Patents Assigned to QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies
  • PHASE DELAY TO AVOID BLADE TIP COLLISION IN ROTATING BLADES SIGNAGE
    Publication number: 20130215000
    Abstract: Some implementations include an array of devices having blades configured for rotation. The devices may be lighting devices having a plurality of pixel elements disposed on each blade. The blades of these devices may sweep out an area that overlaps with an area swept out by the blades of an adjacent device in a row. Each device in a column may have blades that are configured to rotate in an opposite direction from the blades of an adjacent device in the column. Diagonally adjacent devices (offset by one row and one column) may have blades that rotate in the same direction but out of phase. The blades of diagonally adjacent devices may or may not sweep out overlapping areas. The areas may overlap by more or less than a width of a pixel element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: QUALCOMM MEMS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Mark Joseph Dyer, Marc Maurice Mignard
  • FLASH ILLUMINATION SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20130215596
    Abstract: Systems and methods for flash illumination are disclosed. In one aspect, a flash illumination system includes sections each including a light source and a reflector. Each of the light sources includes a single light-emitting region having a first centroid and a package surrounding the single light-emitting region. The package has an exit aperture having a second centroid. The first centroid can be laterally offset from the second centroid. The reflectors include an input aperture, an output aperture, and one or more sidewalls therebetween. The input aperture is optically coupled to the exit aperture. One or more sidewalls are configured to collimate light propagating from the light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: QUALCOMM MEMS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Robert L. Holman, Matthew B. Sampsell
  • METHODS OF MANUFACTURING ILLUMINATION SYSTEMS
    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.
  • Apparatus and system for writing data to electromechanical display elements
    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
  • Piezoelectric resonator with two layers
    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
  • LAMPSHADE WITH TAPERED LIGHT GUIDE
    Publication number: 20130201717
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for illumination. In one aspect, a lampshade includes a light source coupled to a tapered light guide sheet. The light guide sheet extends laterally and is curved around a vertical axis. The light source injects light into the wide end of the tapered light guide sheet and the tapered sidewalls of the light guide sheet allow the light to escape out of the light guide sheet and in the general direction of the narrow end of the tapered light guide sheet, thereby allowing the lampshade to act as an up-light or down-light, depending on the direction that the narrow end is pointing. The lampshade may include light extracting and turning features and/or a reflector configured to eject light laterally outward from the light guide sheet, thereby allowing the lampshade to illuminate objects on the same plane as the lampshade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: QUALCOMM MEMS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Robert L. Holman
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CHOOSING DISPLAY MODES
    Publication number: 20130194295
    Abstract: This disclosure provides apparatus, systems, and methods for updating display devices. In one aspect, a display can switch between a plurality of display modes based at least in part on a spatial distribution of changed image regions over a number of frames of an image to be displayed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: QUALCOMM MEMS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Leslie C. Chan, Ben Lian, Manish Kothari
  • ANALOG IMOD HAVING A COLOR NOTCH FILTER
    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
  • SWITCHABLE WINDOWS WITH MEMS SHUTTERS
    Publication number: 20130188235
    Abstract: An array of MEMS shutters may incorporate opaque and/or interference-based film stacks, to control light in a window. The shutter structure may include one or more layers with a controlled stress gradient, which makes a shutter arm curl out of plane and away from a defined aperture for light, thus permitting light to be transmitted through a transparent substrate and past the MEMS structure. To close the shutter, a voltage may be applied between an electrode in the shutter arm and an electrode covering a region on the substrate, rolling the shutter arm flat against the substrate electrode and placing the shutter arm over the aperture. The shutter arm may be configured to transmit selected wavelengths of light. In some implementations, the shutter arm may be configured to filter out infrared light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: QUALCOMM MEMS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Philip Don Floyd, Wilhelmus Adrianus de Groot
  • INTEGRATED LIGHT EMITTING AND LIGHT DETECTING DEVICE
    Publication number: 20130181896
    Abstract: Methods and systems for providing a light device that can emit light and sense light are disclosed. In one embodiment, a lighting device includes a light guide having a planar first surface, the light guide configured such that at least some ambient light enters the light guide through the first surface and propagates therein, and at least one light detector disposed along an edge of the light guide, the at least one detector optically coupled to the light guide to receive light propagating therein. The light detector can be configured to produce a control signal. In some embodiments, the lighting device also includes at least one light turning feature disposed on the first surface, the at least one light turning feature configured to direct light incident into the light guide through the first surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: QUALCOMM MEMS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
  • ELECTROSTATICALLY TRANSDUCED SENSORS COMPOSED OF PHOTOCHEMICALLY ETCHED GLASS
    Publication number: 20130181893
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for glass electromechanical systems (EMS) electrostatic devices. In one aspect, a glass EMS electrostatic device includes sidewall electrodes. Structural components of a glass EMS electrostatic device such as stationary support structures, movable masses, coupling flexures, and sidewall electrode supports, can be formed from a single glass body. The glass body can be a photochemically etched. In some implementations, pairs of sidewall electrodes can be arranged in interdigitated comb or parallel plate configurations and can include plated metal layers and narrow capacitive gap spacing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: QUALCOMM MEMS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Justin Phelps Black, Ravindra V. Shenoy, Jon Bradley Lasiter, Philip Jason Stephanou
  • DEVICE AND METHOD FOR HIGH REFLECTANCE MULTI-STATE ARCHITECTURES
    Publication number: 20130182017
