Printable static interferometric images
First Claim
1. A method of making a static interferometric image device, the method comprising:
- performing a printing process over regions of a substrate, the printing process comprising depositing one or more materials that define at least part of an optical path in each region, the printing process selectively forming at least two different layers in two different regions to produce two different interferometric colors;
forming an absorber over each region of the substrate; and
forming a reflector opposing the absorber over each region of the substrate, the reflector being spaced from the absorber by an optical cavity, the optical cavity forming the optical path;
wherein performing the printing process comprises depositing nothing in some of the regions; and
depositing the material in other regions.
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Abstract
Methods of fabricating a static interferometric image device and static interferometric image device formed by the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes providing a substrate. A plurality of liquid layers are formed over the substrate by an inkjet process such that the layers are lateral to one another. The liquid layers contain a solidifiable material or particles. Then, the plurality of liquid layers are solidified to form a plurality of solid layers. In some embodiments, the substrate includes pre-defined cavities, and the liquid layers are formed in the cavities. In other embodiments, the substrate includes a substantially planar, stepped, or continuously transitioning surface, and the liquid layers are formed on the surface. The inkjet process provides optical fillers or spacers for defining interferometric gaps between absorbers and reflectors in the display device, based at least partially on an image that the display device is designed to display.
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Citations
43 Claims
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1. A method of making a static interferometric image device, the method comprising:
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performing a printing process over regions of a substrate, the printing process comprising depositing one or more materials that define at least part of an optical path in each region, the printing process selectively forming at least two different layers in two different regions to produce two different interferometric colors; forming an absorber over each region of the substrate; and forming a reflector opposing the absorber over each region of the substrate, the reflector being spaced from the absorber by an optical cavity, the optical cavity forming the optical path; wherein performing the printing process comprises depositing nothing in some of the regions; and
depositing the material in other regions.
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2. A method of making a static interferometric image device, the method comprising:
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performing a printing process over regions of a substrate, the printing process comprising depositing one or more materials that define at least part of an optical path in each region, the printing process selectively forming at least two different layers in two different regions to produce two different interferometric colors; forming an absorber over each region of the substrate; and forming a reflector opposing the absorber over each region of the substrate, the reflector being spaced from the absorber by an optical cavity, the optical cavity forming the optical path, wherein performing the printing process further comprises depositing the one or more materials over different regions such that there are three different layers in three different regions to produce three different interferometric colors. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of making a static interferometric image device, the method comprising:
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performing a printing process over regions of a substrate, the printing process comprising depositing one or more materials that define at least part of an optical path in each region, the printing process selectively forming at least two different layers in two different regions to produce two different interferometric colors; forming an absorber over each region of the substrate; forming a reflector opposing the absorber over each region of the substrate, the reflector being spaced from the absorber by an optical cavity, the optical cavity forming the optical path; and defining the regions by a grid of recesses before performing the printing process. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of making a static interferometric image device, the method comprising:
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providing a substrate; and forming a plurality of layers over the substrate by an inkjet process such that the layers are lateral to one another, the layers containing a solidifiable material or particles, wherein the plurality of layers comprise a plurality of liquid layers, wherein the method further comprises solidifying the plurality of layers to form a plurality of solid layers, and wherein the substrate comprises a grid of recesses, and wherein forming the plurality of liquid layers comprises filling at least a portion of one or more of the recesses with a liquid composition. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method of making a static interferometric image device, the method comprising:
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providing a substrate; and forming a plurality of layers over the substrate by an inkjet process such that the layers are lateral to one another, the layers containing a solidifiable material or particles, wherein the plurality of layers comprise a plurality of liquid layers, wherein the method further comprises solidifying the plurality of layers to form a plurality of solid layers, and wherein the method further comprises forming a reflective layer and an absorber layer over the plurality of solid layers such that the reflective layer and the absorber layer having a gap therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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33. A method of making a static interferometric image device, the method comprising:
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providing a substrate; and forming a plurality of layers over the substrate by an inkjet process such that the layers are lateral to one another, the layers containing a solidifiable material or particles, wherein the plurality of layers comprise a plurality of liquid layers, wherein the method further comprises solidifying the plurality of layers to form a plurality of solid layers, wherein the substrate includes a surface having no recesses, wherein forming the plurality of liquid layers comprises forming the plurality of liquid layers over the surface, wherein the method further comprises forming a black matrix including a plurality of openings over the substrate, and wherein forming the plurality of liquid layers comprises filling the plurality of openings with the liquid layers.
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34. A method of making a static interferometric image device, the method comprising:
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providing a substrate; and forming a plurality of layers over the substrate by an inkjet process such that the layers are lateral to one another, the layers containing a solidifiable material or particles, wherein the plurality of layers comprise a plurality of liquid layers, wherein the method further comprises solidifying the plurality of layers to form a plurality of solid layers, wherein the substrate includes a surface having no recesses, wherein forming the plurality of liquid layers comprises forming the plurality of liquid layers over the surface, wherein the method further comprises forming a transparent layer over the substrate, and wherein forming the plurality of liquid layers comprises spacing the liquid layers apart to expose regions of the transparent layer.
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35. A method of making a static interferometric image device, the method comprising:
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providing a substrate; and forming a plurality of layers over the substrate by an inkjet process such that the layers are lateral to one another, the layers containing a solidifiable material or particles, wherein the plurality of layers comprise a plurality of liquid layers, wherein the method further comprises solidifying the plurality of layers to form a plurality of solid layers, and wherein the method further comprises further comprising forming a reflective layer over the substrate before or after forming the plurality of liquid layers. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A method of making a static interferometric image device, the method comprising:
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providing a substrate; and forming a plurality of layers over the substrate by an inkjet process such that the layers are lateral to one another, the layers containing a solidifiable material or particles, wherein the plurality of layers comprise a plurality of liquid layers, wherein the method further comprises solidifying the plurality of layers to form a plurality of solid layers, and wherein the method further comprises forming an absorber layer over the substrate before or after forming the plurality of liquid layers.
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42. A method of making a static interferometric image device, the method comprising:
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providing a substrate; and forming a plurality of layers over the substrate by an inkjet process such that the layers are lateral to one another, the layers containing a solidifiable material or particles, wherein the plurality of layers comprise a plurality of liquid layers, wherein the method further comprises solidifying the plurality of layers to form a plurality of solid layers, wherein the method further comprises attaching a plate to the substrate after forming the plurality of liquid layers, and wherein the plate includes a reflective or absorber layer formed on a surface thereof, and wherein the reflective or absorber layer faces the plurality of solid layers.
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43. A method of making a static interferometric image device, the method comprising:
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providing a substrate; and forming a plurality of layers over the substrate by an inkjet process such that the layers are lateral to one another, the layers containing a solidifiable material or particles, wherein the plurality of layers comprise a plurality of liquid layers, wherein the method further comprises solidifying the plurality of layers to form a plurality of solid layers, wherein the method further comprises forming a substantially transparent polymer layer over the substrate after forming the plurality of liquid layers; and depositing a reflective or absorber layer on the polymer layer.
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Specification