System and method of implementation of interferometric modulators for display mirrors

• US 20060077521A1
• Filed: 07/29/2005
• Published: 04/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snaptrack Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: IDC, LLC
• Inventors: Gally, Brian J., Cummings, William J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,317,568 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/290
• 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

A specular interferometric modulator array is configured to be at least partially selectably reflective. As such, the array forms a mirror surface having the capability of displaying information to the user while simultaneously being used as a specular mirror. The displayed information may be based on information from an external source, may be programmable, and may be based on user input.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a substrate; and

an array of reflective elements arranged on the substrate to form at least a portion of a mirror surface that specularly reflects incident light in at least one wavelength band, each element comprising;

a partially reflective layer; and

a substantially reflective layer separated from the partially reflective layer by a predetermined space, wherein the space defines an interferometric cavity;

wherein one or more of the elements are configured to be selectably reflective.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein one or more of the selectably reflective elements is configured to selectably be in one of first and second optical states.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the first optical state differs from second optical state in at least one of reflectivity and color so that the contrast between the two states is perceptible to a viewer.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein one or more of the elements are configured to be in a single non-selectable state of being highly reflective.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein at least a portion of the area between the elements configured to be in a single non-selectable state of high reflectivity is configured to be specularly reflective.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the reflective surface of the mirror comprises a highly reflective layer configured to reflect non-interferometrically.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the reflective elements of the array is formed in a shape corresponding to at least a portion of the information to be displayed by the at least one element.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the area between the elements of the array is configured to be specularly reflective.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein at least a first portion of the array comprises adjacent elements configured to be perceived by a viewer as displaying an optical characteristic different from an optical characteristic displayed by another portion of the array.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein at least at least one of the selectably reflective elements is configured to be perceived as:

displaying information; and

being highly reflective.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the optical characteristics of one or more of the elements is based upon at least one of input from an external source, user input, and programming.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein one or more of the elements are configured to be reflective across the visible spectrum.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein one or more of the elements are configured to reflect light substantially of a different wavelength band than one or more other elements.

14. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a processor that is in electrical communication with the array, the processor being configured to process image data; and

a memory device in electrical communication with the processor.

15. The device of claim 14, further comprising a driver circuit configured to send at least one signal to the array.

16. The device of claim 15, further comprising a controller configured to send at least a portion of the image data to the driver circuit.

17. The device of claim 14, further comprising an image source module configured to send the image data to the processor.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the image source module comprises at least one of a receiver, transceiver, and transmitter.

19. The device of claim 14, further comprising an input device configured to receive input data and to communicate the input data to the processor.

20. A vehicle comprising:

a steering mechanism; and

a mirror configured to be positioned such that light coming from behind the vehicle is reflected to a location for an operator to see when positioned to use the steering mechanism, the mirror comprising;

a substrate; and

an array of reflective elements arranged on the substrate to form a mirror surface that specularly reflects incident light in at least one wavelength band, each element comprising;

a partially reflective layer; and

a substantially reflective layer separated from the partially reflective layer by a predetermined space, wherein the space defines an interferometric cavity.

21. The vehicle of claim 20, wherein the mirror is configured to display warnings, radio information, vehicle status data, route information, location data, or environmental information.

22. The vehicle of claim 20, wherein one or more of the reflective elements is configured to selectably be in one of first and second optical states.

23. The vehicle of claim 20, wherein one or more of the reflective elements are configured to be in a single non-selectable state of being highly reflective.

24. The vehicle of claim 20, wherein at least a portion of the reflective surface of the mirror comprises a highly reflective layer configured to reflect non-interferometrically.

25. The vehicle of claim 20, wherein at least one of the reflective elements is formed in a shape corresponding to at least a portion of the information to be displayed by the at least one element.

26. The vehicle of claim 20, wherein the optical characateristics of one or more of the reflective elements is based upon at least one of input from an external source, user input, and programming.