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for device and methods for high reflectance multi-state architectures. In one aspect, a display device can include a plurality of reflective pixels including subpixels. Each subpixel can be selectively switched among first, second, and third states, with each state having a different spectral reflectance. Each subpixel has a spectral reflectance associated with a first set of primary colors and with a second set of primary colors. At least one of the colors in the second set of primary colors can be different from the colors in the first set of primary colors. The first set of primary colors can include colors that combine to produce white. A combination of colors of the first set of primary colors can have a brightness that is higher than the brightness of the combination of colors of the second set of primary colors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2012
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: QUALCOMM MEMS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Alok Govil, Jennifer L. Gille, Russel A. Martin
  • Interferometric display with interferometric reflector
    Patent number: 8488228
    Abstract: Interferometric modulators and methods of making the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, an interferometric modulator includes an interferometric reflector having a first reflective surface, a second reflective surface, and an optical resonant layer defined by the first reflective surface and the second reflective surface. The interferometric reflector can be configured to transmit a certain spectrum of light at a transmission peak wavelength such that the interferometric modulator has a diminished reflectance of light at the transmission peak wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Marek Mienko, Jonathan Charles Griffiths
  • System and method of sensing actuation and release voltages of an interferometric modulator
    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
  • ELECTROMECHANICAL SYSTEMS VARIABLE CAPACITANCE ASSEMBLY
    Publication number: 20130176657
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for a variable capacitance apparatus. In one aspect, an apparatus includes a plurality of electromechanical systems varactors connected in parallel. Each of the plurality of electromechanical systems varactors includes a first, a second, and a third metal layer. The first metal layer includes a first bias electrode. The second metal layer is spaced apart from the first metal layer to define a first air gap, and includes a first radio frequency electrode. A third metal layer is spaced apart from the second metal layer to define a second air gap, and includes a second radio frequency electrode and a second bias electrode. The second bias electrode of each of the plurality of electromechanical systems varactors has a different projected area perpendicular to a surface of the second metal layer and onto the surface of the second metal layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: QUALCOMM MEMS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Je-Hsiung LAN, Evgeni Petrovich GOUSEV, Sang-June PARK, Wenyue ZHANG
  • LIGHT GUIDE WITH AT LEAST PARTIALLY NON-TRANSMISSIVE COATING ON LEDGE REGION
    Publication number: 20130176317
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus related to an illumination system for a display device. In one aspect, the illumination system includes a light guide having a view region, which directly overlies display elements of a display, and a ledge region between the view region and a light source that injects light into the light guide. The ledge region is coated with an at least partially non-transmissive layer. The layer can be at least partially absorptive and/or at least partially reflective. In some implementations, the layer can include microstructures configured to turn steep-angle light such that it is redirected across the light guide at a shallower angle. In some implementations, the boundary between the ledge region and the view region of the light guide can have a nonlinear shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: QUALCOMM MEMS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Kebin Li, Ion Bita
  • BACK-TO-BACK DISPLAYS
    Publication number: 20130176518
    Abstract: Two-sided, back-to-back displays are formed by sealing the backplates of two displays against one another. Mechanical parameters of the backplates, e.g., stiffness and strength, do not meet the requirements for standalone one-sided displays which are otherwise similar to the two displays. However, when sealed against one another, the backplates reinforce each other to meet or exceed the requirements for both one-sided and two-sided displays. The presence of backplates on each of the constituent one-sided displays allows one or both of those displays to be individually tested, thereby increasing the production yield of the back-to-back displays. The display elements of the displays can comprise interferometric modulators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: QUALCOMM MEMS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: QUALCOMM MEMS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
  • LIGHT DIRECTION DISTRIBUTION SENSOR
    Publication number: 20130169606
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for measuring the direction distribution of light. In some implementations, an ambient light direction distribution sensor device can include, for example, a light steering layer that is designed to steer light from different incident angles toward associated locations on a light detector. The light detector can then output one or more signals that are indicative of the amount of light that is incident upon the sensor device from different incident angles. These measurements can be used to control various parameters of a display in response to the detected ambient lighting conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: QUALCOMM MEMS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Ye Yin, Russell W. Gruhlke
  • MECHANICAL SMART WINDOW WITH CONTINUOUSLY TUNABLE TRANSMISSION
    Publication number: 20130163062
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for providing continuous light-transmissivity tuning through a mechanical smart window. In one aspect, a mechanical smart window including multiple layers is provided, each layer featuring light-blocking and light-transmitting areas. The layers may be moved relative to each other, changing the amount by which each light-blocking area occludes light-transmitting areas on other layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: QUALCOMM MEMS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Fan Yang, Wilhelmus Adrianus de Groot
  • Electromechanical systems oscillator with piezoelectric contour mode resonator for multiple frequency generation
    Patent number: 8471643
    Abstract: Electromechanical systems resonator structures, devices, circuits, and systems are disclosed. In one aspect, an oscillator includes an active component and a passive component connected in a feedback configuration. The passive component includes one or more contour mode resonators (CMR). A CMR includes a piezoelectric layer disposed between a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer. The conductive layers include an input electrode and an output electrode. The passive component is configured to output a first resonant frequency and a second resonant frequency, which is an odd integer harmonic of the first resonant frequency. The active component is configured to output a signal including the first resonant frequency and the second resonant frequency. This output signal can be a substantially square wave signal, which can serve as a clock in various applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonghae Kim, Je-Hsiung Lan, Changhan Yun, Chi Shun Lo, Matthew Nowak