OPTICAL INTERFERENCE DISPLAY PANEL

• US 20090103167A1
• Filed: 12/23/2008
• Published: 04/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snaptrack Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm MEMS Technologies Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tsai, Hsiung-Kuang
• Granted Patent: US 7,978,396 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/290
• 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

An optical interference display panel is disclosed that has a substrate, an optical interference reflection structure, and an opaque protection structure. The optical interference reflection structure has many color-changeable pixels and is formed on the substrate. The opaque protection structure is adhered and fixed onto the substrate with an adhesive and encloses the optical interference reflection structure between the substrate and the opaque protection structure. The opaque protection structure blocks and/or absorbs light, and light is thus not emitted outward by passing through defects in the optical interference reflection structure Moreover, the opaque protection structure and the adhesive also prevent the optical interference reflection structure from being damaged by an external environment.

Claims

1. A display, comprising:

at least one interferometric modulator array on a first substrate; and

an opaque protection structure attached to the first substrate to cover the at least one interferometric modulator array,

wherein the opaque protection structure covers the at least one interferometric modulator array and prevents light from passing through a defect in the at least one interferometric modulator array.

2. The display of claim 1, wherein the interferometric modulator array comprises:

a first electrode;

a second electrode, wherein the second electrode is situated in parallel with the first electrode substantially; and

a support, located between the first electrode and the second electrode to form a cavity, wherein the second electrode moves in response to a voltage applied between the first and second electrode.

3. The display of claim 1, wherein the opaque protection structure absorbs light.

4. The display of claim 1, wherein the opaque protection structure is a flat protection structure.

5. The display of claim 1, wherein the opaque protection structure is a U-shaped protection structure.

6. The display of claim 1, wherein the opaque protection structure comprises:

a second substrate; and

an opaque film, deposited on the second substrate.

7. The display of claim 6, wherein the opaque film is between the second substrate and the at least one interferometric modulator array.

8. The display of claim 6, wherein the opaque film is a metal film or a light absorptive film.

9. The display of claim 1, wherein the first substrate and the opaque protection structure are airtight to prevent the at least one interferometric modulator array from being damaged by an external environment.

10. The display of claim 1, wherein the opaque protection structure is adhered to the first substrate with an adhesive.

11. The display of claim 10, wherein the adhesive comprises spacers, and the spacers keep a predetermined distance between the opaque protection structure and the first substrate to prevent the opaque protection structure from damaging the at least one interferometric modulator array.

12. The display of claim 10, wherein the adhesive comprises a UV glue or a thermosetting adhesive.

13. The display of claim 1, wherein the at least one interferometric modulator array is located between the first substrate and the opaque protection structure.

14. A display, comprising:

means for supporting a microelectromechanical system, wherein the microelectromechanical system comprises means for modulating light transmitted through said supporting means; and

means for covering the modulating means to prevent light from passing through a defect in the modulating means, the covering means being attached to the supporting means and covering the modulating means.

15. The display of claim 14, wherein the modulating means comprises at least one interferometric modulator array.

16. The display of claim 14, wherein the supporting means comprises a transparent substrate.

17. The display of claim 14, wherein the covering means comprises an opaque protection structure.

18. The display of claim 14, wherein the covering means is adhered to the supporting means with an adhesive.

19. The display of claim 14, wherein the modulating means is located between the supporting means and the covering means.

20. A display as manufactured by a method, the method comprising:

providing a first substrate;

forming an optical interference reflection structure comprising a plurality of pixels on the first substrate; and

adhering an opaque protection structure to the first substrate with an adhesive to position the optical interference reflection structure between the opaque protection structure and the first substrate,

wherein the opaque protection structure prevents light from passing through a defect in the optical interference reflection structure.