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 element disposed between first and second electrodes. The movable element includes a third electrode embedded within a deformable layer and a reflector. The movable element is moved to different positions between first and second electrodes, with different positions corresponding to different reflected colors from the AIMOD. In another aspect, the reflector is coupled to, but spaced apart from, the deformable layer, thereby decoupling the mechanical and optical properties of the movable element. In another aspect, the need for a bending region in the reflector is eliminated, providing for increased fill factor. In another aspect, the reflector may include a dielectric layer having substantially identical metal layers above and below, so as to provide increased rigidity to the reflector.

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.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for improving brightness, contrast, and viewable angle of a reflective display. In one aspect, a display includes a diffuser including a topographical pattern that is different in different areas of the display and a planarization layer over the diffuser. The diffuser is configured to scatter incident light to a different range of angles for different areas of the display.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses for improving brightness, contrast, and/or viewable angle of a reflective display. A display includes a diffuser including particles and a binder over a substrate. At least some of the particles protrude from a planar or substantially planar upper surface of the binder, which provides a topographical pattern for the diffuser. The display includes a planarization layer on the diffuser. The planarization layer provides a planar or substantially planar surface for the formation of display elements over the planarization layer.

Abstract: This disclosure provides methods and apparatus for calibrating display arrays. In one aspect, a method of calibrating a display array includes determining a particular drive response characteristic and updating a particular drive scheme voltage between updates of image data on the display array. The drive response characteristic may be determined by applying a ramp voltage to a line of the array and detecting a current pulse due to a capacitance change on the line. The ramp voltage generator can include a capacitor and a digitally controlled current source.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for driving a display array with a waveform having a plurality of voltage levels, wherein a first subset of the plurality of voltages is different from a second subset of the plurality of voltages by a defined amount. In one aspect, a display driver circuit comprises a power supply configured to generate the first subset of said plurality of voltages, and a charge pump having the first subset of the plurality of voltages as inputs and the second subset of the plurality of voltages as outputs. The charge pump may not include a switch between each output voltage and a corresponding capacitor.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus related to a the design of arrays of electrodes in a device which includes a light-guiding layer in optical contact with the electrodes. In one aspect, a device includes an array of electrodes, the electrodes include at least one edge having a non-linear shape. Specific design constraints may be placed on the shape of the non-linear edge of the electrodes.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus including a light collector having a plurality of micro-lens and a plurality of multi-cone light redirecting structure that is optically coupled to one or more photovoltaic cells. In one aspect, the light collector includes a micro-lens array having a plurality of micro-lens that focus incident light onto a light guide including a plurality of multi-cone light redirecting structure. Each of the plurality of multi-cone light redirecting structure is configured to divert the focused light towards one or more photovoltaic cells disposed along the edge of the light guide. Each multi-cone light redirecting structure includes a central cone shaped structure surrounded by several secondary cone-shaped structures.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for optical touch detection systems. In one aspect, the optical touch detection systems include a light detector and a light guide including a plurality of angled slots. The angled slots can be configured to reflect light towards the light detector. A processor can be utilized to correlate the light, or the change in light, detected by the light detector with the touch event or a gesture.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus including a light collector having a plurality of micro-lens and a plurality of multi-cone light redirecting structure that is optically coupled to one or more photovoltaic cells. In one aspect, the plurality of micro-lens is provided in an organic glass panel that is attached to an inorganic glass substrate. The inorganic glass substrate includes a material that is substantially opaque to radiation in the ultraviolet spectral range. During use, the light collector is disposed such that the inorganic glass substrate is exposed to the exterior to prevent a portion of the ultraviolet radiation incident on the light collector from being transmitted to the organic glass panel.

