Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for reducing artifacts in an image generated by a display device. In one aspect, data is written to a display and a position of display elements is maintained based on the application of a hold voltage pattern. The hold voltage pattern includes alternating polarities along one dimension in a pattern, and alternating polarities along a second dimension in a pattern. The polarities of the first and second patterns may be switched in a manner that maintains a substantially constant magnitude voltage across each display element.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for determining a line time for writing data to display elements on one or more common lines of an array of display elements. In one aspect, the line time is determined for writing data to a line of display elements based on the received image data to be written to the line of display elements.

Abstract: This disclosure provides apparatus, systems and methods for manufacturing electromechanical systems (EMS) packages. One method includes making an EMS package that includes an out-gassable anti-stiction coating. The anti-stiction coating may be a solvent that is included within part of a desiccant mixture. In some implementations, the method includes sealing an EMS device into a package and then heating the package using a temperature profile that out-gasses at least a portion of a residual solvent. The method may include an incubation bake cycle to distribute anti stiction material to display elements within the EMS package. The incubation bake cycle may also more evenly distribute contaminants within the EMS package so as to reduce their effects.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for an electromechanical systems device. In one aspect, an electromechanical systems device may include a substrate and a movable layer positioned apart from the substrate. The movable layer and the substrate may define a cavity. The movable layer may be movable to increase the size of the cavity or to decrease the size of the cavity. The movable layer also may include a first anchor point attaching the movable layer to the substrate and a first feature associated with the first anchor point. The first feature may include a protrusion of the movable layer into or out from the cavity.

Abstract: A display mode, including an update rate and/or resolution of an electronic display device, is dynamically adjusted by computing a change rate metric (CRM) representative of an image change rate, and adjusting, based on the CRM, at least one of the update rate and the image resolution. The display device may be switched between at least two display modes, based on the CRM, which may be computed by comparing each pixel row in a first frame with a corresponding pixel row in a comparison frame, and determining a number of pixel rows that have changed. A cyclic redundancy check (CRC) value for each pixel row may be computed, and the CRM may then be computed by determining a number of pixel rows that have a changed CRC value with respect to a corresponding pixel row of the comparison frame.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for a via structure. In one aspect, an apparatus includes a substrate and a first electromechanical systems device on a surface of the substrate. The first electromechanical systems device includes a first metal layer and a second metal layer. A first via structure can be included on the surface of the substrate. The first via structure includes the first metal layer, the second metal layer, and a third metal layer. The first metal layer of the first electromechanical systems device may be the same metal layer as the first metal layer of the first via structure.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, are used for driving a display. In one aspect, the method includes connecting a first segment line to a first voltage, connecting a second segment line to a second voltage, and connecting the least a first segment line to the second segment line through at least one inductor. The polarities of segment line voltages may therefore be switched by reusing energy in the system.

Abstract: An interferometric modulator (Imod) cavity has a reflector and an induced absorber. A direct view reflective flat panel display may include an array of the modulators. Adjacent spacers of different thicknesses are fabricated on a substrate by a lift-off technique used to pattern the spacers which are deposited separately, each deposition providing a different thickness of spacer. Or a patterned photoresist may be used to allow for an etching process to selectively etch back the thickness of a spacer which was deposited in a single deposition. A full-color static graphical image may be formed of combined patterns of interferometric modulator cavities. Each cavity includes a reflector, and an induced absorber, the induced absorber including a spacer having a thickness that defines a color associated with the cavity.

Abstract: This disclosure provides photovoltaic apparatus and methods of forming the same. In one implementation, a photovoltaic device includes an anode contact structure, a cathode contact structure, and an inorganic solar cell disposed between the anode and cathode contact structures. The inorganic solar cell includes a p-type photovoltaic layer, an n-type photovoltaic layer, and one or more minority carrier blocking layers for improving the efficiency of the solar cell by preventing minority carriers within the solar cell from reaching interface recombination surfaces associated with the anode and cathode contact structures.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for electromechanical systems devices having a non-uniform gap under a mechanical layer. An electromechanical systems device includes a movable element supported at its edges over a substrate by at least two support structures. The movable element can be spaced from the substrate by a gap having two or more different heights in two or more corresponding distinct regions. The gap has a first height in a first region below the gap, such as an active area of the device, and a second height in a second region adjacent the support structure. In an interferometric modulator implementation, the second region can be encompasses within an anchor region with a black mask.

