System and method for multi-level brightness in interferometric modulation
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A display device, comprising:
- a first electrode having a substantially non-uniform width; and
a plurality of second electrodes separated from the first electrode, wherein light in cavities between the first and second electrodes is interferometrically modulated at least in part by at least one of the electrodes, and wherein at least two of the second electrodes respectively overlap areas of the first electrode, the overlapped areas each being respective different sizes,wherein the second electrodes are configured to selectively actuate in response to electrostatic forces between the first and second electrodes, and a brightness of the display device as viewed from a viewing direction is selectively adjusted based on the selective actuation of the second electrodes.
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Abstract
A display having a plurality of reflective display elements. In one embodiment, the display elements comprise at least one electrode having a plurality of active areas. In one embodiment, at least two of the sizes of the active areas are different with respect to each other, e.g., they are non-uniform in size. The interferometric modulators have a plurality of states, wherein selected ones of the interferometric modulators are configured to be actuated depending differing electrostatic forces in the interferometric modulators. The electrostatic forces in the interferometric modulators are different at least in part due to variations in the sizes of the active areas of the electrodes.
207 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A display device, comprising:
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a first electrode having a substantially non-uniform width; and a plurality of second electrodes separated from the first electrode, wherein light in cavities between the first and second electrodes is interferometrically modulated at least in part by at least one of the electrodes, and wherein at least two of the second electrodes respectively overlap areas of the first electrode, the overlapped areas each being respective different sizes, wherein the second electrodes are configured to selectively actuate in response to electrostatic forces between the first and second electrodes, and a brightness of the display device as viewed from a viewing direction is selectively adjusted based on the selective actuation of the second electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method comprising:
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providing a voltage to a first electrode having a substantially non-uniform width; in response to the provided voltage, actuating selected ones of a plurality of reflective display elements, each of the reflective display elements comprising an interferometric modulator comprising a second electrode and a cavity between the non-uniform width electrode and the second electrode; and interferometrically modulating light that enters each of the cavities. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A display device, comprising:
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first means for conducting electricity, the first conducting means being at least partially transparent to light; and a plurality of second means for conducting electricity, the plurality of second conducting means being configured to move between a first position and a second position in response to electrostatic forces between the first and second conducting means; wherein one or more of the first conducting means and the second conducting means are configured to modulate light in conjunction with a mirror coupled to one of the conducting means; and further wherein portions of the second conducting means overlap different sized portions of the first conducting means, and the portions of the second conducting means that overlap the different sized portions of the first conducting means actuate in response to substantially different electrostatic force thresholds. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A display device, comprising:
at least one array of interferometric modulators, selected interferometric modulators comprising at least one electrode having a plurality of active areas of different sizes, the selected interferometric modulators actuating depending upon varying electrostatic forces in the interferometric modulators, the electrostatic forces in the interferometric modulators varying at least in part due to variations in the sizes of the active areas of electrodes in the selected interferometric modulators, wherein each of the interferometric modulators comprises a cavity and light within the cavity is interferometrically modulated at least in part by at least one of the electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
Specification