System and method for implementation of interferometric modulator displays

• US 20060077393A1
• Filed: 05/27/2005
• Published: 04/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snaptrack Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm MEMS Technologies Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gally, Brian J., Cummings, William J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,808,703 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/477
• 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

Abstract

This invention generally relates to methods and systems that interferometric modulators, and in particular, for providing three-dimentional displays. One embodiment comprises a system for displaying to a user a stereoscopic image comprising pixels formed on a single substrate, wherein each pixel comprises at least a first interferometric modulator, and wherein the system is configured to display a first image to a first eye of the user and to display a second image to a second eye of the user. Directional display of the two portions of the stereoscopic image is implemented by fashioning two sets of interferometric modulators, one set inclined at a first angle with respect to the substrate, and the second set inclined at a second angle with respect to the substrate.

Claims

1. A system for displaying to a user a stereoscopic image comprising first and second images, the system comprising at least first and second pixels formed on a single substrate, wherein each pixel comprises at least a first interferometric modulator, and wherein the system is configured to display the first image from the first pixel to particularly a first eye of the user and to display the second image from the second pixel to particularly a second eye of the user, wherein the first and second images are displayed substantially simultaneously to produce an image appearing three-dimensional to the user.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a substantially optically diffusive layer between the array and the first and second eyes.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the array is configured to be substantially specular.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein each pixel comprises at least a first and second interferometric modulator, and wherein the first and second interferometric modulators within a pixel are adjacent to one another.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein a first interferometric modulator appearing a color and displaying a portion of the first image, and a second interferometric modulator appearing substantially the same color and displaying a portion of the second image are adjacent to one another.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the array is partitioned into subsections, wherein the interferometric modulators on a first side of each subsection display a portion of the first image, and the interferometric modulators on a second side of each subsection display a portion of the second image.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a structure configured to substantially obscure the first image from the second eye of the user and to substantially obscure the second image from the first eye of the user.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a display;

a processor that is in electrical communication with said display, said processor being configured to process image data;

a memory device in electrical communication with said processor.

9. The display system as recited in claim 8, further comprising:

a first controller configured to send at least one signal to said display; and

a second controller configured to send at least a portion of said image data to said first controller.

10. The display system as recited in claim 8, further comprising:

an image source module configured to send said image data to said processor.

11. The display system as recited in claim 10, wherein said image source module comprises at least one of a receiver, transceiver, and transmitter.

12. The display system as recited in claim 8, further comprising:

an input device configured to receive input data and to communicate said input data to said processor.

13. A display device, comprising an array of pixels formed on a single substrate, each pixel comprising one or more interferometric modulators, the array being configured to substantially simultaneously display first and second images, wherein the first image is directed to principally a first destination and the second image is directed to principally a second destination.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the first and second images form a stereoscopic image.

15. The device of claim 13, further comprising a substantially optically diffusive layer between the array and the destinations.

16. The device of claim 13, wherein at least a portion of the array is configured to appear substantially specular to the user.

17. The device of claim 13, wherein interferometric modulators within a single pixel are adjacent.

18. The device of claim 13, wherein a first interferometric modulator appearing a color and displaying a portion of the first image, and a second interferometric modulator appearing substantially the same color and displaying a portion of the second image are adjacent to one another.

19. The device of claim 13, wherein the array is partitioned into subsections, wherein the interferometric modulators on a first side of each subsection display a portion of the first image, and the interferometric modulators on a second side of each subsection display a portion of the second image.

20. A display device comprising:

at least first and second interferometric modulators formed on a single substrate, wherein the first interferometric modulator comprises two reflective layers formed in substantially parallel first and second planes;

wherein the second interferometric modulator comprises two reflective layers formed in substantially parallel third and fourth planes; and

wherein an intersection of the first or second planes with the third or fourth planes forms an angle in a plane perpendicular to the line formed by the intersection, the angle being between 10 and 170 degrees.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein the first interferometric modulator displays a portion of a first image and the second interferometric modulator displays a portion of a second image, and the first and second images form a stereoscopic image.

22. The device of claim 20, further comprising a substantially optically diffusive layer adjacent to the cavity.

23. The device of claim 20, wherein at least a portion of the interferometric modulator portion of the device is configured to appear substantially specular to the user.

