Interferometric modulation of radiation
First Claim
1. A modulator of light comprising an interference cavity for causing interference modulation of the light, the cavity having a mirror, the mirror comprising a corrugated surface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An Interferometric Modulator (IMod) is a microelectromechanical device for modulating light using interference. The colors of these devices may be determined in a spatial fashion, and their inherent color shift may be compensated for using several optical compensation mechanisms. Brightness, addressing, and driving of IMods may be accomplished in a variety of ways with appropriate packaging, and peripheral electronics which can be attached and/or fabricated using one of many techniques . The devices may be used in both embedded and directly perceived applications, the latter providing multiple viewing modes as well as a multitude of product concepts ranging in size from microscopic to architectural in scope.
682 Citations
39 Claims
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1. A modulator of light comprising
an interference cavity for causing interference modulation of the light, the cavity having a mirror, the mirror comprising a corrugated surface.
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2. A modulator of light comprising
an interference cavity for causing interference modulation of the light to produce a color condition visible to an observer, the color condition being determined by the spatial configuration of the modulator.
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6. A structure for modulating light comprising
modulators of light each including an interference cavity for causing interference modulation of the light, each of the modulators having a viewing cone, the viewing cones of different ones of the modulators being aligned in different directions.
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9. A structure for modulating light comprising
modulators of light each including an interference cavity for causing interference modulation of the light, and a liquid medium in which the modulators are suspended.
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10. A structure for modulating light comprising
modulators of light each including an interference cavity for causing interference modulation of the light, and an optical compensation mechanism coupled to the modulators which enhances the optical performance of the structure.
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13. A modulator of light comprising
an interferometric modulator, and an optical fiber coupled to the interferometric modulator.
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15. An information printing system comprising
an array of interference modulators of light, a lens system, and a media transport mechanism.
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16. An image capture system comprising
an array of interference modulators of light, a lens system, and a media transport mechanism.
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17. An information projection system comprising
an array of interference modulators of light, a lens system, mechanical scanners, and control electronics.
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20. A product comprising
an operational element, a display element, a housing enclosing the operational element and having a display element, the display element including a surface viewed by a user, and an array of interference modulators of light on the surface.
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36. A vehicle comprising
a body panel, an array of interference modulators of light on a surface of the body panel, and electronic circuitry for determining the aesthetic appearance of the body panel by controlling the array of interference modulators.
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37. A building comprising
external surface elements, an array of interference modulators of light on a surface of the body panel, and electronic circuitry for determining the aesthetic appearance of the surface elements by controlling the array of interference modulators.
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38. A full color active display comprising
a liquid crystal medium, and interferometric elements embedded in the medium.
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39. A structure comprising
a substrate, micromechanical elements formed on the surface of the substrate, and electronics connected to control the elements, the electronics being formed also on the surface of the substrate.
Specification