Photonic MEMS and structures

• US 7,483,197 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2006
• Issued: 01/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Snaptrack Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: IDC, LLC
• Inventors: Miles, Mark W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Choi; William C
• Application Number:
  US11/390,996
• Publication Number:
  US 20060250337A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,036 Days
• Field of Search: 359/247, 359290-292, 359/302, 345/85
• US Class Current: 359/290
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 20/00 Nanooptics, e.g. quantum optics or photonic crystals
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0256 Compact construction
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/26 using multiple reflection, e.g. Fabry-Perot interferometer, variable interference filters
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/0047 measuring forces due to residual stresses
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2006/12104 Mirror; Reflectors or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2006/12109 Filter
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2006/12126 Light absorber
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2006/12159 Interferometer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2006/12164 Multiplexing; Demultiplexing
• 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: G02B 26/02 for controlling the intensity of light G02B26/004 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/08 for controlling the direction of light in light guides G02B6/35
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0841 the reflecting element being moved or deformed by electrostatic means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/02 Diffusing elements; Afocal elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/12007 forming wavelength selective elements, e.g. multiplexer, demultiplexer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/122 Basic optical elements, e.g. light-guiding paths
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/1225 comprising photonic band-gap structures or photonic lattices
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/13 Integrated optical circuits characterised by the manufacturing method
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/266 the optical element being an attenuator
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3516 : the reflective optical element moving along the beam path, e.g. controllable diffractive effects using multiple micromirrors within the beam
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3522 : the optical element enabling or impairing total internal reflection using evanescent coupling G02B6/3536
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/353 : the optical element being a shutter, baffle, beam dump or opaque element absorbers on light guide termination G02B6/243
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3536 : involving evanescent coupling variation, e.g. by a moving element such as a membrane which changes the effective refractive index mode converters G02B6/14; adjustable lateral coupling between waveguides G02B6/283; electro- optical refractive index variations G02F1/0118
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3546 : NxM switch, i.e. a regular array of switches elements of matrix type constellation
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3548 : 1xN switch, i.e. one input and a selectable single output of N possible outputs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/356 : in an optical cross-connect device, e.g. routing and switching aspects of interconnecting different paths propagating different wavelengths to (re)configure the various input and output links switching polarized beams G02B6/3594; power equalizers G02B6/356 and G02B6/3594; path selecting means H04Q11/0001
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/357 : Electrostatic force electrostatic forces controlling reflecting elements in general G02B26/0841
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3578 : Piezoelectric force piezoelectric forces controlling reflecting elements in general G02B26/0858; piezo-optic devices G02F1/0131
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3584 : constructional details of an associated actuator having a MEMS construction, i.e. constructed using semiconductor technology such as etching MEMS per se B81B, B81C
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3594 : Characterised by additional functional means, e.g. means for variably attenuating or branching or means for switching differently polarized beams
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3598 : Switching means directly located between an optoelectronic element and waveguides, including direct displacement of either the element or the waveguide, e.g. optical pulse generation based on changing the optical properties of the medium G02F1/00; optical pulse generation in optical transmitters H04B10/508; optical pulse generation by controlling laser operation H01S3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/43 : Arrangements comprising a plurality of opto-electronic elements and associated optical interconnections
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/02 : Addressing, scanning or driving the display screen or processing steps related thereto
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/0254 : Control of polarity reversal in general, other than for liquid crystal displays
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/06 : Details of flat display driving waveforms
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3466 : based on interferometric effect

Abstract

An interference modulator (Imod) incorporates anti-reflection coatings and/or micro-fabricated supplemental lighting sources. An efficient drive scheme is provided for matrix addressed arrays of IMods or other micromechanical devices. An improved color scheme provides greater flexibility. Electronic hardware can be field reconfigured to accommodate different display formats and/or application functions. An IMod'"'"'s electromechanical behavior can be decoupled from its optical behavior. An improved actuation means is provided, some one of which may be hidden from view. An IMod or IMod array is fabricated and used in conjunction with a MEMS switch or switch array. An IMod can be used for optical switching and modulation. Some IMods incorporate 2-D and 3-D photonic structures. A variety of applications for the modulation of light are discussed. A MEMS manufacturing and packaging approach is provided based on a continuous web fed process. IMods can be used as test structures for the evaluation of residual stress in deposited materials.

