Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus for improving angular distribution of light and total light throughput in a display device. A display device can include first and second substrates and an array of display elements positioned between the first and second substrates. A first light blocking layer can be positioned on the first substrate and can define a first plurality of apertures. A second light blocking layer can be positioned on the second substrate and can define a first second of apertures. A plurality of reflective sidewalls can be positioned adjacent to at least one edge of a respective aperture of the first plurality of apertures. The reflective sidewalls can help to improve angular distribution of light and total light throughput of the display device.

Abstract: Some implementations provide automatic display mode selection for a device, such as a mobile display device, according to a hierarchy of criteria. Each display mode may correspond with a set of display parameter settings, which may include a color depth setting, a brightness setting, etc. In some examples, one of the criteria may correspond with a software application being executed on the device. Some implementations involve creating a display device user profile and controlling a display of a mobile display device according to the user profile. The user profile may be built gradually over some number of days/weeks/months after the first use of the device. In some implementations, display parameter setting information or other device setting information corresponding to data in a user profile, including but not limited to demographic data, may be received by a mobile display device from another device, such as a server.

Abstract: Implementations described herein relate to display devices including a metal circuit layer embedded in a dielectric layer configured to provide optical properties. Trenches in the dielectric layer may be etched so that the thickness of the metal circuit layer may extend away from other circuit layers. In some implementations, the metal circuit layer can include thick metal routing lines to send data to pixels of the display device. The thick metal routing lines can provide high conductivity, minimal voltage drop, and signal speed that is sufficiently high to write data to many pixels over long distances. In some implementations, the dielectric layer can be configured to absorb light. Examples of such dielectric layers include carbon-doped spin-on-glass dielectric layers.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus for altering the selected operating mode and image formation characteristics of a content item displayed on a display device. The content item can include a license header that includes a permission code and a preferred operating mode. The preferred operating mode can specify a selected operating mode or image formation characteristics preselected for display of the content item. Control logic can check the permission code against a permission code table to determine one or more permissions associated with the content item. A valid permission code can allow the control logic to alter the current selected operating mode and/or image formation characteristics based on the selected operating mode and/or image formation characteristics specified by the preferred operating mode in the license header.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for providing stacks of optical films that may be used to provide increased on-axis display brightness. In one aspect, an apparatus or system may be provided that includes a light source, a first optical film having triangular cross-section, prismatic light-turning structures, and a second optical film having trapezoidal cross-section, prismatic light-turning structures. The first optical film may be interposed between the light source and the second optical film. In further aspects, a third optical film, similar to the first optical film, may be interposed between the light source and the first optical film. In yet further aspects, one or more additional optical films, similar to the second optical film, may be positioned in the stack such that the second optical film is between the first optical film and the additional optical film(s).

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for illumination devices. In one aspect, an illumination device having a longitudinal axis includes a light source and a light guide. The light guide has a peripheral edge, a transmissive illumination surface, a center portion, and an upper surface. The transmissive illumination surface is oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and disposed between the center portion and the peripheral edge. The upper surface is oriented relative to the illumination surface to define an angle ? therebetween. In some implementations, the angle ? can be greater than 15 degrees, for example.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for illumination devices. In one aspect, an illumination device having a longitudinal axis includes a light source and a light guide. The light guide has a peripheral edge, a transmissive illumination surface, a center portion, and an upper surface. The transmissive illumination surface is oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and disposed between the center portion and the peripheral edge. The upper surface is oriented relative to the illumination surface to define an angle ? therebetween. In some implementations, the angle ? can be greater than 15 degrees, for example.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for a MEMS display apparatus incorporating light spreading elements. The display apparatus can include display elements formed over, and in electrical communication with a backplane. The backplane can include one or more light blocking layers isolated by one or more dielectric layers. Light used for forming an image can pass through the various layers of the backplane. One or more of the dielectric layers of the backplane can include light spreading elements for spreading the light emitted by the display apparatus. The light spreading elements can provide a wide angular light distribution of light emitted by the display apparatus and improve a viewing angle associated with the display apparatus. In some implementations, the light spreading elements can include hemispheric, cylindrical, prismatic, diffraction grating, and/or diffusive light spreading elements.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for locating at least a portion of the routing interconnects on the aperture plate to reduce or completely eliminate bezel space, reduce line resistance, reduce line capacitance and increase power savings. In some implementations, one aspect, the routing interconnects may electrically connect row interconnects from an array of pixels to a row voltage driver. In some implementations, a conductive spacer may be coupled between an aperture plate and a light modulator substrate and may electrically connect at least one row interconnect on the light modulator substrate to at least one routing interconnect on the aperture plate. Some or all of the routing interconnects may run through the display area of the electromechanical device. Some or all of the conductive spacers may make contact with a row interconnect and a routing interconnected within the display area, for example via a conductive contact pad.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for illumination devices. In one aspect, an illumination device having a longitudinal axis includes a light source and a light guide. The light guide has a peripheral edge, a transmissive illumination surface, a center portion, and an upper surface. The transmissive illumination surface is oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and disposed between the center portion and the peripheral edge. The upper surface is oriented relative to the illumination surface to define an angle ? therebetween. In some implementations, the angle ? can be greater than 15 degrees, for example.

