Aerogel-based phase transition flat panel display

• US 6,097,145 A
• Filed: 04/27/1998
• Issued: 08/01/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Anixa Biosciences, Inc. (f/k/a ITUS Corporation), Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Anixa Biosciences, Inc. (f/k/a ITUS Corporation)
• Inventors: Kastalsky, Alexander, Shokhor, Sergey, Halioua, Maurice, Naar, Sylvain, Chudnovskiy, Feliks
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ashok
• Application Number:
  US09/067,648
• Time in Patent Office: 827 Days
• Field of Search: 313/110, 313/111, 313/112, 313/466, 313/498, 313/505, 359/288
• US Class Current: 313/466
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/0147 based on thermo-optic effects G02F1/132 takes precedence

Abstract

A display device utilizes a plurality of pixels arranged in a predetermined configuration for recording and displaying information. Each pixel includes a substrate and a light modulating material for selectively modulating a predetermined wave length of light by transitioning between a first and a second state in response to a heater element. The light modulating material in the first state causes destructive interference in the predetermined wave length of light and in the second state causes constructive interference in the predetermined wave length of light. The pixel structure is buried within an aerogel thereby minimizing the heat dissipation rate from the pixels.

Claims

1. In a display device including a plurality of pixels arranged in a predetermined configuration, each said pixel comprising a substrate and a light modulating material for selectively modulating a predetermined wave length of light by transitioning between a first and a second state in response to pixel heating, wherein said material in said first state causes destructive interference in the predetermined wave length of light and in said second state causes constructive interference in the predetermined wave length of light, the improvements therewith comprising a layer of aerogel disposed beneath said light modulating material to increase the heat dissipation time for display operation.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said predetermined configuration of said pixels is a two dimensional matrix.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising a heater element disposed over said layer of aerogel and a mirror element disposed between said light modulating material and said heater element.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said light modulating material is Vanadium Dioxide (VO₂).

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising a layer of tantalum silicide TaSi₂ film disposed over said layer of aerogel.

6. In a display device including a plurality of pixels arranged in a predetermined configuration, each said pixel comprising a substrate and a light modulating material for selectively modulating a predetermined wave length of light by transitioning between a first and a second state in response to pixel heating, wherein said material in said first state causes destructive interference in the predetermined wave length of light and in said second state causes constructive interference in the predetermined wave length of light and the substrate includes periodically spaced mesas, wherein an area between said mesas defines a pixel cavity, the improvements therewith comprising a layer of aerogel disposed beneath said light modulating material to increase the heat dissipation time for display operation.

7. The device of claim 6, which further includes a p-n junction formed on each said mesa and coupled to said heating element.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein said pixel cavities are formed by an anisotropic etch of crystallographically oriented Si substrate.

9. The device of claim 6, wherein each said periodically spaced mesa comprises an area of 10×

10 um.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein said periodically spaced mesas are pyramid-shaped.

11. In a display device including a plurality of pixels arranged in a predetermined configuration, each said pixel comprising a substrate, a first insulating layer disposed on said substrate and a light modulating material for selectively modulating a predetermined wave length of light by transitioning between a first and a second state in response to pixel heating, wherein said material in said first state causes destructive interference in the predetermined wave length of light and in said second state causes constructive interference in the predetermined wave length of light, the improvements therewith comprising a layer of aerogel disposed beneath said light modulating material to increase the heat dissipation time for display operation.

12. The device of claim 11, which further includes a metal layer disposed on said first insulating layer for carrying current to said device.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein said metal layer is approximately 100 microns (um) wide and disposed beneath the pixel structure.

14. The device of claim 11, further comprising a heater element disposed over said layer of aerogel and a second insulating layer disposed between said aerogel layer and said heater element.