be selected to make the reflectivity of an edge pixel array similar to the reflectivity of a routing area.

Abstract: Encapsulation is provided to electromechanical devices to protect the devices from such environmental hazards as moisture and mechanical shock. In addition to the encapsulation layer providing protection from environmental hazards, the encapsulation layer is additionally planarized so as to function as a substrate for additional circuit elements formed above the encapsulation layer.