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Direct-view mems display devices and methods for generating images thereonDirect-view mems display devices and methods for generating images thereon description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070205969, Direct-view mems display devices and methods for generating images thereon. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/751,909 filed Dec. 19 2005 and entitled "Methods and Apparatus for a Backlight for Color Displays." [0002] This application also claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/776,367 filed Feb. 24, 2006 and entitled "Methods and Apparatus for a Backlight for Color Displays." [0003] This application also is a continuation in part of and claims the benefit of U.S. Ser. No. 11/361,294 filed on Feb. 23, 2006, entitled "Devices Having MEMS Displays," and published as U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20060209012A1 on Sep. 21, 2006, which claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/655,827 filed Feb. 23, 2005 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/676,053 filed Apr. 29, 2005. [0004] The disclosure of each of the foregoing applications is incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0005] In general, the invention relates to the field of imaging displays, in particular, the invention relates to controller circuits and processes for controlling light modulators incorporated into imaging displays. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0006] Displays built from mechanical light modulators are an attractive alternative to displays based on liquid crystal technology. Mechanical light modulators are fast enough to display video content with good viewing angles and with a wide range of color and grey scale. Mechanical light modulators have been successful in projection display applications. Direct-view displays using mechanical light modulators have not yet demonstrated sufficiently attractive combinations of brightness and low power. [0007] In contrast to projection displays in which switching circuitry and light modulators can be built on relatively small die cut from silicon substrates, most direct-view displays require the fabrication of light modulators on much larger substrates. In addition, in many cases, particularly for backlit direct view displays, both the control circuitry and the light modulators are preferably formed on transparent substrates. As a result, many typical semiconductor manufacturing processes are inapplicable, and switching circuits often need to be re-designed accordingly. A need remains for MEMS direct-view displays that incorporate display processes in conjunction with switching circuitry that yield detailed images along with rich levels of grayscale and contrast. SUMMARY [0008] There is a need in the art for fast, bright, low-powered mechanically actuated direct-view displays. Specifically there is a need for direct-view displays built on transparent substrates that can be driven at high speeds and at low voltages for improved image quality and reduced power consumption. [0009] In one aspect of the invention, a direct-view display includes an array of MEMS light modulators and a control matrix both formed on a transparent substrate, where each of the light modulators can be driven into at least two states. The control matrix transmits data and actuation voltages to the array and may include, for each light modulator, a transistor and a capacitor. The direct-view display also includes a controller for controlling the states of each of the light modulators in the array. The controller includes an input, a processor, a memory, and an output. The input receives image data encoding an image frame for display on the direct-view display. The processor derives a plurality of sub-frame data sets from the image data. Each sub-frame data set indicates desired states of light modulators in multiple rows and multiple columns of the array. The memory stores the plurality of sub-frame data sets. The output outputs the plurality of sub-frame data sets according to an output sequence to drive light modulators into the states indicated in the sub-frame data sets. The plurality of sub-frame data sets may include distinct sub-frame data sets for at least two of at least three color components of the image frame or for four color components of the image frame, where the four color components may consist of red, green, blue, and white. [0010] In one embodiment, the output sequence includes a plurality of events corresponding to the sub-frame data sets. The controller stores different time values associated with events corresponding to at least two sub-frame data sets. The time values may be selected to prevent illumination of the array while the modulators change states and may correlate to a brightness of a sub-frame image resulting from an outputting of a sub-frame data set of the plurality of sub-frame data sets. The direct-view display may include a plurality of lamps, in which case the controller may store time values associated with lamp illumination events and/or lamp extinguishing events included in the output sequence. The output sequence may include addressing events, where the controller stores time values associated with the addressing events. [0011] In another embodiment, the output sequence is stored at least in part in memory. The direct-view display may include a data link to an external processor for receiving changes to the output sequence. The direct-view display may include a plurality of lamps, where the output sequence includes a lamp illumination sequence. The lamp illumination sequence may include data corresponding to the length of time and/or intensity with which lamps are illuminated in association with sub-frame data sets output in the output sequence. The length of time that a lamp is illuminated for each sub-frame data set in the lamp illumination sequence is preferably less than or equal to 4 milliseconds. [0012] In another embodiment, the processor derives the plurality of sub-frame data sets by decomposing the image frame into a plurality of sub-frame images and assigning a weight to each sub-frame image of the plurality of sub-frame images. The controller may cause a sub-frame image to be illuminated for a length of time and/or with an illumination intensity proportional to the weight assigned to the sub-frame image. The processor may assign the weight according to a coding scheme. In one implementation, the coding scheme is a binary coding scheme, the sub-frame data sets are bitplanes, and each color component of the