Abstract: An interferometric modulator array device with backlighting is disclosed. The interferometric modulator array device comprises a plurality of interferometric modulator elements, wherein each of the interferometric modulator elements comprises an optical cavity. The interferometric modulator array includes an optical aperture region, and at least one reflecting element is positioned so as to receive light passing through the optical aperture region and reflect at least a portion of the received light to the cavities of the interferometric modulator elements. In some embodiments, the interferometric modulator elements may be separated from each other such that an optical aperture region is formed between adjacent interferometric modulator elements.

Abstract: At least some subpixels in an interferometric modulator display are formed in a triangular shape. Such triangular subpixels may be formed and/or addressed in a variety of manners. At least some individual triangular subpixels may be separately addressable. However, a plurality of triangular subpixels may be addressable as a group, e.g., as a group of 2, 3, 4 or more. A single pixel may include varying numbers of triangular subpixels. For example, a single pixel may include 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21 or some other number of triangular subpixels. Alternatively, a single pixel may include 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, or some other number of triangular subpixels. A single pixel may include triangular subpixels that are configured to be separately addressable and/or triangular subpixels are configured to be addressable as a group.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention relate to enhancing the brightness of displays that employ illumination systems. In some embodiments, the illumination systems include light guides, diffractive microstructure, and light-turning features. The diffractive microstructure may be configured to receive ambient light at a first angle and produce diffracted light at a second angle greater than the first angle and greater than the critical angle for of light guide. The light is thereby guided within the light guide. The light-turning features may be configured to turn the light guided within the light guide out of a light guide and onto, for example, a spatial light modulator at near normal incidence.

Abstract: A display array which can reduce the row connections between the display and the driver circuit and methods of manufacturing and operating the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, a display device comprises an array of MEMS display elements and a plurality of voltage dividers coupled to the array and configured to provide row output voltages to drive the array, wherein each row is connected to at least two inputs joined by a voltage divider.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of a holographic based optical touchscreen and methods of configuring such devices. In certain embodiments, a touchscreen assembly can include a holographic layer configured to receive incident light and turn it into a selected direction to be transmitted through a light guide. The holographic layer can be configured to accept incident light within an acceptance range and so that the selected direction is within some range of directions so as to allow determination of incidence location based on detection of the turned light. A light source can be provided so that light from the source scatters from an object such as a fingertip near the holographic layer and becomes the incident light. Thus the determined incidence location can represent presence of the fingertip at or near the incidence location, thereby providing touchscreen functionality. Non-limiting examples of design considerations and variations are disclosed.

Abstract: This disclosure provides mechanical layers and methods of forming the same. In one aspect, an electromechanical systems device includes a substrate and a mechanical layer having an actuated position and a relaxed position. The mechanical layer is spaced from the substrate to define a collapsible gap. The gap is in a collapsed condition when the mechanical layer is in the actuated position and in a non-collapsed condition when the mechanical layer is in the relaxed position. The mechanical layer includes a reflective layer, a conductive layer, and a supporting layer. The supporting layer is positioned between the reflective layer and the conductive layer and is configured to support the mechanical layer.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of a holographic touchscreen and methods of configuring such devices. In certain embodiments, a touchscreen assembly can include a holographic layer configured to receive incident light and turn it into a selected direction to be transmitted through a light guide. The holographic layer can be configured to accept incident light within an acceptance range and so that the selected direction is within a range of directions so as to allow determination of incidence location based on detection of the turned light. A light source can be provided so that light from the source scatters from an object such as a fingertip near the holographic layer and becomes the incident light. The determined incidence location can represent presence of the fingertip at or near the incidence location, thereby providing touchscreen functionality.

Abstract: Light in the visible spectrum is modulated using an array of modulation elements, and control circuitry connected to the array for controlling each of the modulation elements independently, each of the modulation elements having a surface which is caused to exhibit a predetermined impedance characteristic to particular frequencies of light. The amplitude of light delivered by each of the modulation elements is controlled independently by pulse code modulation. Each modulation element has a deformable portion held under tensile stress, and the control circuitry controls the deformation of the deformable portion. Each deformable element has a deformation mechanism and an optical portion, the deformation mechanism and the optical portion independently imparting to the element respectively a controlled deformation characteristic and a controlled modulation characteristic. The deformable modulation element may be a non-metal.

Abstract: A system and method for measuring display quality by using a hyperspectral imager are disclosed. In one embodiment, the system comprises a hyperspectral imager configured to determine an intensity of light for a plurality of locations in a first area on a display for a plurality of spectral channels, and a processor configured to determine a measure of display quality based on the determined intensities.

