Abstract: A displaying apparatus that includes a plurality of electromechanical system elements arranged in rows. The electromechanical system elements of each of the rows are further arranged in subrows. The subrows of each row are electrically connected. Certain of the electromechanical system elements have a hysteresis stability window that is nested with another hysteresis stability window of certain others of the electromechanical system elements. A method of manufacturing a displaying apparatus that includes forming a plurality of electromechanical system elements arranged in rows. The electromechanical system elements of each of the rows are further arranged in subrows. The subrows of each row are electrically connected. Certain of the electromechanical system elements have a hysteresis stability window that is nested with another hysteresis stability window of certain others of the electromechanical system elements.

Abstract: The invention comprises devices and methods for driving a MEMS pixel, for example an interferometric modulator pixel. In one embodiment a device for modulating light includes a light modulator including a movable optical element positionable in two or more positions, the modulator operating interferometrically to exhibit a different predetermined optical response in each of the two or more positions, and control circuitry to provide a potential difference across the modulator, where the control circuitry is configured to incrementally increase the potential difference provided by a predetermined amount over a period of time, and where the optical element of the light modulator is moveable at least partially in response to the provided potential difference.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing brightness control in an interferometric modulator (IMOD) display are provided. In one embodiment, an interferometric modulator display pixel is provided that includes a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) interferometric modulator having an associated first color spectrum, and a color absorber located substantially in front of the interferometric modulator display pixel, in which the color absorber has an associated second color spectrum. The microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) interferometric modulator is operable to shift the first color spectrum relative to the second color spectrum to control a visual brightness of the interferometric modulator display pixel independent of a color of the interferometric modulator display pixel.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a microelectromechanical (MEMS) device comprises a substrate having a top surface, a movable element over the substrate, and an actuation electrode disposed laterally from the reflective surface. The movable element comprises a deformable layer and a reflective element mechanically coupled to the deformable layer. The reflective element includes a reflective surface. The movable element is responsive to a voltage difference applied between the actuation electrode and the movable element by moving in a direction generally perpendicular to the top surface of the substrate.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a microelectromechanical (MEMS) device comprises a substrate having a top surface, a movable element over the substrate, and an actuation electrode disposed laterally from the reflective surface. The movable element comprises a deformable layer and a reflective element mechanically coupled to the deformable layer. The reflective element includes a reflective surface. The movable element is responsive to a voltage difference applied between the actuation electrode and the movable element by moving in a direction generally perpendicular to the top surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A microelectromechanical (MEMS) device includes a substrate and a movable layer mechanically coupled to the substrate. The movable layer moves from a first position to a second position at a first rate and from the second position to the first position at a second rate faster than the first rate. The MEMS device further includes an adjustable cavity defined between the substrate and the movable layer and containing a fluid. The MEMS device further includes a fluid conductive element through which the fluid flows at a first flowrate from inside the cavity to outside the cavity upon movement of the movable layer from the second position to the first position and through which the fluid flows at a second flowrate slower than the first flowrate from outside the cavity to inside the cavity upon movement of the movable layer from the first position to the second position.

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.

Abstract: A displaying apparatus that includes a plurality of electromechanical system elements arranged in rows. The electromechanical system elements of each of the rows are further arranged in subrows. The subrows of each row are electrically connected. Certain of the electromechanical system elements have a hysteresis stability window that is nested with another hysteresis stability window of certain others of the electromechanical system elements. A method of manufacturing a displaying apparatus that includes forming a plurality of electromechanical system elements arranged in rows. The electromechanical system elements of each of the rows are further arranged in subrows. The subrows of each row are electrically connected. Certain of the electromechanical system elements have a hysteresis stability window that is nested with another hysteresis stability window of certain others of the electromechanical system elements.

Abstract: Various methods are described to characterize interferometric modulators or similar devices. Measured voltages across interferometric modulators may be used to characterize transition voltages of the interferometric modulators. Measured currents may be analyzed by integration of measured current to provide an indication of a dynamic response of the interferometric modulator. Frequency analysis may be used to provide an indication of a hysteresis window of the interferometric modulator or mechanical properties of the interferometric modulator. Capacitance may be determined through signal correlation, and spread-spectrum analysis may be used to minimize the effect of noise or interference on measurements of various interferometric modulator parameters.

Abstract: By varying the spacing between two surfaces, one of which is disposed in front of the other, an interferometric modulator selectively creates constructive and/or destructive interference between light waves reflecting off the two surfaces. The desired spacing can be achieved by deforming one or both surfaces. A heating element associated with a particular surface causes the deformation by heating the material that forms one or both of the surfaces. By varying the amount of applied heat, the amount of deformation is varied, thus allowing the distance between the surfaces to be controlled and thereby creating constructive and/or destructive interference as desired.

