Patents Assigned to QUALCOMM MEMS
  • Touch sensing display devices and related methods
    Patent number: 8872804
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus relating to touch sensing display devices that include a sensing device and a display device. In one aspect, a touch sensing display device can include adaptive addressing architecture to adjust an addressing characteristic based at least in part in a sensing characteristic of a sensing device. In another aspect, a touch sensing display device can include adaptive sensing architecture to adjust a sensing characteristic of a sensing device based at least in part on an addressing characteristic of a display device and/or on an electrical interference characteristic altered by an addressing circuit of the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Russel A. Martin, William J. Cummings
  • Coated light-turning feature with auxiliary structure
    Patent number: 8866757
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for a front illumination device with metalized light-turning features. In one aspect, an illumination device includes a light guide having light-turning features that include recesses formed on the light guide and that extend down into the light guide. The recesses may be coated with a material where the material also forms an auxiliary structure outside of the recesses on the light guide. The auxiliary structure may be conductive and may form, for example, an electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ion Bita, Stephen P. Dhanens, Evgeni P. Gousev, Kollengode S. Narayanan
  • Method and device for compensating for color shift as a function of angle of view
    Patent number: 8861071
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a display is provided and includes a plurality of interferometric display elements. The display further includes at least one diffuser. Optical properties of the diffuser are selected to reduce color shift of the display when viewed from at least one angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Qualcomm MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Manish Kothari
  • Method of making an electronic device with a curved backplate
    Patent number: 8853747
    Abstract: A package is made of a transparent substrate having an interferometric modulator and a back plate. A non-hermetic seal joins the back plate to the substrate to form a package, and a desiccant resides inside the package. A method of packaging an interferometric modulator includes providing a transparent substrate and manufacturing an interferometric modulator array on a backside of the substrate. A back plate includes a curved portion relative to the substrate. The curved portion is substantially throughout the back plate. The back plate is sealed to the backside of the substrate with a back seal in ambient conditions, thereby forming a package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Lauren Palmateer, Brian J. Gally, William J. Cummings, Manish Kothari, Clarence Chui
  • Systems, devices, and methods for driving an interferometric modulator
    Patent number: 8847862
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus for controlling the actuation of an analog interferometric modulator. In one aspect, a voltage may be determined from a sense electrode. A distance between one or more of the electrodes may be determined based on the voltage. The sense electrode may be capacitively coupled to another electrode, and may be implemented in a mirror of a movable layer of an interferometric modulator, or may be implemented in a floating fixed layer of an interferometric modulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Alok Govil
  • Method and structure capable of changing color saturation
    Patent number: 8848294
    Abstract: Various embodiments include an interferometric modulator device configured to provide improved saturation. In some embodiments, saturation is improved by optically matching the impedance of two materials with different refractive indices using a multilayer having a refractive index gradient. In various embodiments, the thickness one or more of the layers in the multilayer are selected to provide increased saturation. Accordingly, in various embodiments the multilayer having a refractive index gradient helps to narrow the resonance of a pixel such that the band of wavelengths that are reflected from the pixel is smaller. In turn, a device including a combination of red, green and blue pixels may expand the spectrum of colors that are reflected by the device in operation. Additionally, there may be better contrast between whites and blacks, as darker blacks with less hue are produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jian Liu, Kostadin Djordjev, Marc Maurice Mignard
  • Flash illumination system
    Patent number: 8845115
    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: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Holman, Matthew B. Sampsell
  • IMAGING METHOD AND SYSTEM WITH OPTICAL PATTERN GENERATOR
    Publication number: 20140267875
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for imaging. In one aspect, the imaging system can include a light sensor, a light guide, an optical pattern generator, and a processor. The light guide can include light turning features configured to receive ambient light and to direct the ambient light out through an output surface of the light guide to the light sensor. The optical pattern generator can be configured to generate a light intensity pattern upon the passage of the ambient light through the optical pattern generator and project the light intensity pattern onto the light sensor. The processor can be configured to construct an image based on the light intensity pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: QUALCOMM MEMS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Russell W. Gruhlke, Ying Zhou, John M. Wyrwas, Xiquan Cui, Thomas Brown, Todor Georgiev
  • METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DRIVING SEGMENT LINES IN A DISPLAY
    Publication number: 20140267211
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for energy efficient voltage transitions when driving EMS or MEMS systems. In one aspect, a MEMS display array may have segment electrodes driven by a source of approximately constant current. The substantially constant current may be generated by a buck regulator including an inductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark M. Todorovich
  • Microbolometer supported by glass substrate
    Publication number: 20140267756
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for forming microbolometers on glass substrates. In one aspect, the formation of microbolometers on glass substrates can reduce the size and cost of the resultant array and associated circuitry. In one aspect, a portion of the measurement and control circuitry can be formed by thin-film deposition on the glass substrate, while sensitive measurement and control circuitry can be formed on ancillary CMOS substrates. In one aspect, the microbolometers may be packaged using a variety of techniques, including a wafer-level packaging process or a pixel-level packaging process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Evgeni Gousev, David W. Burns, Nicholas I. Buchan, Ana R. Londergan
  • BACKPLATE INTERCONNECT WITH INTEGRATED PASSIVES
    Publication number: 20140264809
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for manufacturing display devices having electronic components mounted within a display device package. In one aspect, the electronic component connects to the exterior of the display device through pads that run below a seal that holds a substrate and a backplate of the display device together. In another aspect the electronic components also connect to an electromechanical device within the display device, as well as connecting to pads that are external to the display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ravindra V. Shenoy, Marc Maurice Mignard