24. A display device comprising:

at least first and second interferometric modulators formed on a single substrate, wherein the first interferometric modulator includes two reflective layers formed in substantially parallel first and second planes;

wherein the second interferometric modulator includes two reflective layers formed in substantially parallel third and fourth planes; and

wherein the first, second, third, and fourth planes are separate and substantially parallel planes.

25. The device of claim 24, further comprising a substantially optically diffusive layer adjacent to the cavity.

26. The device of claim 24, wherein at least a portion of the interferometric modulator portion of the device is configured to appear substantially specular to the user.

27. A display device comprising:

at least first and second interferometric modulators formed on a single substrate, the substrate defining a first plane;

wherein the first interferometric modulator includes a first reflective layer formed in the first plane and a second reflective layer formed in a second plane;

wherein the second interferometric modulator includes a third reflective layer formed in the first plane and a fourth reflective layer formed in a third plane; and

wherein the second, and third planes are separate and substantially parallel planes not parallel to the first plane.

28. The device of claim 27, further comprising a substantially optically diffusive layer adjacent to the cavity.

29. The device of claim 27, wherein at least a portion of the interferometric modulator portion of the device is configured to appear substantially specular to the user.

30. A method of making a display device comprising:

forming at least first and second interferometric modulators on a single substrate, wherein the first interferometric modulator includes two reflective layers formed in substantially parallel first and second planes;

wherein the second interferometric modulator includes two reflective layers formed in substantially parallel third and fourth planes; and

wherein the first, second, third, and fourth planes are separate and substantially parallel planes.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising forming a substantially optically diffusive layer adjacent to the cavity.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein at least a portion of the interferometric modulator portion of the device is configured to appear substantially specular to the user.

33. A method of making a display device comprising:

forming at least first and second interferometric modulators on a single substrate, the substrate defining a first plane;

wherein the first interferometric modulator includes a first reflective layer formed in the first plane and a second reflective layer formed in a second plane;

wherein the second interferometric modulator includes a third reflective layer formed in the first plane and a fourth reflective layer formed in a third plane; and

wherein the second, and third planes are separate and substantially parallel planes not parallel to the first plane.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising forming a substantially optically diffusive layer adjacent to the cavity.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein at least a portion of the interferometric modulator portion of the device is configured to appear substantially specular to the user.

36. A method of displaying to a user a stereoscopic image comprising first and second images, the method comprising:

providing a system comprising an array of interferometric modulators configured to display stereoscopic images;

sending electrical signals corresponding to the first and second images to the array;

displaying the first image to particularly a first eye of the user in response to the electrical signals; and

displaying the second image to particularly a second eye of the user in response to the electrical signals.

37. The method of claim 36, further comprising:

substantially obscuring the first image from the second eye of the user; and

substantially obscuring the second image from the first eye of the user.

38. The method of claim 36, further comprising diffusing the displayed image.

39. A system for displaying to a user a stereoscopic image comprising first and second images, the system comprising at least first and second means for displaying a portion of an image formed on a single substrate, wherein the system is configured to display the first image from the first means to particularly a first eye of the user and to display the second image from the second means to particularly a second eye of the user, wherein the first and second images are displayed substantially simultaneously to produce an image appearing three-dimensional to the user.

40. The system of claim 39, further comprising a substantially optically diffusive layer between the array and the first and second eyes.

41. The system of claim 39, wherein at least a portion of the array is configured to be substantially specular.

42. A system for displaying to a user a stereoscopic image comprising first and second images, the system being made by a process comprising:

forming at least first and second pixels on a single substrate, wherein each pixel comprises at least a first interferometric modulator, and wherein the first pixel is configured to display the first image to particularly a first eye of the user and the second pixel is configured to display the second image to particularly a second eye of the user, wherein the first and second images are displayed substantially simultaneously to produce an image appearing three-dimensional to the user.

43. The system of claim 42, the process further comprising forming a substantially optically diffusive layer between the array and the first and second eyes.

44. The system of claim 42, wherein at least a portion of the array is configured to be substantially specular.