System and method of illuminating interferometric modulators using backlighting
First Claim
1. A light-modulating array comprising:
- a first light-modulating element comprising a first reflective surface situated above a substrate and a second reflective surface spaced from the first reflective surface of the first light-modulating element;
a second light-modulating element comprising a first reflective surface situated above the substrate and a second reflective surface spaced from the first reflective surface of the second light-modulating element;
a light source situated over a side of the first and second light-modulating elements, the side opposite to a viewing side from which the light-modulating array is configured to be viewed;
an optical aperture region between the first light-modulating element and the second light-modulating element, light propagating from the light source configured to pass through the optical aperture region; and
a reflecting element configured to reflect at least a portion of the passed light towards at least one of the first and second light-modulating elements, wherein the portion of the passed light is reflected off a reflecting surface of the reflecting element, said reflecting surface of the reflecting element being sloped with respect to the substrate.
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Abstract
An interferometric modulator array device with backlighting is disclosed. The interferometric modulator array device comprises a plurality of interferometric modulator elements, wherein each of the interferometric modulator elements comprises an optical cavity. The interferometric modulator array includes an optical aperture region, and at least one reflecting element is positioned so as to receive light passing through the optical aperture region and reflect at least a portion of the received light to the cavities of the interferometric modulator elements. In some embodiments, the interferometric modulator elements may be separated from each other such that an optical aperture region is formed between adjacent interferometric modulator elements.
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Citations
57 Claims
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1. A light-modulating array comprising:
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a first light-modulating element comprising a first reflective surface situated above a substrate and a second reflective surface spaced from the first reflective surface of the first light-modulating element; a second light-modulating element comprising a first reflective surface situated above the substrate and a second reflective surface spaced from the first reflective surface of the second light-modulating element; a light source situated over a side of the first and second light-modulating elements, the side opposite to a viewing side from which the light-modulating array is configured to be viewed; an optical aperture region between the first light-modulating element and the second light-modulating element, light propagating from the light source configured to pass through the optical aperture region; and a reflecting element configured to reflect at least a portion of the passed light towards at least one of the first and second light-modulating elements, wherein the portion of the passed light is reflected off a reflecting surface of the reflecting element, said reflecting surface of the reflecting element being sloped with respect to the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A light-modulating array comprising:
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a first means for modulating light including a first reflective surface situated above a substrate and a second reflective surface spaced from the first reflective surface of the first light-modulating means; a second means for modulating light including a first reflective surface situated above the substrate and a second reflective surface spaced from the first reflective surface of the second light-modulating means; a means for illumination situated over a side of the first and second light-modulating means, the side opposite to a viewing side from which the light-modulating array is configured to be viewed; a means for passing light, said light-passing means between the first light-modulating means and the second light-modulating means, light propagating from the illumination means configured to pass through the light-passing means; and a means for reflecting at least a portion of the passed light towards at least one of the first and second light-modulating means, wherein the portion of the passed light is reflected off a reflecting surface of the reflecting means, said reflecting surface being sloped with respect to the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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55. A spatial light modulator comprising:
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a light-modulating array including a plurality of means for modulating light, each light-modulating means having a cavity defined by first and second optical surfaces; at least one means for passing light, said light-passing means in said light-modulating array; and at least one means for receiving light passing through the light-passing means and for reflecting at least a portion of the received light to said cavity, the reflecting means formed between a substrate and the plurality of light-modulating means, wherein the at least one means for reflecting light has a sloped surface. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57)
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Specification