Method and device for modulating light
First Claim
1. A device for modulating light comprising:
- a light modulating element comprising an interferometric light modulating cavity, and a charge coupled but not voltage coupled device configured to shift a packet of charge to the light modulating element,wherein the modulating element is configured to modulate light in response to, at least in part, the shifted charge, andwherein the light modulating element comprises at least a first wall and a second wall defining the cavity, at least one of the walls being movable relative to the other, andwherein the first wall and the second wall are substantially parallel at a plurality of different relative positions of the first wall and the second wall.
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Accused Products
Abstract
“Light in the visible spectrum is modulated using an array of modulation elements, and control circuitry connected to the array for controlling each of the modulation elements independently, each of the modulation elements having a surface which is caused to exhibit a predetermined impedance characteristic to particular frequencies of light. The amplitude of light delivered by each of the modulation elements is controlled independently by pulse code modulation. Each modulation element has a deformable portion held under tensile stress, and the control circuitry controls the deformation of the deformable portion. Each deformable element has a deformation mechanism and an optical portion, the deformation mechanism and the optical portion independently imparting to the element respectively a controlled deformation characteristic and a controlled modulation characteristic. The elements are made by forming a sandwich of two layers and a sacrificial layer between them and removing the sacrificial layer.”
307 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A device for modulating light comprising:
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a light modulating element comprising an interferometric light modulating cavity, and a charge coupled but not voltage coupled device configured to shift a packet of charge to the light modulating element, wherein the modulating element is configured to modulate light in response to, at least in part, the shifted charge, and wherein the light modulating element comprises at least a first wall and a second wall defining the cavity, at least one of the walls being movable relative to the other, and wherein the first wall and the second wall are substantially parallel at a plurality of different relative positions of the first wall and the second wall. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A device for modulating light comprising:
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a light modulating element comprising a first wall and a second wall defining an interferometric cavity, wherein at least one of the walls is movable relative to the other; and a charge coupled but not voltage coupled device configured to shift a packet of charge to the light modulating element, wherein the shifted charge controls that relative movement of the walls wherein the first wall and the second wall are substantially parallel at a plurality of different relative positions of the first wall and the second wall. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A light modulating device for displaying at least a portion of an image, the device comprising:
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a light modulating element comprising a first surface and a second surface defining a cavity there between, at least one of the first surface and the second surface being at least partially reflective, wherein at least one of the first surface and the second surface is moveable relative to the other, and wherein the first surface and second surface are substantially parallel at a plurality of different relative positions of the relative movement, and wherein light is modulated in response to optical interference within said cavity, and wherein said optical interference is dependent, at least in part, on a distance between the first and second surfaces; and a charge coupled but not voltage coupled device configured to shift packets of charge to the light modulating element, wherein said distance is altered in response to said shift of charge. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A light modulating device, the device comprising:
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a row of light modulating pixels comprising selectively light reflective and light absorbing structures defining an interferometric cavity, wherein each light modulating pixel comprises at least a first wall and a second wall at least one of the walls being movable relative to the other, and a pixel scanner comprising a charge coupled but not voltage coupled device configured to shift charge along the row of light modulation elements, wherein the first wall and the second wall are substantially parallel at a plurality of different relative positions of the first wall and the second wall. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A light modulating device comprising:
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an array of light modulating pixels comprising selectively light reflective and light absorbing structures defining an interferometric cavity, wherein each light modulating pixel comprises at least a first wall and a second wall at least one of the walls being movable relative to the other, and charge coupled devices configured to shift packets of charge along rows of pixels of the array of light modulating pixels.
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Specification