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

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.

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.