Display devices
First Claim
Patent Images
1. Display Apparatus comprising:
- light modulating apparatus comprising a substrate, having a substrate surface, at least a portion of which is transparent or apertured; and
an array of objects each having a maximum dimension smaller than 1 mm attached to the substrate and having an axis about which the object can rotate, wherein the object has two stable positions, a first stable position at which the object covers a transparent or apertured portion of the substrate and a second stable position at which the transparent portion is at least partially uncovered;
a source of light that illuminates the light modulating apparatus; and
a controller that selectively positions the objects in said first and second positions to form an image in the light passing through the light modulating apparatus, wherein the positions of the objects are periodically changes to provide a moving image in the light passing through the light modulating apparatus.
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Abstract
Apparatus including: a substrate, having a substrate surface, at least a portion of which is transparent or apertured; and an array of objects each having a maximum dimension smaller than 1 mm attached to the substrate and having an axis about which the object can rotate, wherein the object has two stable positions, a first stable position at which the object covers a transparent or apertured portion of the substrate and a second stable position at which the transparent portion is at least partially uncovered.
129 Citations
65 Claims
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1. Display Apparatus comprising:
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light modulating apparatus comprising a substrate, having a substrate surface, at least a portion of which is transparent or apertured; and
an array of objects each having a maximum dimension smaller than 1 mm attached to the substrate and having an axis about which the object can rotate, wherein the object has two stable positions, a first stable position at which the object covers a transparent or apertured portion of the substrate and a second stable position at which the transparent portion is at least partially uncovered;
a source of light that illuminates the light modulating apparatus; and
a controller that selectively positions the objects in said first and second positions to form an image in the light passing through the light modulating apparatus, wherein the positions of the objects are periodically changes to provide a moving image in the light passing through the light modulating apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 61)
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11. (canceled)
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15. (canceled)
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19-23. -23. (canceled)
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31. Display Apparatus comprising:
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light modulating apparatus comprising a substrate, at least portions of which are transparent to a band of wavelengths or are apertured;
an array of panel shaped objects attached to the substrate and rotatable from a first position in which a transparent or apertured portion of the substrate is covered to a second position in which said transparent portion is uncovered;
an axle attached to the panel, which is rotatable, such that the panel rotates about an axis;
a constraint that limits the extent of the rotation to substantially 90 degrees;
a source of light that illuminates the light modulating apparatus; and
a controller that selectively positions the objects in said first and second positions to form an image in the light passing through the light modulating apparatus, wherein the positions of the objects are periodically changes to provide a moving image in the light passing through the light modulating apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 62)
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36. Apparatus comprising:
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a substrate at least portions of which are transparent to a band of wavelengths or are apertured;
an array of panel shaped objects rotatable from a first position in which a transparent or apertured portion of the substrate is covered to a second position in which said transparent portion is uncovered;
an axle attached to the panel, which is rotatable, such that the panel rotates about an axis, wherein the panels comprise a first portion on one side of the axle that covers transparent portion of the substrate and a second, tail, portion on the other side of the axis;
a first, opening, electrode on the substrate underlying a portion of the second portion and the axis;
a second, closing, electrode on the substrate outboard of the second portion when the panel is in the first position; and
a power supply for electrifying the first and second electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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63. A method of displaying multiple levels of brightness in a system divided into pixels, in which for each pixel at least one area of a surface is selectively covered to provide a first brightness level and closed to provide a second brightness level, the method comprising:
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dividing a cycle into sub-cycle time periods, in accordance with a number of desired brightness levels;
covering pixels at the start of the cycle;
selectively uncovering pixel areas at a time after the start of the cycle such that the time remaining until the end of the cycle corresponds to a specified brightness level for each pixel; and
covering the pixels at the end of the cycle. - View Dependent Claims (64)
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65. A projection display, comprising:
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light modulating apparatus comprising;
a substrate, having a substrate surface, at least a portion of which is transparent or apertured; and
an array of objects each having a maximum dimension smaller than 1 mm attached to the substrate and having an axis about which the object can rotate, wherein the object has two stable positions, a first position at which the object covers a transparent or apertured portion of the substrate and a second position at which the transparent portion is at least partially uncovered;
a source of light that illuminates the light modulating apparatus; and
a controller that selectively positions said objects in said first and second positions to form an image in the light passing through the light modulating apparatus, projection optics that projects the light passing through the light modulating apparatus onto a display surface.
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Specification