Abstract: An interference modulator (Imod) incorporates anti-reflection coatings and/or micro-fabricated supplemental lighting sources. An efficient drive scheme is provided for matrix addressed arrays of IMods or other micromechanical devices. An improved color scheme provides greater flexibility. Electronic hardware can be field reconfigured to accommodate different display formats and/or application functions. An IMod's electromechanical behavior can be decoupled from its optical behavior. An improved actuation means is provided, some one of which may be hidden from view. An IMod or IMod array is fabricated and used in conjunction with a MEMS switch or switch array. An IMod can be used for optical switching and modulation. Some IMods incorporate 2-D and 3-D photonic structures. A variety of applications for the modulation of light are discussed. A MEMS manufacturing and packaging approach is provided based on a continuous web fed process.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing perceived color shift as a function of viewing angle is disclosed. One embodiment is a display device that includes a color light modulator and a color filter. The filter is configured to filter wavelengths of light that would be perceived as color shifted light when reflected by the modulator at an off-axis viewing angle. Another embodiment includes a color light modulator and a color light source configured to provide light having a spectral content that lacks the wavelengths that would be perceived as color shifted light by a view of the display at an off-axis viewing angle. Another embodiment are methods of making such display devices.

Abstract: Electromechanical systems dilation mode resonator (DMR) structures are disclosed. The DMR includes a first electrode layer, a second electrode layer, and a piezoelectric layer formed of a piezoelectric material. The piezoelectric layer has dimensions including a lateral distance (D), in a plane of an X axis and a Y axis perpendicular to the X axis, and a thickness (T), along a Z axis perpendicular to the X axis and the Y axis. A numerical ratio of the thickness and the lateral distance, T/D, is configured to provide a mode of vibration of the piezoelectric layer with displacement along the Z axis and along the plane of the X axis and the Y axis responsive to a signal provided to one or more of the electrodes. Ladder filter circuits can be constructed with DMRs as series and/or shunt elements, and the resonators can have spiral configurations.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for fabricating spacers for electromechanical systems devices. In one aspect, a method of forming a spacer on a spacer portion of a device surface of an electromechanical systems device includes exposing the device surface to spacer particles suspended in a fluid. The spacer particles are allowed to attach to the spacer portion. Each of the spacer particles can have at least one dimension of about 1 micron to 10 microns. The electromechanical systems device can also include a sacrificial layer that is subsequently removed between the device surface and a substrate surface of a substrate on which the electromechanical systems device is formed.

Abstract: Electromechanical systems dilation mode resonator (DMR) structures are disclosed. The DMR includes a first electrode layer, a second electrode layer, and a piezoelectric layer formed of a piezoelectric material. The piezoelectric layer has dimensions including a lateral distance (D), in a plane of an X axis and a Y axis perpendicular to the X axis, and a thickness (T), along a Z axis perpendicular to the X axis and the Y axis. A numerical ratio of the thickness and the lateral distance, T/D, is configured to provide a mode of vibration of the piezoelectric layer with displacement along the Z axis and along the plane of the X axis and the Y axis responsive to a signal provided to one or more of the electrodes. Ladder filter circuits can be constructed with DMRs as series and/or shunt elements, and the resonators can have spiral configurations.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing MEMS devices with integrated desiccant are provided. In one embodiment, a dry composition comprising desiccant is impact sprayed onto the backplate or substrate of a MEMS device, and becomes fused with the substrate. In another embodiment, the desiccant is impact sprayed such that the desiccant adheres to the impact sprayed surface. In yet another embodiment, the impact-sprayed surface is impregnated with the desiccant. In still another embodiment, the desiccant is combined with a suitable inorganic binder, then impact sprayed such that the desiccant adheres to the impact sprayed surface. In yet a further embodiment, the desiccant is micronized or pulverized into a powder of desired particle size, and then impact sprayed onto a surface. Thus, the desiccant particles or powder are fused onto the target surface through the impact spraying process.

Abstract: Various devices and methods of lighting a display are disclosed. In one embodiment, for example, a display device includes a transmissive display configured to be illuminated through a back surface and a reflective display configured to be illuminated through a front surface. A light source is disposed with respect to the back of the transmissive display to illuminate the transmissive display through the back surface. A light pipe is disposed with respect to the light source to receive light from the light source and is configured to propagate the light such that this light provides front illumination of the reflective display.

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.

Abstract: A method of driving electromechanical devices such as interferometric modulators includes applying a voltage along a common line to release the electromechanical devices along the common line, followed by applying an address voltage along the common line to actuate selected electromechanical devices along the common line based on voltages applied along segment lines. Hold voltages may be applied along common lines between applications of release and address voltages, and the segment voltages may be selected to be sufficiently small that the segment voltages will not affect the state of the electromechanical devices along other common lines not being written to.

Abstract: An optical device includes a non-transparent substrate. The optical device further includes a first optical layer which is at least partially transmissive and at least partially reflective to incident light. The optical device further includes a second optical layer which is at least partially reflective to incident light. The second optical layer is spaced from the first optical layer. At least one of the first optical layer and the second optical layer is movable between a first position at a first distance from the first optical layer and a second position at a second distance from the first optical layer. Movement of the at least one of the first optical layer and the second optical layer between the first and second positions modulates the reflectivity of the device.