SYSTEM AND METHOD OF IMPLEMENTATION OF INTERFEROMETRIC MODULATORS FOR DISPLAY MIRRORS

• US 20080112031A1
• Filed: 01/04/2008
• Published: 05/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snaptrack Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: IDC, LLC
• Inventors: Cummings, William, Gally, Brian
• Granted Patent: US 7,929,196 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/238
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/001 based on interference in an adjustable optical cavity interference filters G02B5/28; devices or arrangements using multiple reflections in spectrometry or monochromators G01J3/26

Abstract

A specular interferometric modulator array is configured to be at least partially selectably reflective. As such, the array forms a mirror surface having the capability of displaying information to the user while simultaneously being used as a specular mirror. The displayed information may be based on information from an external source, may be programmable, and may be based on user input.

Claims

1. A mirror, comprising:

a substrate; and

a plurality of interferometric elements arranged on the substrate, the elements configured to substantially specularly reflect incident light so as to portray a reflected image.

2. The mirror of claim 1, wherein one or more of the elements are configured to be in one of a plurality of selectable optical states.

3. The mirror of claim 2, wherein the plurality of optical states differ from one another in at least one of reflectivity and color so that the contrast between the two states is perceptible to a viewer.

4. The mirror of claim 1, wherein one or more of the elements are configured to display information according to a data signal.

5. The mirror of claim 1, wherein one or more of the elements are configured to display text.

6. The mirror of claim 1, wherein one or more of the elements are configured to display graphical data.

7. The mirror of claim 1, wherein one or more of the elements are configured to display video data.

8. The mirror of claim 1, wherein one or more of the elements are configured to be in at least first and second selectable optical states, and one or more others of the elements are configured to be in at least third and fourth selectable optical states.

9. The mirror of claim 1, wherein one or more of the elements are configured to remain in a non-selectable state of being highly reflective.

10. The mirror of claim 9, wherein at least a portion of the area between the elements configured to be in the non-selectable state of being highly reflective is configured to be specularly reflective.

11. The mirror of claim 1, further comprising a highly reflective layer on the substrate, the highly reflective layer configured to reflect non-interferometrically.

12. The mirror of claim 1, wherein at least one of the reflective elements of the array is formed in a shape corresponding to information to be displayed by the at least one element.

13. The mirror of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the area between the elements of the array is configured to be specularly reflective.

14. The mirror of claim 1, wherein at least at least one of the selectably reflective elements is configured to simultaneously display information and be highly reflective.

15. The mirror of claim 1, wherein the optical characteristics of one or more of the elements is based upon at least one of input from an external source, user input, and programming.

16. The mirror of claim 1, wherein one or more of the elements are configured to be reflective across at least a portion of the visible spectrum.

17. The mirror of claim 1, wherein one or more of the elements are configured to reflect light substantially of a different wavelength band than one or more other elements.

18. The mirror of claim 1, further comprising:

a processor that is in electrical communication with the array, the processor being configured to process image data; and

a memory device in electrical communication with the processor.

19. The mirror of claim 18, further comprising a driver circuit configured to send at least one signal to the array.

20. The mirror of claim 19, further comprising a controller configured to send at least a portion of the image data to the driver circuit.

21. The mirror of claim 18, further comprising an image source module configured to send the image data to the processor.

22. The mirror of claim 21, wherein the image source module comprises at least one of a receiver, transceiver, and transmitter.

23. The mirror of claim 18, further comprising an input mirror configured to receive input data and to communicate the input data to the processor.

24. The mirror of claim 1, further configured to function as a display in at least one of a cell phone, a computer, and a personal digital assistant.

25. A vehicle comprising:

a steering mechanism; and

a mirror comprising;

a substrate; and

a plurality of interferometric elements arranged on the substrate, the elements configured to substantially specularly reflect incident light so as to portray a reflected image.

26. The vehicle of claim 25, wherein the mirror is configured to display warnings, radio information, vehicle status data, route information, location data, or environmental information.

27. The vehicle of claim 25, wherein one or more of the reflective elements is configured to selectably be in one of first and second optical states.

