Abstract: Systems and methods for driving MEMS display elements are disclosed. In one embodiment, a display comprises an array of MEMS display elements, and a driving circuit coupled to said array, wherein said driving circuit configured to provide at lease a row signal and a column signal to drive said array, and only one of said row and column signals is adjusted for temperature change. In another embodiment, a method of driving an array of MEMS display elements is disclosed, where the method comprises sensing a temperature at a predetermined location, generating one of a row signal and a column signal having a level based at least in part on the sensed temperature and the other not based on the sensed temperature, and providing said row and column signals to said array.

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: 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 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.

Abstract: Charge balanced display data writing methods use write and hold cycles of opposite polarity during selected frame update periods. Spatial dithering of hold cycle signals can reduce flicker.

Abstract: An iterferometric modulator array is configured to reflect a broad band spectrum of optical wavelengths by arranging a reflector and a partially transparent substrate in a non-parallel relationship.

Abstract: Systems and methods for driving MEMS display elements are disclosed. In one embodiment, a display comprises an array of MEMS display elements, and a driving circuit coupled to said array, wherein said driving circuit configured to provide at lease a row signal and a column signal to drive said array, and only one of said row and column signals is adjusted for temperature change. In another embodiment, a method of driving an array of MEMS display elements is disclosed, where the method comprises sensing a temperature at a predetermined location, generating one of a row signal and a column signal having a level based at least in part on the sensed temperature and the other not based on the sensed temperature, and providing said row and column signals to said array.

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.

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.

Abstract: Embodiments of exemplary MEMS interferometric modulators are arranged at intersections of rows and columns of electrodes. In certain embodiments, the column electrode has a lower electrical resistance than the row electrode. A driving circuit applies a potential difference of a first polarity across electrodes during a first phase and then quickly transition to applying a bias voltage having a polarity opposite to the first polarity during a second phase. In certain embodiments, an absolute value of the difference between the voltages applied to the row electrode is less than an absolute value of the difference between the voltages applied to the column electrode during the first and second phases.

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.

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 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: Embodiments of exemplary MEMS interferometric modulators are arranged at intersections of rows and columns of electrodes. In certain embodiments, the column electrode has a lower electrical resistance than the row electrode. A driving circuit applies a potential difference of a first polarity across electrodes during a first phase and then quickly transition to applying a bias voltage having a polarity opposite to the first polarity during a second phase. In certain embodiments, an absolute value of the difference between the voltages applied to the row electrode is less than an absolute value of the difference between the voltages applied to the column electrode during the first and second phases.

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.