Abstract: The invention comprises devices and methods for driving a MEMs pixel, and in particular, an interferometric modulator pixel. In one embodiment a device for modulating light includes a light modulator including a movable optical element positionable in two or more positions, the modulator operating interferometrically to exhibit a different predetermined optical response in each of the two or more positions, and control circuitry connected to the light modulator for controlling said interferometric modulator, where the control circuitry is controllably switchable between two circuit configurations, and where the control circuitry provides current to said light modulator when switching between the two circuit configurations to cause the movable optical element of the light modulator to move between two positions of its two or more positions.

Abstract: A method for sensing the actuation and/or release voltages of 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.

Abstract: A microelectromechanical (MEMS) device includes a substrate and a movable layer mechanically coupled to the substrate. The movable layer moves from a first position to a second position at a first rate and from the second position to the first position at a second rate faster than the first rate. The MEMS device further includes an adjustable cavity defined between the substrate and the movable layer and containing a fluid. The MEMS device further includes a fluid conductive element through which the fluid flows at a first flowrate from inside the cavity to outside the cavity upon movement of the movable layer from the second position to the first position and through which the fluid flows at a second flowrate slower than the first flowrate from outside the cavity to inside the cavity upon movement of the movable layer from the first position to the second position.

Abstract: A display comprising: a plurality of MEMS elements arranged in rows, wherein the MEMS elements of each of the rows are further arranged in subrows and wherein the subrows of each row are electrically connected; and wherein the physical property of at least one MEMS element in at least one subrow is different from the physical property of at least one MEMS element in other subrows. The physical property can be a spring constant associated with a movable mirror, a film thickness, an electrode width, a damping force caused by air between a movable mirror and a fixed mirror, a mass of a movable mirror, a material or geometry of the respective MEMS element.

Abstract: Modulator devices are selectably adjustable between at least two states, wherein the transmission and/or reflection of particular wavelengths of light are modified. Certain modulator devices are substantially uniformly adjustable over a wide range of wavelengths, including visible and infrared wavelengths. Other modulator devices are adjustable over visible wavelengths without significantly affecting infrared wavelengths. In addition, the modulator devices may be used in conjunction with fixed thin film reflective structures.

Abstract: A system and method for staggered actuation of columns of interferometric modulators. In one embodiment, the method determines data for actuating two or more groups of columns in the array, each group having one or more columns, and provides the data to the array to actuate two or more group of columns so that each group is activated during a group addressing period. In another embodiment, a display includes at least one driving circuit and an array comprising a plurality of interferometric modulators disposed in a plurality of columns and rows, said array being configured to be driven by said driving circuit which is configured to stagger the actuation of the plurality of columns during an array addressing period.

Abstract: The invention comprises devices and methods for driving a MEMs pixel, and in particular, an interferornetric modulator pixel. In one embodiment a device for modulating light includes a light modulator including a movable optical element positionable in two or more positions, the modulator operating interferometrically to exhibit a different predetermined optical response in each of the two or more positions, and control circuitry connected to the light modulator for controlling said interferometric modulator, where the control circuitry is controllably switchable between two circuit configurations, and where the control circuitry provides a substantially constant current to said light modulator when switching between the two circuit configurations to cause the movable optical element of the light modulator to move between two positions of its two or more positions.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a microelectromechanical (MEMS) device comprises a substrate having a top surface, a movable element over the substrate, and an actuation electrode disposed laterally from the reflective surface. The movable element comprises a deformable layer and a reflective element mechanically coupled to the deformable layer. The reflective element includes a reflective surface. The movable element is responsive to a voltage difference applied between the actuation electrode and the movable element by moving in a direction generally perpendicular to the top surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A display comprising: a plurality of MEMS elements arranged in rows, wherein the MEMS elements of each of the rows are further arranged in subrows and wherein the subrows of each row are electrically connected; and wherein the physical property of at least one MEMS element in at least one subrow is different from the physical property of at least one MEMS element in other subrows. The physical property can be a spring constant associated with a movable mirror, a film thickness, an electrode width, a damping force caused by air between a movable mirror and a fixed mirror, a mass of a movable mirror, a material or geometry of the respective MEMS element.

Abstract: A system and method for addressing an array of MEMS display elements, such as interferometric modulators, from a drive control. A display includes groups of display elements that are addressed with a commonly applied drive signal. In one embodiment, the groups of display elements are configured to have different response times and are driven by pulses of varying length indicative of those response times. In another embodiment, the groups of display elements are configured to have different actuation voltages and are driven by pulses of varying voltage indicative of those actuation voltages.