Direct-view mems display devices and methods for generating images thereon

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016275876-A1
Application number	US-201615078725-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 23, 2016
Priority date	Feb 23, 2005
Publication date	Sep 22, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A direct-view display includes an array of MEMS light modulators and a control matrix formed on a transparent substrate, where each light modulator can be driven into at least two states, and a controller for controlling the states of each light modulator in the array. The control matrix transmits data and actuation voltages to 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. The processor derives a plurality of sub-frame data sets from the image data, where 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.

First claim

1 - 120 . (canceled)

121 . A direct-view display comprising:
a transparent substrate; an array of MEMS light modulators formed on the transparent substrate, wherein each of the light modulators can be driven into at least two states; a control matrix formed on the transparent substrate for transmitting control data and actuation voltages to the array; and a controller configured to control the states of each of the light modulators in the array by: obtaining a plurality of sub-frame data sets from a memory, wherein the plurality of sub-frame data sets correspond to an image frame, and each sub-frame data set indicates desired states of the light modulators in multiple rows and multiple columns of the array; outputting the plurality of sub-frame data sets according to a changeable output sequence, stored at least partially in memory, to drive the light modulators into the states indicated in the sub-frame data sets, wherein the output sequence indicates timing information according to which the respective plurality of sub-frame data sets corresponding to the image frame are output to present the image frame, analyzing data related to characteristics of the image frame, and rewriting a portion of the timing information according to which the image frame is output based on the analyzed characteristics of the image frame.

122 . The direct-view display of claim 121 , comprising a plurality of lamps, wherein the output sequence includes a lamp illumination sequence including lamp illumination values associated with each of the sub-frame data sets.

123 . The direct-view display of claim 122 , wherein the lamp illumination values indicate the color and intensity with which lamps are illuminated in association with each respective sub-frame data set output in the output sequence.

124 . The direct-view display of claim 121 , comprising a sequence parameter calculation module for deriving changes to the output sequence, and wherein the controller rewrites the portion of the timing information using the derived changes.

125 . The direct-view display of claim 121 , wherein the controller is configured to, in response to the analyzed characteristics of the image frame, modify a number of sub-frames used to display the image frame.

126 . The direct-view display of claim 121 , wherein the controller is configured to, in response to the analyzed characteristics of the image frame, modify a frame rate used to display the image frame.

127 . The direct-view display of claim 121 , wherein the controller is further configured to, in response to the analyzed characteristics of the image frame, modify a color saturation of light used to illuminate the light modulators in association with each sub-frame data set.

128 . The direct-view display of claim 121 , further comprising:
a processor capable of communicating with the display, the processor being capable of processing image data; and a memory device capable of communicating with the processor.

129 . The direct-view display of claim 128 , further comprising:
a driver circuit capable of sending at least one signal to the display; and the processor is capable of sending at least a portion of the image data to the driver circuit.

130 . The direct-view display of claim 128 , further comprising:
an image source module capable of sending the image data to the processor, wherein the image source module includes at least one of a receiver, transceiver, and transmitter.

131 . The direct-view display of claim 128 , further comprising:
an input device capable of receiving input data and communicating the input data to the processor.

132 . A method for displaying an image, comprising:
obtaining a plurality of sub-frame data sets from a memory, wherein the plurality of sub-frame data sets correspond to an image frame, and each sub-frame data set indicates desired states of light modulators in multiple rows and multiple columns of an array of the light modulators; outputting the plurality of sub-frame data sets according to a changeable output sequence, stored at least partially in memory, to drive the light modulators into the states indicated in the sub-frame data sets, wherein the output sequence indicates timing information according to which the respective plurality of sub-frame data sets corresponding to the image frame are output to present the image frame, analyzing data related to characteristics of the image frame, and rewriting a portion of the timing information according to which the image frame is output based on the analyzed characteristics of the image frame.

133 . The method of claim 132 , wherein the output sequence further comprises a lamp illumination sequence including lamp illumination values associated with each of the sub-frame data sets, wherein the lamp illumination values indicate the color and intensity with which lamps are illuminated in association with each respective sub-frame data set output in the output sequence.

134 . The method of claim 132 , further comprising modifying, in response to the analyzed characteristics of the image frame, at least one of:
a number of sub-frames used to display the image frame; a frame rate used to display the image frame; and a color saturation of light used to illuminate the light modulators in association with each sub-frame data set .

135 . A computer readable medium storing computer executable instructions, which when executed by a processor cause the processor to carry out a method of forming an image on a display, comprising:
obtaining a plurality of sub-frame data sets from a memory, wherein the plurality of sub-frame data sets correspond to an image frame, and each sub-frame data set indicates desired states of light modulators in multiple rows and multiple columns of an array of the light modulators; outputting the plurality of sub-frame data sets according to a changeable output sequence, stored at least partially in memory, to drive the light modulators into the states indicated in the sub-frame data sets, wherein the output sequence indicates timing information according to which the respective plurality of sub-frame data sets corresponding to the image frame are output to present the image frame, analyzing data related to characteristics of the image frame, and rewriting a portion of the timing information according to which the image frame is output based on the analyzed characteristics of the image frame.

136 . The computer readable medium of claim 135 , wherein the output sequence further comprises a lamp illumination sequence including lamp illumination values associated with each of the sub-frame data sets, wherein the lamp illumination values indicate the color and intensity with which lamps are illuminated in association with each respective sub-frame data set output in the output sequence.

137 . The computer readable medium of claim 135 , wherein the method further comprises modifying, in response to the analyzed characteristics of the image frame, at least one of:
a number of sub-frames used to display the image frame; a frame rate used to display the image frame; and a color saturation of light used to illuminate the light modulators in association with each sub-frame data set.

Assignees

• Pixtronix Inc

Inventors

• Hagood Nesbitt W
• Gandhi Jignesh
• Mcallister Abraham
• Malzbender Rainer M
• Lewis Stephen Robert

Classifications

• G09G3/3413

  Details of control of colour illumination sources · CPC title

• G09G2320/0247

  Flicker reduction other than flicker reduction circuits used for single beam cathode-ray tubes · CPC title

• G09G2310/0251

  Precharge or discharge of pixel before applying new pixel voltage · CPC title

• G09G2320/064

  by time modulation of the brightness of the illumination source · CPC title

• G09G2320/066

  for control of contrast · CPC title