DIRECT-VIEW MEMS DISPLAY DEVICES AND METHODS FOR GENERATING IMAGES THEREON
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.
1 . An electromechanical device comprising:
at least one light source;
an array of light blocking elements having at least two positions; and
a controller for controlling the position of the light blocking elements and for:
obtaining from a memory a plurality of sub-frame data sets corresponding to an image frame, a respective sub-frame data set being associated with a weight, wherein the respective sub-frame data set indicates positions of light blocking elements in at least one row and at least one column of the array of light blocking elements;
driving the light blocking elements into a first position as indicated by a respective sub-frame data set; and
controlling the at least one light source to generate light to pass towards the light blocking elements as indicated by the respective sub-frame data based on the weight.
2 . The electromechanical device of claim 1 , wherein the controller applies an electrical signal to drive the light blocking elements into the first position for a period of time proportional to the weight.
3 . The electromechanical device of claim 1 , wherein the controller applies an electrical signal to illuminate the light source for a period of time proportional to the weight.
4 . The electromechanical device of claim 3 , wherein the period of time that the light source is illuminated for is less than or equal to 4 milliseconds.
5 . The electromechanical device of claim 1 , wherein the controller applies an electrical signal to illuminate the light source with an illumination intensity proportional to the weight.
6 . The electromechanical device of claim 1 , wherein the controller processes data in the plurality of sub-frame data sets according to an output sequence stored at least partially in memory, the output sequence representing timing information for illuminating the light blocking elements to form an image.
7 . The electromechanical device of claim 1 , comprising at least two light sources of at least two different colors, wherein the controller applies electrical signals to illuminate the light sources to generate a single sub-frame image corresponding to a single sub-frame data set.
8 . The electromechanical device of claim 1 , comprising a global actuation interconnect coupled to the array of light blocking elements for driving light blocking elements in multiple rows and multiple columns to actuate substantially simultaneously.
9 . The electromechanical device of claim 1 , wherein the light blocking elements are electromechanical shutters formed on a transparent substrate, the electromechanical shutters moving transverse to the transparent substrate to modulate light.
10 . A method for displaying an image frame, comprising:
obtaining from a memory a plurality of sub-frame data sets corresponding to an image frame, a respective sub-frame data set being associated with a weight, and indicating positions of light blocking elements in at least one row and at least one column of an array of light blocking elements formed on a substrate;
processing the plurality of sub-frame data sets according to an output sequence stored at least partially in memory to:
drive the light blocking elements into a first position indicated in a respective sub-frame data set; and
control at least one light source to generate light to pass towards the light blocking elements as indicated by the respective sub-frame data based on the weight.
11 . The method of claim 10 , comprising applying an electrical signal to drive the light blocking elements into the first position for a period of time proportional to the weight.
12 . The method of claim 10 , comprising applying an electrical signal to illuminate the light source for a period of time proportional to the weight.
13 . The method of claim 10 , comprising applying an electrical signal to illuminate the light source with an illumination intensity proportional to the weight.
14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the weight is associated with a respective sub-frame data set according to a binary coding scheme, a respective sub-frame data set being decomposed into at least a most significant sub-frame image and a next most significant sub-frame image.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the most-significant sub-frame image contributes to a displayed image frame twice as much as the next most significant sub-frame image.