  • COMBINED OPTICAL TOUCH AND GESTURE SENSING
    Publication number: 20140267166
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for combined optical touch and gesture sensing systems. In one aspect, a bezel surrounding a display surface includes multiple output surfaces which can be configured to direct infrared light both across a device surface to detect touch input and into the area overlying the device surface to detect gesture input. In one aspect, a light-guiding layer having light-turning features can be used to redirect light reflected from an overlying object to photodiodes at the periphery of the device surface. In one aspect, the touch and gesture sensing may be performed in an alternating fashion rather than simultaneously, allowing some components of the combined touch and gesture sensing system to be used in the detection of both touch and gesture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan C. Griffiths
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR VERIFYING DISPLAY ELEMENT STATE
    Publication number: 20140267207
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for verifying actuation of an IMOD display element. In one aspect, a display apparatus is provided. The display apparatus includes an interferometric modulator (IMOD) display element coupled to a row electrode and coupled to a column electrode. The display apparatus further includes a driver circuit configured to apply voltage waveforms corresponding to image data to the row and column electrodes coupled to the IMOD display element to control actuation of the IMOD display element. The display apparatus further includes a detection circuit configured to detect actuation of the IMOD display element using the voltage waveforms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Didier H. Farenc, Gol Mulbe Nadiguebe, Nada Vukovic-Radic
  • ZERO CURRENT SWITCHING WITH A SECONDARY ENERGY STORAGE CAPACITOR IN A SOLAR INVERTER
    Publication number: 20140265641
    Abstract: This disclosure provides devices and methods for efficiently converting a solar panel DC output to a desired AC or DC output. In one aspect, zero current switching is enabled via a resonant circuit load. In another aspect, switching losses are reduced via an inductor in series with a switch. In another aspect, a more reliable energy storage device may be used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Hitoshi Inoue
  • ELECTROMECHANICAL SYSTEMS DEVICE WITH SEGMENTED ELECTRODES
    Publication number: 20140267443
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for increasing a range of stable travel positions of a movable layer within electromechanical systems (EMS) devices. In one aspect, an electrically isolated floating electrode can be disposed between a driving electrode within a movable layer and a fixed electrode in order to increase a stable travel range of the movable layer. By segmenting the electrically isolated floating electrode into multiple isolated electrode segments, unbalanced charge accumulation in response to tilting of the movable layer can be constrained to further increase the stable travel range of the movable layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward K. Chan, John H. Hong, Chong U. Lee, Isak C. Reines
  • ACTIVE CAPACITOR CIRCUIT FOR DISPLAY VOLTAGE STABILIZATION
    Publication number: 20140267210
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus including computer programs encoded on computer storage media for stabilization of display voltages when driving electromechanical display devices. In one aspect, a display apparatus is provided. The display apparatus includes a display array having row electrodes and column electrodes. The row electrodes are driven by a first voltage and the column electrodes are driven by a second voltage corresponding to image data. The display apparatus further includes a capacitor having a first side coupled to one or more row electrodes. The display apparatus further includes an active circuit having an output terminal coupled to a second side of the capacitor and an input terminal coupled to the one or more row electrodes. The active circuit is configured to output a base voltage applied to the second side of the capacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark M. Todorovich, Alan G. Lewis
  • THIN ILLUMINATION SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20140268873
    Abstract: The present invention introduces a new class of thin doubly collimating light distributing engines for use in a variety of general lighting applications. Output illumination from these slim-profile illumination systems whether square, rectangular or circular in physical aperture shape is directional, square, rectangular or circular in beam cross-section, and spatially uniform and sharply cutoff outside the system's adjustable far-field angular cone. Some embodiments provided include thin light distributing engines which provide input light collimated in one meridian and a light distributing element that maintains input collimation while collimating output light in the un-collimated orthogonal meridian, in such a manner that the system's far-field output light is collimated in both its orthogonal output meridians.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Louis Holman, Matthew Brian Sampsell
  • COLOR PERFORMANCE OF IMODS
    Publication number: 20140267197
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for making and controlling single-mirror interferometric modulators (IMODs), which may be multi-state IMODs or analog IMODs. In one aspect, a movable reflector stack or an absorber stack of an IMOD may include at least one protrusion that is configured to cause the movable reflector stack to be tilted relative to the absorber layer when the movable reflector stack is moved close to the absorber stack. The protrusion may be configured to cause color averaging when the IMOD is in a white state. The absorber stack may include an absorber layer having a lower extinction coefficient value at a red wavelength and a higher extinction coefficient value at a blue wavelength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: QUALCOMM MEMS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: JIAN J. MA, JOHN HYUNCHUL HONG, TALLIS YOUNG CHANG, HUANZHAO ZENG
  • NEAR-FIELD OPTICAL SENSING SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20140264034
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for sensing touch and/or gestures in the near-field area overlying a light-guiding layer within a device or other optical sensing system. In one aspect, modulated infrared light is emitted into the overlying area, and the light reflected by objects within the overlying area is redirected through the light-guiding layer to infrared sensors. In one aspect, a masking structure can be located between the light-guiding layer and the infrared sensors. In some aspects, probability mapping or backtracing can be used to estimate the locations of objects within the overlying area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: XIQUAN CUI, Muhammed I. Sezan, Russell Wayne Gruhlke, Qiang Zhang
  • Comprehensive Framework for Adaptive Touch-Signal De-Noising/Filtering to Optimize Touch Performance
    Publication number: 20140267132
    Abstract: A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided. The apparatus estimates an amount of future noise that can affect the touch screen. The apparatus alters a sensitivity of the touch screen based on the estimated amount of the future noise.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies. Inc.
    Inventors: Khosro M. RABII, Ion BITA