Method and apparatus for providing brightness control in an interferometric modulator (imod) display

Abstract

Methods and systems for providing brightness control in an interferometric modulator (IMOD) display are provided. In one embodiment, an interferometric modulator display pixel is provided that includes a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) interferometric modulator having an associated first color spectrum, and a color absorber located substantially in front of the interferometric modulator display pixel, in which the color absorber has an associated second color spectrum. The micro electromechanical systems (MEMS) interferometric modulator is operable to shift the first color spectrum relative to the second color spectrum to control a visual brightness of the interferometric modulator display pixel independent of a color of the interferometric modulator display pixel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A display pixel comprising:
 a reflective display element having an associated first color spectrum associated with a first color;   a color filter having an associated second color spectrum associated with a second color that is different than the first color;   wherein the display element is operable to tune the first color spectrum relative to the second color spectrum to provide multiple levels of brightness of the second color.   
     
     
         2 . The display pixel of  claim 1 , wherein the display pixel is configured to display at least part of an image by reflecting incident ambient light. 
     
     
         3 . The display pixel of  claim 1 , wherein the display element includes an interferometric modulator. 
     
     
         4 . The display pixel of  claim 1 , wherein the color filter includes a color absorber located substantially in front of the display element, the color absorber having the second color spectrum. 
     
     
         5 . The display pixel of  claim 1 , wherein the first color spectrum has a first peak wavelength and the second color spectrum has a second peak wavelength, and
 wherein the display element shifts the first peak wavelength relative to the second peak wavelength to provide the multiple levels of brightness of the second color.   
     
     
         6 . The display pixel of  claim 1 , wherein the visual brightness of the display pixel increases with greater overlap between the first color spectrum and the second color spectrum, and decreases with less overlap between the first color spectrum and the second color spectrum. 
     
     
         7 . The display pixel of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more light sources to provide light to the color filter. 
     
     
         8 . The display pixel of  claim 7 , wherein a combination of the one or more light sources and the color filter provides light at the second color spectrum. 
     
     
         9 . The display pixel of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more light sources includes at least one of a laser, a light-emitting diode (LED), a high pressure mercury lamp, and a carbon arc lamp. 
     
     
         10 . The display pixel of  claim 1 , wherein the display element includes a reflective surface movable between a first position and a second position to tune the first color spectrum relative to the second color spectrum. 
     
     
         11 . The display pixel of  claim 1 , wherein the brightness is a visual brightness. 
     
     
         12 . A display comprising the display pixel of  claim 1 , the display further comprising:
 a processor that is in electrical communication with the display pixel, the processor being configured to process image data; and   a memory device in electrical communication with the processor.   
     
     
         13 . The display of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a first controller configured to send at least one signal to the display pixel; and   a second controller configured to send at least a portion of the image data to the first controller.   
     
     
         14 . The display of  claim 12 , further comprising an image source module configured to send the image data to the processor. 
     
     
         15 . The display of  claim 14 , wherein the image source module includes at least one of a receiver, transceiver, and transmitter. 
     
     
         16 . The display of  claim 12 , further comprising an input device configured to receive input data and to communicate the input data to the processor. 
     
     
         17 . A display pixel comprising:
 means for reflecting light having an associated first color spectrum associated with a first color; and   means for filtering light having an associated second color spectrum associated with a second color that is different than the first color;   wherein the reflecting means is operable to tune the first color spectrum relative to the second color spectrum to provide multiple levels of brightness of the second color.   
     
     
         18 . The display pixel of  claim 17 , wherein the reflecting means includes an interferometric modulator configured to display at least part of an image by reflecting incident ambient light. 
     
     
         19 . The display pixel of  claim 17 , wherein the reflecting means includes a reflective surface movable between a first position and a second position to tune the first color spectrum relative to the second color spectrum. 
     
     
         20 . The display pixel of  claim 17 , wherein the filtering means includes a color absorber located substantially in front of the reflecting means, the color absorber having the second color spectrum. 
     
     
         21 . The display pixel of  claim 17 , further comprising one or more light sources to provide light to the filtering means. 
     
     
         22 . The display pixel of  claim 21 , wherein a combination of the one or more light sources and the filtering means provides light at the second color spectrum. 
     
     
         23 . The display pixel of  claim 17 , wherein the brightness is a visual brightness. 
     
     
         24 . A method of making a display pixel, the method comprising:
 forming a reflective display element having an associated first color spectrum associated with a first color; and   providing a color filter having an associated second color spectrum associated with a second color that is different than the first color;   wherein the display element is operable to tune the first color spectrum relative to the second color spectrum to provide multiple levels of brightness of the second color.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein forming a display element includes forming on an interferometric modulator configured to display at least part of an image by reflecting incident ambient light 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein providing a color filter includes forming a color absorber substantially in front of the display element. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein forming a display element includes:
 forming a reflective surface movable between a first position and a second position to tune the first color spectrum relative to the second color spectrum.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 providing one or more light sources to provide light to the color filter, wherein a combination of the one or more light sources and the color filter provides light at the second color spectrum.