Systems and methods for mems light modulator arrays with reduced acoustic emission

Abstract

Systems and methods for a display having an array of pixels, a substrate, and a control matrix formed on the substrate are described. The array of pixels includes mechanical light modulators that can be referred to as micro-electro-mechanical or MEMS light modulators. The MEMS light modulators may be shutter-based light modulators, and an array of apertures may be formed on the substrate corresponding spatially to the shutters in the array of shutter-based light modulators. Each modulator is configured to be driven from a-light-blocking state to a-light-transmissive state through a movement direction. The array of light modulators are arranged to reduce the correlations in movement directions of neighboring pixels, thereby reducing the amplitude of acoustic emissions from the display.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pixel structure comprising:
 a substrate having a surface;   at least one first actuator;   at least one second actuator;   at least one third actuator;   at least one fourth actuator;   a control circuit to control actuation of the at least one first actuator, the at least one second actuator, the at least one third actuator and the at least one fourth actuator;   a first light modulator capable of being driven to a light-transmissive state through movement in a first direction in a plane parallel to the surface responsive to actuation of the at least one first actuator;   a second light modulator capable of being driven to a light-transmissive state through movement in a second direction in a plane parallel to the surface responsive to actuation of the at least one second actuator;   a third light modulator capable of being driven to a light-transmissive state through movement in a third direction in a plane parallel to the surface responsive to actuation of the at least one third actuator; and   a fourth light modulator capable of being driven to a light-transmissive state through movement in a fourth direction in a plane parallel to the surface responsive to actuation of the at least one fourth actuator;   each of the first direction, the second direction, the third direction and the fourth direction being different.   
     
     
         2 . The pixel structure of  claim 1 , the second direction being oriented by about 90 degrees relative to the first direction. 
     
     
         3 . The pixel structure of  claim 2 , the third direction being opposite the first direction. 
     
     
         4 . The pixel structure of  claim 3 , the fourth direction being opposite the second direction. 
     
     
         5 . The pixel structure of  claim 1 , the control circuit being capable of receiving open commands and close commands, the control circuit being capable of controlling the actuation of each of the at least one first actuator, the at least one second actuator, the at least one third actuator and the at least one fourth actuator to drive the first light modulator, the second light modulator, the third light modulator and the fourth light modulator, respectively, in the first direction, the second direction, the third direction and the fourth direction, respectively, responsive to a single received open command. 
     
     
         6 . The pixel structure of  claim 5 , the control circuit being capable of actuating each of the at least one first actuator, the at least one second actuator, the at least one third actuator and the at least one fourth actuator to drive the first light modulator, the second light modulator, the third light modulator and the fourth light modulator to their respective light-transmissive states simultaneously responsive to the single received open command. 
     
     
         7 . The pixel structure of  claim 1 , the first light modulator, the second light modulator, the third light modulator and the fourth light modulator being arranged in a two by two array. 
     
     
         8 . A pixel structure comprising:
 a substrate having a surface;   at least one first actuator;   at least one second actuator;   at least one third actuator;   at least one fourth actuator;   a control circuit to control actuation of the at least one first actuator, the at least one second actuator, the at least one third actuator and the at least one fourth actuator;   a first light modulator capable of being driven to and from a light-transmissive state through movement along a first axis in a plane parallel to the surface responsive to actuation of the at least one first actuator;   a second light modulator capable of being driven to and from a light-transmissive state through movement along the first axis in a plane parallel to the surface responsive to actuation of the at least one second actuator;   a third light modulator capable of being driven to and from a light-transmissive state through movement along a second axis oriented by about 90 degrees relative to the first axis in a plane parallel to the surface responsive to actuation of the at least one third actuator; and   a fourth light modulator capable of being driven to and from a light-transmissive state through movement along the second axis in a plane parallel to the surface responsive to actuation of the at least one fourth actuator;   the third light modulator and the fourth light modulator being configured to be driven to their respective light-transmissive states through movement in opposite directions along the second axis.   
     
     
         9 . The pixel structure of  claim 8 , the first light modulator and the second light modulator being configured to be driven to their respective light-transmissive states through movement in like directions along the first axis. 
     
     
         10 . The pixel structure of  claim 8 , the first light modulator and the second light modulator being configured to be driven to their respective light-transmissive states through movement in opposite directions along the first axis. 
     
     
         11 . The pixel structure of  claim 8 , the control circuit being capable of receiving open commands and close commands, the control circuit being capable of controlling the actuation of each of the at least one first actuator, the at least one second actuator, the at least one third actuator and the at least one fourth actuator to drive the first light modulator, the second light modulator, the third light modulator and the fourth light modulator, respectively, to their respective light-transmissive states responsive to a single received open command. 
     
     
         12 . The pixel structure of  claim 11 , the control circuit being capable of actuating each of the at least one first actuator, the at least one second actuator, the at least one third actuator and the at least one fourth actuator to drive the first light modulator, the second light modulator, the third light modulator and the fourth light modulator to their respective light-transmissive states simultaneously responsive to the single received open command. 
     
     
         13 . The pixel structure of  claim 8 , the first light modulator, the second light modulator, the third light modulator and the fourth light modulator being arranged in a two by two array.