Abstract: This disclosure provides methods and apparatus for calibrating display arrays. In one aspect, a method of calibrating a display array includes determining a particular drive response characteristic and updating a particular drive scheme voltage between updates of image data on the display array. The drive response characteristic may be determined by applying a ramped voltage to a line of the array and detecting a current pulse due to a capacitance change on the line. The drive response characteristic can be determined based on data representing a width of a current pulse in the waveform or a weighted or unweighted area of a current pulse in the waveform.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for updating an array of display elements of an electronic display. The electronic display, which may be an interferometric modulator (IMOD) display, includes an array of display elements that is updated, at a frame update rate, on a frame by frame basis. Each frame includes data to be written to a plurality of pixel rows, each pixel row including at least a respective first display element line (DEL) of a first color and a respective second DEL of a second color. A processor compares display data for each pixel row in a first frame with display data for a corresponding pixel row in a comparison frame, and updates only selected DEL's based on the comparison. A polarity of a bias voltage of a subset of DEL's in the display, is periodically inverted, the subset of DEL's being substantially fewer than all of the DEL's.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to an interactive display, having a front surface including a viewing area, and providing an input/output interface for a user of an electronic device. A planar light guide (PLG) disposed substantially parallel to the front surface, has a periphery at least coextensive with the viewing area. A light-emitting source (LES), disposed outside the periphery of the PLG, is optically coupled with a PLG input. The PLG outputs reflected light, in a direction substantially orthogonal to the front surface, by reflecting light received from the LES. A light collecting device (LCD) collects scattered light that results from interaction of the reflected light with a user-controlled object. The LCD redirects the collected scattered light toward one or more light sensors. A processor recognizes, from outputs of the light sensors, an instance of a user gesture, and controls the interactive display and/or electronic device, responsive to the user gesture.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for mitigating or reducing stiction in electromechanical systems devices. The systems and methods described herein include a piezo-electric layer disposed over at least a portion of the deformable region of the electromechanical systems devices. To reduce or mitigate stiction, a restorative mechanical force is generated by reverse piezo-electric effect to return the deformable region of the electromechanical systems devices to the un-deformed state.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for making and using gyroscopes. Some gyroscopes include a drive frame, a central anchor and a plurality of drive beams disposed on opposing sides of the central anchor. The drive beams may connect the drive frame to the central anchor. The drive beams may include a piezoelectric layer and may be configured to cause the drive frame to oscillate torsionally in a plane of the drive beams. The gyroscope may also include a proof mass and a plurality of piezoelectric sense beams. At least some components may be formed from plated metal. The drive frame may be disposed within the proof mass. The drive beams may constrain the drive frame to rotate substantially in the plane of the drive beams. Such devices may be included in a mobile device, such as a mobile display device.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus related to inductors. In one aspect, a planar inductor may include a substrate with a spacer in the shape of a planar spiral coil on a surface of the substrate. Disposed on the spacer may be a line of metal formed as a planar inductor in the shape of the planar spiral coil. The spacer may be between the line of metal and the surface of the substrate. The spacer may elevate the line of metal above the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for transparent conductive vias in a transparent substrate. In one aspect, a transparent conductive via extends through a transparent substrate and electrically connects a topside conductor on a top surface of the transparent substrate and a bottom side conductor on a bottom surface of the transparent substrate. In another aspect, a transparent conductive via extends at least partially through a transparent substrate and is in electrical communication with a topside conductor on a top surface of the transparent substrate. In another aspect, a method of forming a transparent through-substrate via is provided.

Abstract: This disclosure provides implementations of inductors, transformers, and related processes. In one aspect, a device includes a substrate having first and second surfaces. A first inducting arrangement includes a first set of vias, a second set of vias, a first set of traces arranged over the first surface connecting the first and second vias, and a second set of traces arranged over the second surface connecting the first and second vias. A second inducting arrangement is inductively-coupled and interleaved with the first inducting arrangement and includes a third set of vias, a fourth set of vias, a third set of traces arranged over the first surface connecting the third and fourth vias, and a fourth set of traces arranged over the second surface connecting the third and fourth vias. One or more sets of dielectric layers insulate portions of the traces from one another.

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.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for an electromechanical systems display device. In one aspect, a grey scale electromechanical systems display device may include a reflector assembly disposed on a support dielectric layer, a substrate, and an absorber assembly. The absorber assembly may include a metal layer. The absorber assembly may be configured to move to a first position defining a first cavity between the absorber assembly and the substrate such that the device reflects a white light. The absorber assembly also may be configured to move to a second position defining a second cavity between the absorber assembly and the reflector assembly such that the device substantially does not reflect light.