Claims

1. A device for displaying an image, comprising:

a plurality of interferometric modulators, said plurality of interferometric modulators comprising;

at least one interferometric modulator configured to output red light;

at least one interferometric modulator configured to output green light;

at least one interferometric modulator configured to output blue light; and

at least one interferometric modulator configured to output white light.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said plurality of modulators comprises twice as many modulators configured to output white light as modulators configured to output red light.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the aperture of said at least one interferometric modulator configured to output white light is about twice the aperture of said at least one modulator configured to output red light.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said plurality of interferometric modulator comprises a red interferometric modulator, a white interferometric modulator, a blue interferometric modulator between the red interferometric modulator and the white interferometric modulator, and a green interferometric modulator between the red interferometric modulator and the blue interferometric modulator,

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said plurality of interferometric modulators is arranged such that at least one modulator configured to output at least one of red, green, or blue light is disposed between first and second modulators configured to output white light.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said plurality of interferometric modulators comprises a first white interferometric modulator, a second while interferometric modulator, a red interferometric modulator between the first and second interferometric modulators, a blue interferometric modulator between the first white interferometric modulator and the second white interferometric modulator, and a green interferometric modulator between the first white interferometric modulator and the second white interferometric modulator.

7. The device of claim 1, comprising a plurality of pixels, each of the pixels comprising at least one of said plurality of interferometric modulators configured to output red light, at least one of said plurality of interferometric modulators configured to output green light, at least one of said plurality of interferometric modulators configured to output blue light, and at least one of said plurality of interferometric modulators configured to output white light.

8. The device of claim 1, comprising a plurality of pixels, each of the pixels comprising at least one of said plurality of interferometric modulators configured to output red light, at least one of said plurality of interferometric modulators configured to output green light, at least one of said plurality of interferometric modulators configured to output blue light, and at least two of said plurality of interferometric modulators configured to output white light.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least one interferometric modulator configured to output white light comprises a plurality of interferometric modulators configured to output white light, said plurality of interferometric modulators having an aggregate aperture that is about twice the aggregate aperture of one of said at least one modulator configured to output red light, said at least one modulator configured to output green light, or said at least one modulator configured to output blue light.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein each of said at least one interferometric modulators configured to output red, green, blue, and white light comprises a movable membrane and a reflective surface defining an optical cavity therebetween, said membrane being configured to move thereby altering the thickness of said cavity.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least one interferometric modulators configured to output red, green, blue, and white light are electrically coupled to a controller configured to control brightness and saturation of the light output by the modulators.

12. A device for displaying an image, comprising:

at least one interferometric modulator configured to output colored light; and

at least one interferometric modulator configured to output white light.

13. The device of claim 12, comprising twice as many modulators configured to output white light as modulators configured to output red light.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein the aperture of said at least one interferometric modulator configured to output white light is about twice the aperture of said at least one modulator configured to output colored light.

15. The device of claim 12, wherein said at least one modulator configured to output colored light comprises a first plurality of modulators configured to output colored light, said plurality of modulators disposed at a first position.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein said at least one modulator configured to output white light comprises a modulator configured to output white light disposed at a second position adjacent to said first position.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein said at least one modulator configured to output white light comprises a second plurality of modulators configured to output white light, said second plurality of modulators arranged at second and third positions on either side of said first position.

18. The device of claim 15, wherein said first plurality of interferometric modulators configured to output colored light comprises at least three interferometric modulators configured to output colored light.

19. The device of claim 12, wherein said at least one interferometric modulator configured to output colored light comprises a movable membrane and a reflective surface defining an optical cavity therebetween, said membrane being configured to move thereby altering said cavity.

20. The device of claim 12, wherein said at least one interferometric modulator configured to output white light comprises a plurality of interferometric modulators configured to output white light, said plurality of interferometric modulators having an aggregate aperture that is about twice the aggregate aperture of said at least one modulator configured to output colored light.

21. The device of claim 12, wherein said at least one interferometric modulator configured to output colored light and said at least one interferometric modulator configured to output white light are electrically coupled to a controller configured to control brightness and saturation of the output colored light and output white light.