Method and post structures for interferometric modulation
First Claim
1. An interferometric modulator comprising:
- a substrate;
a first reflective surface over the substrate, the first reflective surface being at least partially reflective and at least partially transparent to light;
a second reflective surface over the first reflective surface, the second reflective surface movable with respect to the first reflective surface; and
a support structure configured to at least partially support the second reflective surface, the support structure comprising an optical element,wherein the optical element is disposed at a height between the first reflective surface and the second reflective surface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An interferometric modulator includes a post structure comprising an optical element. In a preferred embodiment, the optical element in the post structure is a reflective element, e.g., a mirror. In another embodiment, the optical element in the post structure is an etalon, e.g., a dark etalon. The optical element in the post structure may decrease the amount of light that would otherwise be retroreflected from the post structure. In various embodiments, the optical element in the post structure increases the brightness of the interferometric modulator by redirecting light into the interferometric cavity. For example, in certain embodiments, the optical element in the post structure increases the backlighting of the interferometric modulator.
213 Citations
45 Claims
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1. An interferometric modulator comprising:
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a substrate; a first reflective surface over the substrate, the first reflective surface being at least partially reflective and at least partially transparent to light; a second reflective surface over the first reflective surface, the second reflective surface movable with respect to the first reflective surface; and a support structure configured to at least partially support the second reflective surface, the support structure comprising an optical element, wherein the optical element is disposed at a height between the first reflective surface and the second reflective surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An interferometric modulator comprising:
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a substrate; a first reflective surface over the substrate, the first reflective surface being at least partially reflective and at least partially transparent to light; a second reflective surface over the first reflective surface, the second reflective surface movable with respect to the first reflective surface; and a support structure configured to at least partially support the second reflective surface, the support structure comprising an optical element, wherein the optical element comprises a lens or a prism. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An interferometric modulator comprising:
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a substrate; a first reflective surface over the substrate, the first reflective surface being at least partially reflective and at least partially transparent to light; a second reflective surface over the first reflective surface, the second reflective surface movable with respect to the first reflective surface; and a support structure configured to at least partially support the second reflective surface, the support structure comprising an optical element, wherein surfaces of the optical element are asymmetrical.
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25. An interferometric modulator comprising:
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a substrate; a first reflective surface over the substrate, the first reflective surface being at least partially reflective and at least partially transparent to light; a second reflective surface over the first reflective surface, the second reflective surface movable with respect to the first reflective surface; and a support structure configured to at least partially support the second reflective surface, the support structure comprising an optical element, wherein surfaces of the optical element are rough.
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26. An interferometric modulator comprising:
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a substrate; a first reflective surface over the substrate, the first reflective surface being at least partially reflective and at least partially transparent to light; a second reflective surface over the first reflective surface, the second reflective surface movable with respect to the first reflective surface; and a support structure configured to at least partially support the second reflective surface, the support structure comprising an optical element, wherein the optical element is configured to specularly reflect light.
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27. An interferometric modulator comprising:
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a substrate; a first reflective surface over the substrate, the first reflective surface being at least partially reflective and at least partially transparent to light; a second reflective surface over the first reflective surface, the second reflective surface movable with respect to the first reflective surface; and a support structure configured to at least partially support the second reflective surface, the support structure comprising an optical element, wherein the optical element is configured to diffusely reflect light.
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28. An interferometric modulator comprising:
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a substrate; a first reflective surface over the substrate, the first reflective surface being at least partially reflective and at least partially transparent to light; a second reflective surface over the first reflective surface, the second reflective surface movable with respect to the first reflective surface; and a support structure configured to at least partially support the second reflective surface, the support structure comprising an optical element, wherein the optical element is disposed off-center from the support pest-structure.
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29. An interferometric modulator array comprising:
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a first reflective surface over a substrate; a plurality of second reflective surfaces over the first reflective surface, each of the second reflective surfaces movable with respect to the first reflective surface; and a plurality of support structures each configured to at least partially support the second reflective surfaces, wherein at least some of the plurality of support structures comprise an optical element, wherein the optical element is disposed at a height between the first reflective surface and at least one of the plurality of second reflective surfaces. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. An interferometric modulator array comprising:
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a first reflective surface over a substrate; a plurality of second reflective surfaces over the first reflective surface, each of the second reflective surfaces movable with respect to the first reflective surface; and a plurality of support structures configured to at least partially support the second reflective surfaces, wherein at least some of the plurality of support structures each comprise an optical element, wherein some of the optical elements are different from others of the optical elements. - View Dependent Claims (35)
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36. An interferometric modulator array comprising:
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a first reflective surface over a substrate; a plurality of second reflective surfaces over the first reflective surface, each of the second reflective surfaces movable with respect to the first reflective surface; and a plurality of support structures configured to at least partially support the second reflective surfaces, wherein at least some of the plurality of support structures each comprise an optical element, wherein some of the optical elements comprise an etalon.
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37. An interferometric modulator comprising:
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a substrate; a first reflective surface over the substrate, the first reflective surface being at least partially reflective and at least partially transparent to light; a second reflective surface over the first reflective surface, the second reflective surface movable with respect to the first reflective surface; and a support structure configured to at least partially support the second reflective surface, the support structure comprising an optical element, wherein the optical element comprises a light diffracting element, a scattering element, a total internal reflecting element, or a refractive element. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. An interferometric modulator comprising:
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a substrate; a first reflective surface over the substrate, the first reflective surface being at least partially reflective and at least partially transparent to light; a second reflective surface over the first reflective surface, the second reflective surface movable with respect to the first reflective surface; and a support structure configured to at least partially support the second reflective surface, the support structure comprising an optical element, wherein the optical element is disposed above the first reflective surface. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44)
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45. An interferometric modulator comprising:
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a substrate; a first reflective surface over the substrate, the first reflective surface being at least partially reflective and at least partially transparent to light; a second reflective surface over the first reflective surface, the second reflective surface movable with respect to the first reflective surface; and a support structure configured to at least partially support the second reflective surface, the support structure comprising an optical element, wherein the optical element comprises an etalon.
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Specification