Mirasol Low Power Display

Mirasol Low Power Display

Group 4

Matthew Sea= rs, Traver Turney, Allison Crabb, Stephen Dellinger

Keywords: Biomimetics, IMOD technology, MEMS, hysteres= is

&nbs= p; Qualcomm was established in 1985, in Sa= n Diego, California by Irwin Jacobs.= Since its birth, Qualcomm has become the nation’s leader in developing technological breakthroughs and solutions to many of technology’s problems. Qualcomm’s la= test endeavor, the Mirasol display, is an innovation that many believe will revolutionize color displays in all facets of handheld technology. Mirasol = is a new type of display that needs no backlight, as it uses ambient light in wa= ys never seen before to produce vivid, true color while using very little batt= ery life. This system will help a= dvance the user interfaces on all handheld devices for work or play, as well as br= ing new colors and more detailed pictures to cell phones, PDA’s, and gami= ng devices.

&nbs= p; Biomimetics is when technology tends to follow after some pattern in nature. Mirasol was developed after studying a butterfly’s wings. Butterflies’ wings reflect l= ight so that certain wavelengths interfere with one another in order to create bright, vivid colors. The technology uses voltage, reflection, and ultra-th= in film optics to capture ambient light instead of using a backlight, and to project amazing color images. IMOD technology, or interferometric modulator, is the technology that mocks the wings of the butterfly, with very thin film optics and a micro-electro mechanical system (MEMS) to create a wide array of color while using very little of the device’s battery power.

&nbs= p; In more detail, Mirasol’s pixel elements are composed of simple, tiny ME= MS, which are comprised of two conductive plates: a thin film stack on glass an= d a reflective membrane suspended below. When voltage holds the membrane in the open state, the pixel deliver= s a specific color. When a different voltage current is applied, the membrane is pulled into a collapsed state and all light is absorbed, turning that particular pixel black. Hysteresis is the name of the MEMS technology that allows a membrane that is open to stay open and it also causes a membrane t= hat is closed, making the pixel black, to stay closed. This is the technology that aides t= he device in preserving the battery life. There is no energy wasted due to the constant need for power that is present in older flat panel displays. The ability to vary voltage amounts across the span of the display can create v= ery rich, detailed imagery in a flat-panel display.

&nbs= p; Qualcomm has recently released information concerning the possibilities of two technology firms purchasing the Mirasol display technology for use in their fields of handheld computing. Cal-Comp Electronics & Communications Co. Ltd. has chosen Mirasol as the screen of choice for new cell phones. Cal-Co= mp is based in Taiwan, much closer to other display and technology leaders, located in Asian countries, but chose Qualcomm’s product for their cell phones because= of its visibility in any light (even direct sunlight).

&nbs= p; The other company that has chosen Mirasol as a feature in its handhelds is Inve= ntec Corporation, which intends Mirasol’s use to be mainly as a secondary screen in new smart-phones.

&nbs= p; Mirasol will not allow businesses to do anything they could not do before. It will = not open up more lines of communication. It will not introduce new ways to send= or receive information. It will not heal the sick or make the average business-professional user more efficient in his or her career. It will, however, make doing the things they already did more interesting and long-lasting. Mirasol will undoubtedly impact the screens of cell phones, digital cameras, smart-phones, and PDA’s, along with the displays on = DVD players, stereos, car audio systems, and almost anything else with an elect= ronic status or menu display. It will allow more vivid multimedia messages to be = sent from construction foreman to manager at the office. It will allow account executives more talk-time on their smart-phones, since the display isn̵= 7;t eating up all of the battery life. MP3 players will go longer between charg= es. Communication in general will improve because with the bright, new colors a= nd non-battery-draining technology, society will not dread picking up the phon= e.

&nbs= p; Qualcomm has broken the mold with its Mirasol flat panel display system. Mirasol all= ows users to view the flawless colors almost as seen through the human eye, on = any handheld device. On top of that, the images can be viewed in any amount of light, even direct sunlight, since Mirasol uses no backlight. Qualcomm̵= 7;s use of biometrics and IMOD technology are really paying off for them as they see investments rolling in from digital device manufacturers. This technolo= gy will enhance, if not change, the lives of almost every technology-based soc= iety, producer or consumer.

References

Qualcomm Incorporated. (2008). Mirasol Displ= ay Technology: Inspired by Nature.= Retrieved Nov. 17, 2008, from www.qualcomm.com/products_services/consumer_electronics/disp= lays/mirasol/

Davies, Chris. (2= 008, April). Qualcom= m Mirasol low-power display picked for budget device & smartphone. Phone Magazine. Retrieved Nov. 17,= 2008, from http://www.phonemag.com/qualcomm-mi= rasol-low-power-display-picked-for-budget-device-smartphone-042131.php<= /span>

Qualcomm Incorporated. (2008). Skullcandy to Incorporate Color Mirasol Displays in Next Generation= of Portable Music Devices. Retrieved Nov. 17, 2008, from = http://biz.= yahoo.com/prnews/080910/law530.html?.v=3D17

Multiple Choice Questions: (Answers in bold)

= 1. Which animal was the Mirasol software designed to imitate?

= A) bat

= B) butterfly

= C) spider

= D) fire ant

= 2. What technologies Mirasol potentially be applied to?

= A) gaming devices

= B) mp3 players

= C) medical imaging

= D) automotive navigation

= E) all of the above

= 3. What technology allows the display to remain in its current state, which also al= lows the display to be very highly energy efficient?

= A) hysteresis

= B) Bluetooth

= C) LCD

= D) Gloop

= 4. What is the name of the company who developed Mirasol?

= A) Microsoft

= B) Apple

= C) Northrop Grumman

= D) Qualcomm

= 5. What term is used to describe nature inspired solutions?

= A) Biology

= B) Chemistry

= C) Physics

= D) Biomimetics

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