Patents Assigned to QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies
  • Publication number: 20130278612
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatuses for providing illumination in, for example, a display device. One or more light emitters can emit light into a light guide plate that is configured to distribute the light across an array of display elements. A substantially etendue-preserving reflector between the light emitters and the light guide can at least partially collimate light propagating in a single plane of collimation. In some implementations, a lenticular film, or other optical elements, can be used to increase divergence of the light in a plane orthogonal to the plane of collimation. The light guide can include light extraction elements, which can be frusta-shaped features for turning light out of the light guide for illuminating the display. In some implementations, a flexible electrical interconnection circuit can be used to provide power and/or signals to the light emitters, thereby providing a flexible circuit illumination system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Holman, Matthew B. Sampsell
  • Patent number: 8560258
    Abstract: Methods and devices to measure voltage margins of electromechanical devices are disclosed. The voltage margins are determined based on responses to test voltages which cause the devices to change states. State changes of the devices are detected by monitoring integrated current or charge used to drive the devices with the test voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Alok Govil, Kostadin Djordjev, Alan Lewis, Wilhelmus Johannes Robertus Van Lier
  • Publication number: 20130265764
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for lighting devices. In one aspect, a lighting device includes a light engine and a connection portion. The connection portion can include a first end coupled to the light engine and a base connector disposed at the second end of the connection portion. In some implementations, the connection portion has a length dimension that is adjustable between at least a first length that positions the base connector at a first position relative to the light engine and a second length that positions the base connector at a second position relative to the light engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Holman, Matthew B. Sampsell
  • Publication number: 20130257880
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatuses for illumination using illumination systems having a light guide. A light source is configured to inject light into a light input edge of the light guide. The light guide is configured to recirculate the injected light therein such that the light passes back and forth across the light guide one or more times. The light guide includes light-turning features that extract light out of the light guide. To promote light recirculation, the light-turning features have a per-pass light extraction efficiency of about 50% or less and one or more edges of the light guide may be reflective. The light extracted out of the light guide by the light-turning features may be used to illuminate a display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kebin Li, David William Burns, Hamid Tavakoli
  • Patent number: 8547626
    Abstract: A method of shaping a mechanical layer is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises depositing a support layer, a sacrificial layer and a mechanical layer over a substrate, and forming a support post from the support layer. A kink is formed adjacent to the support post in the mechanical layer. The kink comprises a rising edge and a falling edge, and the kink can be configured to control the shaping and curvature of the mechanical layer upon removal of the sacrificial layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yi Tao, Fan Zhong, Teruo Sasagawa
  • Publication number: 20130249964
    Abstract: The invention comprises systems and methods for controller and driver features for displays, and in particular, controller and driver features that relate to displays. In one embodiment, such a display includes at least one driving circuit and an array comprising a plurality of display elements, where the array is configured to be driven by the driving circuit, and where the driving circuit is programmed to receive video data and provide a subset of the received video data to the array based on a frame skip count. In some embodiments, the frame skip count is programmable or dynamically determined. In another embodiment, a method of displaying data on an array having a plurality of display elements comprises receiving video data comprising a plurality of frames, displaying selected frames based upon a frame skip count, measuring the change between each selected frame and a frame previous to the selected frame, and displaying non-selected frames if the measured change is greater than or equal to a threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey B. Sampsell, Karen Tyger, Mithran Cheriyan Mathew
  • Publication number: 20130249936
    Abstract: Displays, and methods of displaying images with the displays, which have quantized display characteristics for each of the pixels are disclosed. The displays and methods relate to both spatially and temporally dithering images so that the effective resolution of the display is higher than the result of the native spatial and intensity resolutions of the display, defined by pixel size, pitch, and number of quantization levels of each of the pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Louis Silverstein, Alan Lewis, Jennifer L. Gille
  • Publication number: 20130241919
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for electromechanical systems devices that can be switched between a transmissive state and a reflective state. In one aspect, the electromechanical systems devices is a display device including a movable layer disposed over an optical stack having a partially transmissive and a partially reflective layer that has a high refractive index and a low absorption coefficient. The movable layer is configured to be actuated between a first position and a second position such that the display device displays a color when the movable layer is in the first position and displays black when the movable layer is in the second position. Alternately, the display device displays white when the movable layer is in the first position and displays a color when the movable layer is in the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Marc Maurice Mignard
  • Publication number: 20130241903
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for electromechanical systems devices that can be switched between a transmissive state and a reflective state. In one aspect, the electromechanical systems devices can include a partially transmissive and a partially reflective layer that has a high refractive index and a low absorption coefficient. The electromechanical systems devices can be used in a variety of way including as a smart window, as an optical shutter, as a privacy screen and as a display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Marc Maurice Mignard
  • Patent number: 8536059
    Abstract: Etching equipment and methods are disclosed herein for more efficient etching of sacrificial material from between permanent MEMS structures. An etching head includes an elongate etchant inlet structure, which may be slot-shaped or an elongate distribution of inlet holes. A substrate is supported in proximity to the etching head in a manner that defines a flow path substantially parallel to the substrate face, and permits relative motion for the etching head to scan across the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Khurshid Syed Alam, Evgeni Gousev, Marc Maurice Mignard, David Heald, Ana R. Londergan, Philip Don Floyd