Abstract: Some implementations provide automatic display mode selection for a device, such as a mobile display device, according to a hierarchy of criteria. Each display mode may correspond with a set of display parameter settings, which may include a color depth setting, a brightness setting, etc. In some examples, one of the criteria may correspond with a software application being executed on the device. Some implementations involve creating a display device user profile and controlling a display of a mobile display device according to the user profile. The user profile may be built gradually over some number of days/weeks/months after the first use of the device. In some implementations, display parameter setting information or other device setting information corresponding to data in a user profile, including but not limited to demographic data, may be received by a mobile display device from another device, such as a server.

Abstract: A projector can include a projection lens that is positioned substantially one focal length away from a spatial light modulator. The projector may also include a non-imaging optic configured to illuminate the spatial light modulator. The non-imaging optic may include a light emitter and an etendue-preserving reflector. The projector can be configured to project an image created by the spatial light modulator at a distance using light from the non-imaging optic.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus relating to implementations of an electrically controlled light conditioning sheet. In one aspect, the electrically controlled light conditioning sheet includes a planar electrode having a first conductor and a second conductor and a transmissive elastic layer. The transmissive elastic layer is configured to deform in response to a potential difference applied between the first and the second conductor and produce regions of optical refractive power. The angular spread and/or the radiation pattern of an incoming beam of light incident on the electrically controlled light conditioning sheet is altered by the action of the regions of optical refractive power produced by the applied potential difference.

Abstract: A projector can include a projection lens that is positioned substantially one focal length away from a spatial light modulator. The projector may also include a non-imaging optic configured to illuminate the spatial light modulator. The non-imaging optic may include a light emitter and an etendue-preserving reflector. The projector can be configured to project an image created by the spatial light modulator at a distance using light from the non-imaging optic.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for illumination devices. In one aspect, an illumination device having a longitudinal axis includes a light source and a light guide. The light guide has a peripheral edge, a transmissive illumination surface, a center portion, and an upper surface. The transmissive illumination surface is oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and disposed between the center portion and the peripheral edge. The upper surface is oriented relative to the illumination surface to define an angle ? therebetween. In some implementations, the angle ? can be greater than 15 degrees, for example.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for illumination devices. In one aspect, an illumination device having a longitudinal axis includes a light source and a light guide. The light guide has a peripheral edge, a transmissive illumination surface, a center portion, and an upper surface. The transmissive illumination surface is oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and disposed between the center portion and the peripheral edge. The upper surface is oriented relative to the illumination surface to define an angle ? therebetween. In some implementations, the angle ? can be greater than 15 degrees, for example.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for illumination devices. In one aspect, an illumination device having a longitudinal axis includes a light source and a light guide. The light guide has a peripheral edge, a transmissive illumination surface, a center portion, and an upper surface. The transmissive illumination surface is oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and disposed between the center portion and the peripheral edge. The upper surface is oriented relative to the illumination surface to define an angle ? therebetween. In some implementations, the angle ? can be greater than 15 degrees, for example.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatuses for array illumination. In one aspect, an array of light engines is coupled to a support structure. Each light engine can be separately controlled to achieve a desired output beam. In another aspect, a support structure includes an array of LED emitters. The support structure is configured to removably receive a plurality of light guides over the array of LED emitters, thereby forming an array of light engines. The support structure can include an integrated heat sink in thermal communication with the array of LED emitters. Light from the LED emitters is distributed over the surface of the light guides to produce a desired output beam. The light engines can be configured to produce output beams of differing color, direction, shape and/or size.

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.