METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MANIPULATING COLOR IN A DISPLAY

• US 20110128307A1
• Filed: 02/11/2011
• Published: 06/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Snaptrack Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm MEMS Technologies Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gally, Brian J., Cummings, William J.
• Application Number:
  US13/025,870
• Publication Number:
  US 20110128307A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/690
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49 Method of mechanical manufacture

Abstract

Embodiments include methods and devices for controlling the spectral profile and color gamut of light produced by an interferometric display. Such devices include illuminating a display with selected wavelengths of light. Embodiments also include a display comprising separate sections that output different predetermined colors of light. Other embodiments include methods of making the aforementioned devices.

Claims

1. A display comprising:

at least one interferometric modulator configured to selectively reflect light having a characteristic color, the at least one interferometric modulator having a spectral response characterized by a first spectral peak having a spectral width; and

at least one source of colored light having a spectral output characterized by a second spectral peak having a spectral width, the at least one source of colored light configured to illuminate the at least one interferometric modulator so that the selectively reflected light is characterized by a third spectral peak,

wherein the third spectral peak has a spectral width that is narrower than the spectral width of the first spectral peak and wherein the spectral width of the first spectral peak is the range of wavelengths of the first spectral peak at the full width at half maximum of intensity of the selectively reflected light, the spectral width of the second spectral peak is the range of wavelengths of the second spectral peak at the full width at half maximum of intensity of the spectral output of the at least one source of colored light and the spectral width of the third spectral peak is the range of wavelengths of the third spectral peak at the full width at half maximum of intensity of the selectively reflected light.

2. The display of claim 1, wherein the at least one interferometric modulator includes a first surface that is partially reflective and partially transmissive and a second surface that is reflective and non-transmissive, wherein the reflective surface is movable with respect to the partially reflective surface.

3. The display of claim 1, wherein the at least one source of colored light includes a broadband light source and a color filter.

4. The display of claim 1, further comprising a photoluminescent material configured to absorb light of substantially a first range of wavelengths and emit light of substantially of a second range of wavelengths, wherein the emitted light is modulated by the at least one interferometric modulator.

5. The display of claim 4, wherein the second range of wavelengths is smaller than the spectral width of the second spectral peak.

6. The display of claim 4, wherein the photoluminescent material is configured to emit the light in response to receiving ultra-violet light.

7. The display of claim 1, wherein the at least one source of colored light is configured to output ultra-violet light.

8. The display of claim 1, wherein the spectral width of the second spectral peak is substantially equal to the spectral width of the first spectral peak.

9. The display of claim 1, wherein the spectral width of the second spectral peak is narrower than the spectral width of the first spectral peak.

10. The display of claim 1, wherein the spectral width of the third spectral peak is substantially equal to the spectral width of the second spectral peak.

11. The display of claim 1, wherein the spectral width of the third spectral peak is narrower than the spectral width of the second spectral peak.

12. The display of claim 1, further comprising a light guide plate configured to direct light from the at least one source of colored light to the at least one interferometric modulator.

13. The display of claim 12, wherein the light guide plate includes a photoluminescent material.

14. The display of claim 1, wherein the at least one source of colored light includes sources of red, green, and blue light.

15. The display of claim 14, wherein the at least one interferometric modulator includes an interferometric modulator configured to output red light, an interferometric modulator configured to output green light, and an interferometric modulator configured to output blue light.

16. The display of claim 1, further comprising:

a processor that is configured to communicate with the at least one interferometric modulator, the processor being configured to process image data; and

a memory device that is configured to communicate with the processor.

17. The display as recited in claim 16, further comprising:

a driver circuit configured to send at least one signal the at least one interferometric modulator.

18. The display as recited in claim 17, further comprising:

a controller configured to send at least a portion of the image data to the driver circuit.

19. The display as recited in claim 16, further comprising:

an image source module configured to send the image data to the processor.

20. The display as recited in claim 19, wherein the image source module includes at least one of a receiver, transceiver, and transmitter.

21. The display as recited in claim 16, further comprising:

an input device configured to receive input data and to communicate the input data to the processor.

22. A display comprising:

means for selectively reflecting light having a characteristic color, the means having a spectral response characterized by a first spectral peak having a spectral width; and

means for illuminating the means for selectively reflecting light with colored light having a spectral output characterized by a second spectral peak having a spectral width so as to output light characterized by a third spectral peak,

wherein the third spectral peak has a spectral width that is narrower than the spectral width of the first spectral peak and wherein the spectral width of the first spectral peak is the range of wavelengths of the first spectral peak at the full width at half maximum of intensity of the selectively reflected light, the spectral width of the second spectral peak is the range of wavelengths of the second spectral peak at the full width at half maximum of intensity of the spectral output of the means for illuminating and the spectral width of the third spectral peak is the range of wavelengths of the third spectral peak at the full width at half maximum of intensity of the output light.

23. The display of claim 22, wherein the means for selectively reflecting light includes a first surface that is partially reflective and partially transmissive and a second surface that is reflective and non-transmissive, wherein the second surface is movable with respect to the first surface.

24. The display of claim 22, wherein the means for selectively reflecting light includes at least one interferometric modulator.

25. The display of claim 22, wherein the means for illuminating includes means for providing red, green, and blue light.

26. The display of claim 25, wherein the means for selectively reflecting light includes means for selectively reflecting red light, means for selectively reflecting green light, and means for selectively reflecting blue light.

27. The display of claim 22, wherein the means for illuminating includes a light emitting diode.

28. The display of claim 22, wherein the means for illuminating includes a photoluminescent material.

29. The display of claim 22, wherein the means for illuminating includes a filtered light source having a color filter and a light source, the color filter positioned between the means for selectively reflecting light and the light source.

30. A method of making a display comprising:

forming at least one interferometric modulator configured to selectively reflect light having a characteristic color, the at least one interferometric modulator having a spectral response characterized by a first spectral peak having a spectral width; and

forming at least one source of colored light having a spectral output characterized by a second spectral peak having a spectral width, the at least one source of colored light configured to illuminate the at least one interferometric modulator so that the selectively reflected light is characterized by a third spectral peak,

wherein the third spectral peak has a spectral width that is narrower than the spectral width of the first spectral peak and wherein the spectral width of the first spectral peak is the range of wavelengths of the first spectral peak at the full width at half maximum of intensity of the selectively reflected light, the spectral width of the second spectral peak is the range of wavelengths of the second spectral peak at the full width at half maximum of intensity of the spectral output of the at least one source of colored light and the spectral width of the third spectral peak is the range of wavelengths of the third spectral peak at the full width at half maximum of intensity of the selectively reflected light.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein forming the at least one interferometric modulator includes forming a first surface that is partially reflective and partially transmissive and a second surface that is reflective and non-transmissive, wherein the second reflective surface is movable with respect to the first surface.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the at least one source of colored light includes a broadband light source and a color filter.

33. The method of claim 30, further comprises:

forming a light guide plate configured to direct light from the at least one source of colored light to the at least one interferometric modulator.