  • Patent number: 8531172
    Abstract: Power efficient power supply regulator circuits are disclosed. The circuits are configured to modify their overhead current according to current load. This is particularly advantageous for use in display devices with widely varying current loads. Such displays include bi-stable displays, such as interferometric modulation displays, LCD displays, and DMD displays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Sameer Wadhwa
  • Publication number: 20130222351
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for EMS devices. In one aspect, an EMS device includes an array of display elements and a plurality of driver lines with at least a portion of the plurality of driver lines routed above or below the array between one or more driver circuits and the array. In some implementations, at least a portion of the plurality of driver lines is disposed above a non-active area of the array. In one aspect, an EMS device can form a portion of at least one of the plurality of driver lines. In some implementations, movable layers of the array can be disposed between at least a portion of the plurality of driver lines and stationary electrodes of the display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Tsongming Kao, Charles Leu, Kostadin Djordjev, Rihui He
  • Publication number: 20130220399
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus including a hybrid wedge shaped/microstructured light collector that is optically coupled to one or more photovoltaic cells. In one aspect, the hybrid wedge shaped/microstructured light collector includes a wedge shaped light guide having an inclined light receiving surface that can collect light incident at angles in the range from about 60 degrees to about 90 degrees with respect to a normal to the inclined light receiving surface. Additionally, the hybrid wedge shaped/microstructured light collector includes a microstructured light collector that can collect light incident at angles in the range from about 0 degrees to about 60 degrees with respect to a normal to the inclined light receiving surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell Wayne Gruhlke, Sijin Han, Fan Yang
  • Patent number: 8516886
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for making and using gyroscopes. Such gyroscopes may include a sense frame, a proof mass disposed outside the sense frame, a pair of anchors and a plurality of drive beams. The plurality of drive beams may be disposed on opposing sides of the sense frame and between the pair of anchors. The drive beams may connect the sense frame to the proof mass. The drive beams may be configured to cause torsional oscillations of the proof mass substantially in a first plane of the drive beams. The sense frame may be substantially decoupled from the drive motions of the proof mass. Such devices may be included in a mobile device, such as a mobile display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Cenk Acar, Ravindra Vaman Shenoy, Justin Phelps Black, Kurt Edward Petersen, Srinivasan Kodaganallur Ganapathi, Philip Jason Stephanou
  • Patent number: 8516887
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for making and using gyroscopes. Such gyroscopes may include a central anchor, a sense frame disposed around the central anchor, a plurality of sense beams configured for connecting the sense frame to the central anchor and a drive frame disposed around and coupled to the sense frame. The gyroscope may include pairs of drive beams disposed on opposing sides of the sense frame. The gyroscope may include a drive frame suspension for substantially restricting a drive motion of the drive frame to that of a substantially linear displacement along the first axis. The sense frame may be substantially decoupled from drive motions of the drive frame. Such devices may be included in a mobile device, such as a mobile display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Cenk Acar, Ravindra Vaman Shenoy, Justin Phelps Black, Kurt Edward Petersen, Srinivasan Kodaganallur Ganapathi, Philip Jason Stephanou
  • Publication number: 20130212859
    Abstract: Methods of manufacturing light panels having at least one re-entrant turning feature. In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a light panel includes providing a base layer, providing a cover layer, and coupling the cover layer to the base layer to form at least one re-entrant turning feature between the base layer and the cover layer. In another embodiment, a method of manufacturing a light panel includes providing a base layer, forming at least one receiving space in the base layer, providing at least one prismatic block, and coupling at least a portion of the prismatic block into the receiving space such that re-entrant turning features are formed between the prismatic block and the base layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8513863
    Abstract: A piezoelectric resonator device includes: a top electrode layer with a patterned structure, a top piezoelectric layer adjacent to the top layer, a middle metal layer adjacent to the top piezoelectric layer opposite the top layer, a bottom piezoelectric layer adjacent to the middle layer opposite the top piezoelectric layer, and a bottom electrode layer with a patterned structure and adjacent to the bottom piezoelectric layer opposite the middle layer. The top layer includes a first plurality of electrodes inter-digitated with a second plurality of electrodes. A first one of the electrodes in the top layer and a first one of the electrodes in the bottom layer are coupled to a first contact, and a second one of the electrodes in the top layer and a second one of the electrodes in the bottom layer are coupled to a second contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip J. Stephanou, Justin P. Black
  • Patent number: 8514169
    Abstract: Charge balanced display data writing systems, apparatuses, and methods use write and hold cycles of opposite polarity during selected frame update periods. A release cycle may be provided to reduce the chance that a given display element will become stuck in an actuated state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Clarence Chui, Manish Kothari
  • Publication number: 20130194653
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus related to an electromechanical display device. In one aspect, an analog interferometric modulator (AIMOD) includes a reflective display pixel having a movable reflective layer and a stationary absorber layer, the reflective layer and absorber layer defining a cavity therebetween. A color notch filter may be employed to produce an improved white state. In some implementations, the color notch filter is positioned on a side of the substrate opposite the absorber layer. In some other implementations, the color notch filter is positioned between the substrate and the movable reflective layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jian J. Ma, Tallis Y. Chang, John H. Hong, Ion Bita
  • Patent number: 8487846
    Abstract: A method for sensing the actuation and/or release voltages of a electromechanical system or a microelectromechanical device include applying a varying voltage to the device and sensing its state and different voltage levels. In one embodiment, the device is part of a system comprising an array of interferometric modulators suitable for a display. The method can be used to compensate for temperature dependent changes in display pixel characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Marc Mignard, Clarence Chui, Mithran C Mathew, Jeffrey B Sampsell