image frame is decomposed into at least a most significant sub-frame image and a next most significant sub-frame image. The most-significant sub-frame image may contribute to a displayed image frame twice as much as the next most significant sub-frame image. According to the output sequence, the bitplane corresponding to the most significant sub-image of at least one color component of the image frame may be output at two distinct times which may be separated by no more than 25 milliseconds. The length of time between a first time the bitplane corresponding to the most significant sub-frame image of a color component of the image frame is output and a second time the bitplane corresponding to the most significant sub-frame image of the color component is output is preferably within 10% of the length of time between the second time the bitplane corresponding to the most significant sub-frame image of the color component is output and a subsequent time at which a sub-frame image corresponding to a most significant sub-frame image of the color component is output. [0013] In another embodiment, at least one sub-frame data set corresponding to a first color component of the image frame is output before at least one sub-frame data set corresponding to a second color component of the image frame, and at least one sub-frame data set corresponding to the first color component of the image frame is output after at least one sub-frame data set corresponding to the second color component of the image frame. Lamps of at least two different colors may be illuminated to display a single sub-frame image corresponding to a single sub-frame data set, where a lamp of one of the colors may be illuminated with a substantially greater intensity than lamps of the other colors. [0014] In another embodiment, the direct-view display includes a memory for storing a plurality of alternative output sequences and may include an output sequence switching module for switching between the output sequence and the plurality of alternative output sequences. The output sequence switching module may respond to the processor, to a user interface included in the direct-view display, and/or to instructions received from a second processor, external to the controller, included in the device in which the direct-view display is incorporated. The user interface may be a manual switch. [0015] In another embodiment, the direct-view display includes a sequence parameter calculation module for deriving changes to the output sequence. Based on characteristics of a received image frame, the sequence parameter calculation module may derive changes to the output sequence, to timing values stored in relation to events included in the output sequence, and/or to sub-frame data sets. The direct-view display may include a plurality of lamps, in which case the sequence parameter calculation module may derive changes to lamp intensity values stored in relation to lamp illumination events included in the output sequence. [0016] In another embodiment, the array of light modulators includes a plurality of independently actuatable banks of light modulators. The control matrix may include a plurality of global actuation interconnects, where each global actuation interconnect corresponds to a respective bank of light modulators. The plurality of banks may be located adjacent one another in the array. Alternatively, each bank of light modulator may include a plurality of rows in the array, where the banks are interwoven with one another in the array. In one implementation, the display of a sub-frame image corresponding to a particular significance and color component in one of the banks is no more than 25 ms from a subsequent display of a sub-frame image corresponding to the significance value and color component, and is no more than 25 ms after a prior display of a sub-frame image corresponding to the significance and color component in the other of the banks. [0017] In another embodiment, the light modulators include shutters. The shutters may selectively reflect light and/or selectively allow low light to pass through corresponding apertures to form the image frame. The shutters may be driven transverse to the substrate. In another embodiment, the light modulators are reflective light modulators. In another embodiment, the light modulators selectively allow the passage of light towards a viewer. In another embodiment, a light guide is positioned proximate the array of light modulators. [0018] In another embodiment, the output sequence includes a plurality of global actuation events. The direct-view display may include a global actuation interconnect coupled to the array of light modulators for causing light modulators in multiple rows and multiple columns of the array of light modulators to actuate substantially simultaneously. [0019] In another aspect of the invention, a direct-view display includes an array of MEMS light modulators and a control matrix both formed on a transparent substrate, where each of the light modulators can be driven into at least two states, and lamps of at least three colors. The control matrix transmits data and actuation voltages to the array. The direct-view display also includes a controller for controlling the states of each of the light modulators in the array. The controller also controls the illumination of lamps to illuminate the array of light modulators with lamps of at least two colors at the same time to form a portion of an image. At least one of the colors illuminating the array of light modulators may be of greater intensity than the other colors. [0020] Another aspect of the invention includes a method for displaying an image frame on a direct-view display. The method includes the steps of receiving image data encoding the image frame; deriving a plurality of sub-frame data sets from the image data; storing the plurality of sub-frame data sets in a memory; and outputting the plurality of sub-frame data sets according to an output sequence. Each sub-frame data set indicates desired states of MEMS light modulators in multiple rows and multiple columns of a light modulator array formed on a transparent substrate. The step of outputting the plurality of sub-frame data sets drives the MEMS light modulators into the desired states indicated in each sub-frame data set and includes transmitting data and actuation voltages to the light modulator array via a control matrix formed on the transparent substrate. Continue reading about Direct-view mems display devices and methods for generating images thereon... 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