Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for controlling the states of a light modulator used in displays. A display apparatus includes pixel circuits coupled to the light modulators. Each pixel circuit can include an output node, a data capacitor, a charge transistor for charging the output node and a discharge transistor for selectively conducting a current between the output node and an update interconnect providing an update voltage. The display apparatus can include a controller for testing the pixel circuits to determine two or more update voltage levels, each update voltage level causing the discharge transistor to conduct current. The controller also can be configured to determine a logical high voltage level to be stored in the data capacitor based on the plurality of update voltage levels.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for controlling the states of a light modulator used in displays. A display apparatus includes pixel circuits coupled to the light modulators. Each pixel circuit can include an output node, a data capacitor, a charge transistor for charging the output node and a discharge transistor for selectively conducting a current between the output node and an update interconnect providing an update voltage. The display apparatus can include a controller for testing the pixel circuits to determine two or more update voltage levels, each update voltage level causing the discharge transistor to conduct current. The controller also can be configured to determine a logical high voltage level to be stored in the data capacitor based on the plurality of update voltage levels.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for enhancing display viewability in high ambient conditions without excessive increase in power consumption. In one aspect, a controller associated with the display device can be configured to obtain an indication of ambient light conditions from an ambient light sensor or from a host device hosting the display device. Upon receiving an image frame, the controller can derive a set of color subfields and determine a bit-depth value for each color subfield based on the obtained indication of current ambient light conditions and mapping data which maps ranges of ambient light to respective bit-depth values on a color subfield by color subfield basis. The controller can then generate a number of subframes for each color subfield based on the respective determined bit-depth value and cause the generated subframes to be displayed.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for a display apparatus including dummy display elements that can be switched between being coupled to a test bus and a drive bus. When connected to the drive bus, the circuit components, including thin-film transistors, of the dummy display element experience exposure to typical operating signals. When connected to the test bus, the display apparatus can test the operating parameters of the dummy display element circuit components.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for enhancing display viewability in high ambient conditions without excessive increase in power consumption. In one aspect, a controller associated with the display device can be configured to obtain an indication of ambient light conditions from an ambient light sensor or from a host device hosting the display device. Upon receiving an image frame, the controller can derive a set of color subfields and determine a bit-depth value for each color subfield based on the obtained indication of current ambient light conditions and mapping data which maps ranges of ambient light to respective bit-depth values on a color subfield by color subfield basis. The controller can then generate a number of subframes for each color subfield based on the respective determined bit-depth value and cause the generated subframes to be displayed.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for a display apparatus including dummy display elements that can be switched between being coupled to a test bus and a drive bus. When connected to the drive bus, the circuit components, including thin-film transistors, of the dummy display element experience exposure to typical operating signals. When connected to the test bus, the display apparatus can test the operating parameters of the dummy display element circuit components.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for a display apparatus including dummy display elements that can be switched between being coupled to a test bus and a drive bus. When connected to the drive bus, the circuit components, including thin-film transistors, of the dummy display element experience exposure to typical operating loads. When connected to the test bus, the display apparatus can test the operating parameters of the dummy display element circuit components.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for reducing flicker in display devices. In some image formation processes, a controller can form an image by utilizing a set of color subfields in displaying subframes associated with each of the color subfields. In some implementations, the controller may determine whether to divide or split the display of certain subframes based on environmental factors such as ambient light with or without concern for flicker. In some implementations, the controller may determine to divide or split the display of an x-channel subframe based on the ambient light. The controller can monitor the ambient light levels via an ambient light sensor, and compare the ambient light level to an ambient light threshold. If the ambient light levels go below the ambient light threshold, the controller can employ subframe division or splitting.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for powering display light sources. A display can include a DC/DC converter included in a power management integrated circuit (PMIC) to serve as the light source driver. Battery current drawn by the DC/DC converter can be smoothed, in part, by introducing a capacitor in parallel with the set of light sources. A display controller can control the DC/DC converter to output a substantially constant current for substantially the entirety of a time period for displaying a set of subframes, storing enough charge on the capacitor to support the current drawn through the light sources by a digital-to-analog converter included in the PMIC. Output current level for the DC/DC converter can be determined for the time period over which the subframes are displayed. The set of subframes can include subframes of a single image frame, or of one or more image frames.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for a display apparatus including dummy display elements that can be switched between being coupled to a test bus and a drive bus. When connected to the drive bus, the circuit components, including thin-film transistors, of the dummy display element experience exposure to typical operating loads. When connected to the test bus, the display apparatus can test the operating parameters of the dummy display element circuit components.