27. A device comprising:

a mirror comprising;

a substrate; and

an array of reflective elements arranged on the substrate to form a mirror surface that specularly reflects incident light in at least one wavelength band, each element comprising;

a partially reflective layer; and

a substantially reflective layer separated from the partially reflective layer by a predetermined space, wherein the space defines an interferometric cavity and the wavelength band of light reflected from the element is based on

a dimension of the cavity; and

a mount configured to attach the mirror to a vehicle, a wall, an article of furniture, an ornamental object, an article of clothing, or a person.

28. The device of claim 27, wherein one or more of the elements are configured to be in a single non-selectable state of being highly reflective.

29. The device of claim 27, wherein at least a first portion of the array comprises adjacent elements configured to be perceived by a viewer as displaying an optical characteristic different from an optical characteristic displayed by another portion of the array.

30. The device of claim 27, wherein optical characteristics of one or more of the elements is based upon at least one of input from an external source, user input, and programming.

31. The device of claim 27, wherein one or more of the elements are configured to be reflective across the visible spectrum.

32. The device of claim 27, wherein one or more of the elements are configured to reflect light substantially of a different wavelength band than one or more other elements.

33. A mirror device, comprising:

means for interferometrically and specularly reflecting incident light in at least one wavelength band; and

means for selectably and interferometrically reflecting incident light in at least one wavelength band.

34. The device of claim 33 wherein the interferometrically and specularly reflecting means and the selectably and interferometrically reflecting means each comprise an array of reflective elements arranged on the substrate to form a mirror surface that specularly reflects incident light in at least one wavelength band, each element comprising:

a partially reflective layer; and

a substantially reflective layer separated from the partially reflective layer by a predetermined space, wherein the space defines an interferometric cavity.

35. The device of claim 33, further comprising means for selecting the optical characteristics of a portion of the selectably and interferometrically reflecting means based upon at least one of input from an external source, user input, and programming..

36. The device of claim 35, wherein the selecting means for selecting comprises a driving circuit.

37. The device of claim 33, wherein a first portion of the selectably and interferometrically reflecting means is configured to reflect light substantially of a different wavelength band than a second portion of the selectably reflecting means.

38. A method of using a display device comprising:

establishing a communication link between the device and an information source, the device comprising a mirror comprising a substrate; and

an array of reflective elements arranged on the substrate to form a mirror surface that specularly reflects incident light in at least one wavelength band, each element comprising;

a partially reflective layer; and

a substantially reflective layer separated from the partially reflective layer by a predetermined space, wherein the space defines an interferometric cavity and the wavelength band of light reflected from the element is based on a dimension of the cavity; and

a mount configured to attach the mirror to a vehicle, a wall, an article of furniture, an ornamental object, an article of clothing, or a person;

receiving information from the source; and

displaying the information on the array.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein displaying the information comprises selecting states for the selectably reflective elements, wherein the elements are configured to selectably be in one of first and second optical states.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein at least one of the elements for which a state is selected has a shape corresponding to at least a portion of the information to be displayed by the at least one element.

42. The method of claim 38, wherein displaying the information comprises:

displaying a first optical characteristic on a first portion of the array; and

displaying a second optical characteristic on a second portion of the array.

39. The method of 38, wherein displaying the information comprises displaying the information based upon at least one of input from an external source, user input, and programming.

43. A method of manufacturing a device comprising:

forming a substrate; and

forming an array of reflective elements arranged on the substrate so as to produce a mirror surface that specularly reflects incident light in at least one wavelength band, each element comprising;

a partially reflective layer;

a substantially reflective layer separated from the partially reflective layer by a predetermined space, wherein the space defines an interferometric cavity; and

wherein one or more of the elements are configured to be selectably reflective.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein forming the array comprises configuring the elements to be selectably reflective based upon at least one of input from an external source, programming, and user input.

45. The method of claim 43, wherein forming the array comprises configuring one or more of the elements to be reflective across the visible spectrum.

46. The method of claim 43, wherein forming the array comprises configuring one or more of the elements to reflect light substantially of a different wavelength band than one or more other elements.

47. A device manufactured by the method of claim 43