Abstract: A system and method for an optical component that masks non-active portions of a display and provides an electrical path for one or more display circuits. In one embodiment an optical device includes a substrate, a plurality of optical elements on the substrate, each optical element having an optical characteristic which changes in response to a voltage applied to the optical element, and a light-absorbing, electrically-conductive optical mask disposed on the substrate and offset from the plurality of optical elements, the optical mask electrically coupled to one or more of the optical elements to provide electrical paths for applying voltages to the optical elements. In another embodiment, a method of providing an electrical signal to optical elements of a display comprises electrically coupling an electrically-conductive light-absorbing mask to one or more optical elements, and applying a voltage to the mask to activate the one or more optical elements.

Abstract: A method is provided for visual inspection of an array of interferometric modulators in various driven states. This method may include driving multiple columns or rows of interferometric modulators via a single test pad or test lead, such as test pad, and then observing the array for discrepancies between the expected optical output and the actual optical output of the array. This method may particularly include, for example, driving a set of non-adjacent rows or columns to a state different from the intervening rows or columns and then observing the optical output of the array.

Abstract: A method and device for manipulating color in a display includes a display in which one or more of the pixels includes one or more display elements, such as interferometric modulators, configured to output colored light and one or more display elements configured to output white light. Other embodiments include methods of making such displays. In addition, embodiments include color displays configured to provide a greater proportion of the intensity of output light in green portions of the visible spectrum in order to increase perceived brightness of the display.

Abstract: Embodiments of an interferometric modulator are disclosed having various enhancements and features including a conductive bus. In certain embodiments, the interferometric modulator has a first conductive layer suspended over a second electrode layer. In certain embodiments, a second conductive layer is provided over the first conductive layer. One of the first and/or second conductive buses may further connect to the first electrode layer and/or the second electrode layer. Other disclosed features can be incorporated into embodiments of the interferometric modulator to improve response time, power consumption, and image resolution.

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.

Abstract: Methods and devices for detecting pressure applied to a device are described herein. In one embodiment, the device comprises a first layer and a second layer positioned below the first layer. The first layer and the second layer form a cavity. The device further comprises a plurality of display elements disposed in the cavity. The device further comprises a sensor configured to measure the relative movement between the first layer and the second layer. In another embodiment, the device may detect sound waves.

Abstract: In some embodiments, each interferometric modulator has a stiction threshold voltage. If a voltage above the stiction threshold voltage is applied to the interferometric modulator, the interferometric modulator enters a stiction state permanently, i.e., becomes “stuck,” and the interferometric modulator becomes inoperable. Disclosed are apparatuses, methods and computer-readable media for testing a panel of interferometric modulators. A ramped voltage waveform is applied to a plurality of interferometric modulators of the panel. In response to applying the ramped voltage, the stiction threshold voltage is identified. At or above this voltage, the number of stuck interferometric modulators in the panel reaches or exceeds a first threshold number, for example, 50% of the total number of the interferometric modulators constituting the panel. The embodiments can be used to establish stiction benchmark for panel manufacturing processes, to collect data for generating statistical distribution, etc.

Abstract: Microelectronic devices may be fabricated while being protected from damage by electrostatic discharge. In one embodiment, a shorting circuit is connected to elements of the microelectronic device, where the microelectronic device is part of a chip-on-glass system. In one aspect of this embodiment, a portion of the shorting circuit is in an area of a substrate where a microchip is bonded. In another embodiment, shorting links of the shorting circuit are comprised of a fusible material, where the fusible material may be disabled by an electrical current capable of fusing the shorting links.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for storing image data for successive frames in a frame buffer. Specifically, the method and apparatus allow for a display-sized frame buffer to be utilized where a host system provides image data in a format different from that which the display requires to be written to it while retaining the beneficial aspects of concurrent read and write operations from and to the frame buffer. Using this method a buffer controller receives image data from a host system in a first format (e.g. row-by-row) and writes it to the frame buffer in the first format. When the buffer is completely filled with the first frame, it is read out in a second format (e.g. column-by-column) by the buffer controller and provided to a display driver that writes the data to the display.

Abstract: A MEMS (Microelectromechanical system) device is described. The device includes an array of MEMS elements with addressing lines and MEMS switches configured to selectively connect the addressing lines to a ground or other potential in the event of an over-voltage, such as during an ESD event. The arrangement is particularly advantageous for protecting the array, because the MEMS switches can be formed using substantially the same processing steps which are used to form the array.

Abstract: A transmissive backlit display is disclosed. In one aspect, the backlit display comprises a backlight and an array of transmissive interferometric modulators. Each interferometric modulator comprises a fixed and moving dielectric mirror stack. The interferometric modulators cause light within the desired wavelength range to be transmitted while reflecting at least a portion of the remaining light.