28. The vehicle of claim 25, wherein one or more of the reflective elements are configured to be in a non-selectable state of being highly reflective.

29. The vehicle of claim 25, wherein at least a portion of the reflective surface of the mirror comprises a highly reflective layer configured to reflect non-interferometrically.

30. The vehicle of claim 25, wherein at least one of the reflective elements is formed in a shape corresponding to information to be displayed by the at least one element.

31. The vehicle of claim 25, wherein the optical characteristics of one or more of the reflective elements is based upon at least one of input from an external source, user input, and programming.

32. The mirror of claim 25, wherein one or more of the elements are configured to be in at least first and second selectable optical states, and one or more others of the elements are configured to be in at least third and fourth selectable optical states.

34. The device of claim 32, wherein one or more of the elements are configured to be in a non-selectable state of being highly reflective.

35. The device of claim 32, wherein one or more of the elements are configured to be in at least first and second selectable optical states, and one or more others of the elements are configured to be in at least third and fourth selectable optical states.

36. The device of claim 32, wherein optical characteristics of one or more of the elements is based upon at least one of input from an external source, user input, and programming.

37. The device of claim 32, wherein one or more of the elements are configured to be reflective across at least a portion of the visible spectrum.

38. The device of claim 32, wherein one or more of the elements are configured to reflect light substantially of a different wavelength band than one or more other elements.

39. The mirror of claim 32, wherein the mirror is further configured to function as a display of an electronic device.

33. A device comprising:

a mirror comprising;

a substrate; and

an array of reflective interferometric elements configured to substantially specularly reflect incident light so as to portray a reflected image; and

a mount configured to attach the mirror to a vehicle, a wall, an article of furniture, an ornamental object, an article of clothing, or a person.

40. A mirror device, comprising:

means for interferometrically, and substantially specularly reflecting incident light so as to portray a reflected image; and

means for supporting the reflecting means.

41. The device of claim 40 wherein the reflecting means comprise an array of reflective interferometric elements arranged to form a mirror surface, each element comprising:

a partially reflective layer; and

a substantially reflective layer separated from the partially reflective layer by a predetermined space, wherein the space defines an interferometric cavity.

42. The device of claim 40, wherein the supporting means comprises a substrate.

43. The device of claim 40, further comprising means for selecting optical characteristics of a portion of the reflecting means based upon at least one of input from an external source, user input, and programming.

44. The device of claim 43, wherein the selecting means for selecting comprises a driving circuit.

45. The device of claim 40, wherein a first portion of the reflecting means is configured to reflect light substantially of a different wavelength band than a second portion of the reflecting means.

46. A method of using a display device comprising:

establishing a communication link between the device and an information source, the device comprising a mirror comprising a substrate, a plurality of interferometric elements arranged on the substrate, the elements configured to substantially specularly reflect incident light so as to portray a reflected image, and a mount configured to attach the mirror to a vehicle, a wall, an article of furniture, an ornamental object, an article of clothing, or a person;

receiving information from the information source; and

displaying the information on the mirror.

48. The method of claim 46, wherein displaying the information comprises selecting states for the selectably reflective elements, wherein the elements are configured to selectably be in one of first and second optical states.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein at least one of the elements for which a state is selected has a shape corresponding to the information to be displayed by the at least one element.

50. The method of claim 46, wherein displaying the information comprises:

displaying a first optical characteristic on a first portion of the array; and

displaying a second optical characteristic on a second portion of the array.

47. The method of 46, wherein displaying the information comprises displaying the information based upon at least one of input from an external source, user input, and programming.

51. A method of manufacturing a mirror device comprising:

providing a substrate; and

forming an array of reflective interferometric elements configured to specularly reflect incident light so as to portray a reflected image.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein forming the array comprises configuring the elements to be selectably reflective based upon at least one of input from an external source, programming, and user input.

53. The method of claim 51, wherein forming the array comprises configuring one or more of the elements to be reflective across at least a part of the visible spectrum.

54. The method of claim 51, wherein forming the array comprises configuring one or more of the elements to reflect light substantially of a different wavelength band than one or more other elements.

55. A device manufactured by the method of claim 51