Array of pellicle optical gates

• US 5,677,784 A
• Filed: 07/24/1995
• Issued: 10/14/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ellis D. Harris Sr. Family Trust
• Original Assignee: Ellis D. Harris Sr. Family Trust
• Inventors: Harris, Ellis D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ben, Loha
• Application Number:
  US08/506,011
• Time in Patent Office: 813 Days
• Field of Search: 359/290, 359/291, 359/292, 359/296, 359/316, 359/318, 359/885, 359/601, 359/609, 359/298, 372/50, 353/122, 353/42
• US Class Current: 359/290
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0833 the reflecting element being a micromechanical device, e.g. a MEMS mirror, DMD G02B26/0825 takes precedence; micromechanical devices in general B81B

Abstract

An array of pellicle optical gates may be utilized as a real time, thin film, flat panel display. At an element pitch typical of the pixel pitch of a representative laser printer, the display may emulate a page of data as printed by a laser printer but with the capability of real time editing and with the additional capabilities of data retention when removed from the source and electronic recovery of the retained data. A plurality of the arrays may emulate a plurality of printed pages wherein a multi-page document may be made available. A similar array may be utilized as a light gate in an image projection system.

Claims

1. A display device comprising

a plurality of individually controllable optical gates in an array wherein each individual optical gate is comprised of a single pellicle segment together with a means to adjust the position of the said pellicle segment whereby the visual appearance of the said individual optical gate is altered and wherein the visual appearance of the plurality of optical gates of which the display device is comprised constitutes a visual display.

2. The display device of claim 1 wherein an individual pellicle segment of each of the plurality of optical gates is fixed along a hinge line about which the said pellicle segment is free to move and further comprising a set of electrodes associated with each of the said plurality of optical gates and wherein the position of each of the said pellicle segments is separate adjustable by voltages placed upon the set of electrodes associated with each said optical gate and its pellicle segment and wherein the said pellicle segment is driven by electrical forces to either of two positions whereby the visual appearance of the optical gate is altered.

3. The display device of claim 2 wherein is included interconnection means whereby each of the plurality often dual optical gates, of which the display device is comprised, receives electrical power, as well as synchronization, address and data signals and wherein is also included electronic means to generate pellicle segment drive voltages in accordance with the said received signals, and wherein is further included interconnection means to apply these drive voltages to the electrode set associated with each individual pellicle optical gate whereby each of the pellicle segment is positioned whereby the received data are displayed on the plurality of individual pellicle optical gates which comprise the display device.

4. The display device of claim 3 wherein the said display device is configured to function as an integrated electronic display under the control of an electronic host device.

5. The display device of claim 4 wherein the said array is two dimensional comprising one or more rows and one or more columns.

6. The display device of claim 4 wherein the plurality of optical gates of which the display device is comprised, taken together, comprise a flat panel display.

7. The display device of claim 3 wherein individual pellicle optical gates of the said plurality of optical gates have a size typical of the pixel size of a representative laser printer and wherein the individual gates of the said array are spaced within the array with a spacing typical of the pixel spacing of the representative laser printer.

8. The display device of claim 7 in a thin format wherein the display device emulates a laser printed output page.

9. A plurality of the display devices of claim 8 configured to emulate a book having a plurality of pages.

10. The display device of claim 7 configured to emulate a desk pad.

11. The display device of claim 3 wherein the said electronic means associated with each of the said plurality of pellicle optical gates further includes capacitor means, together with electronic switching means, whereby the pellicle drive voltage is maintained for a period of time following removal of the supplied synchronization, address and signal voltages, whereby the position of the pellicle segment is maintained.

12. The display device of claim 11 wherein the said interconnection means associated with each of the plurality of individual optical further includes bi-directional switching circuitry, together with switching control means, whereby the pellicle segment drive voltage being maintained by the said capacitor means is, optionally, made available to an external device.

13. The display device of claim 2 further comprising an optical path associated with each of the plurally of optical gates and wherein the said pellicle optical gate comprises

a transparent top closure, which is common to all gates of the array and,

a pellicle segment which is positionable by electric fields and,

a set of pellicle positioning electrodes whereby applied voltages will generate electric fields which will position the pellicle segment to cover or uncover the optical path and,

a bottom closure which is common to all gates of the array of pellicle optical gates and,

electronics wherein external signals and power are accepted and wherein pellicle segment control voltages are generated and,

connectivity means whereby voltages generated by the said electronics is connected to the positioning electrode set.

14. The display device of claim 13 wherein the bottom closure is fabricated as a structure which includes transistor electronics along with interconnection means and,

wherein walls with integral electrodes and connectivity traces are fabricated as a honeycomb structure whereby a honeycomb cell is defined for each optical gate and

wherein the said honeycomb structure is attached to the bottom closure and connectivity established whereby voltages generated by the said electronics are connected to the positioning electrode set and,

wherein individual pellicle segments of the array are first fabricated as a single monolithic pellicle which is then attached along one top wall of each honeycomb cell and cut along the other walls of each honeycomb cell to define the pellicle segments and to allow freedom of motion of the individual pellicle segments so defined and,

wherein a transparent top closure is attached to the top of the said walls of the honeycomb structure.

15. The display device of claim 14 wherein the said array is two dimensional comprising one or more rows and one or more columns.

16. The display device of claim 14 wherein the assembled structure comprises a thin film, flat panel display.

17. The display device of claim 14 wherein the bottom closure and walls are reflective and wherein the optical reflectivity of each pellicle optical gate is modulated by the position of its pellicle segment.

18. The display device of claim 17 wherein the said array is two-dimensional comprising one or more rows and one or more columns.

19. The display device of claim 13 wherein the bottom closure is transparent and wherein the optical transmissivity of each pellicle optical gate is modulated by its pellicle position.