Air gap autogenesis method

• US 7,092,142 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2006
• Issued: 08/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rambus Delaware
• Original Assignee: Uni-Pixel Displays Incorporated (Uni-Pixel Incorporated)
• Inventors: Essman, Lynn, Selebrede, Martin G.
• Primary Examiner(s): THOMPSON, TIMOTHY J
• Application Number:
  US11/355,446
• Publication Number:
  US 20060139734A1
• Time in Patent Office: 180 Days
• Field of Search: 359/290, 359/291, 359/223, 359/224, 359/292, 359/295
• US Class Current: 359/290
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/02 for controlling the intensity of light G02B26/004 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04109 FTIR in optical digitiser, i.e. touch detection by frustrating the total internal reflection within an optical waveguide due to changes of optical properties or deformation at the touch location
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0421 by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/0842 forming a memory circuit, e.g. a dynamic memory with one capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/0235 Field-sequential colour display
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0633 by amplitude modulation of the brightness of the illumination source
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/142 the light being detected by light detection means within each pixel
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/148 the light being detected by light detection means within each pixel
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/2018 by time modulation using two or more time intervals
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/2025 the sub-frames having all the same time duration
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/2081 with combination of amplitude modulation and time modulation space and time error diffusion G09G3/2066
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3413 Details of control of colour illumination sources
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3433 using light modulating elements actuated by an electric field and being other than liquid crystal devices and electrochromic devices using liquid crystal devices G09G3/36; using electrochromic devices G09G3/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/315 Modulator illumination systems general applications of lighting devices F21V; general optical systems G02B; lamp houses for projectors not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/20

Abstract

A circuit for implementing a registration-free, contiguous conductive plane. A circuit may include a plurality of conductive structures in a first plane. The circuit may further include a contiguous conductive equipotential surface in a second plane parallel to the first plane. The circuit may further include activation means configured to adjust an electric field between the first and second planes thereby activating one or more structures in the first plane by increasing a potential difference between the first and second planes to a threshold level deemed to constitute an active state. The circuit may further include deactivation means configured to adjust the electric field between the first and second planes thereby deactivating one or more structures in the first plane by decreasing the potential difference between the first and second planes below a threshold level deemed to constitute a deactivated state.

Claims

1. A method for creating an air gap between first and second layers separated by a third layer comprising the steps of:

applying an energy signal in order to cause the first and second layers to converge towards each other at a predetermined location resulting in a thinning of the third layer; and

removing the energy signal to thereby permit the first and second layers to rebound to a predetermined distance from each other, leaving an air gap at the predetermined location between the first layer and the thinned third layer.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first and second layers are parallel to each other.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the energy signal produces an electrostatic force to converge the first and second layers towards each other.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the predetermined distance is small enough to allow considerable mechanical force to be developed between the first and second layers by the electrostatic force.

5. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the electrostatic force exceeds a molecular bond strength of the third layer.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the third layer comprises an aerogel.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the third layer comprises a material capable of in situ self-sacrifice under compressive strain from convergence of the first and second layers.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the thinning of the third layer comprises a crushing of the third layer.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the crushing pulverizes the third layer.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the energy signal further comprises a high frequency square wave electrical signal with high slew rates.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein during the removing step the first layer elastically returns to the predetermined distance from the second layer.

12. A method for creating a gap between layers at a pixel location in a display system, wherein the display system comprises a substrate, a first conductor layer on the substrate, a second layer on the first conductor layer, wherein the second layer comprises a material capable of in situ self-sacrifice under compressive strain, and a third conductor layer on the second layer, the method comprising the steps of:

applying a high frequency electrical signal between the first and third conductor layers at the pixel location in order to cause the first and third conductor layers to converge towards each other resulting in a progressive compression of the second layer.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, further comprising the step of switching off the high frequency electrical signal between the first and third conductor layers to thereby permit the first and third layers to rebound to a predetermined distance from each other, leaving a gap at the pixel location between the first and second layers.