Ornamental display device

• US 7,583,429 B2
• Filed: 05/05/2008
• Issued: 09/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Snaptrack Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: IDC, LLC
• Inventors: Gally, Brian J., Cummings, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ben; Loha
• Application Number:
  US12/115,472
• Publication Number:
  US 20080231935A1
• Time in Patent Office: 484 Days
• Field of Search: 359/238, 359290-295, 359/298, 359/260, 359/489, 359/497, 359/580, 359/599, 362/241, 362/560, 362/300, 362/483, 362/497, 362/517, 345/32, 345 84- 86, 345/102, 438/48
• US Class Current: 359/260
• CPC Class Codes: B44F 1/10 Changing, amusing, or secret pictures
• CPC Class Codes: B44F 1/14 Iridescent effects
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 30/34 Stereoscopes providing a stereoscopic pair of separated images corresponding to parallactically displaced views of the same object, e.g. 3D slide viewers
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3466 based on interferometric effect
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3473 based on light coupled out of a light guide, e.g. due to scattering, by contracting the light guide with external means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

An ornamental display device having an interferometric modulator for displaying an ornamental image. The ornamental device may have a patterned diffuser formed on a transparent substrate to provide an ornamental image or information. The ornamental device may also be a piece of jewelry or an article that may be worn. The image displayed may have an iridescent appearance. A controller may also be used to control images displayed on multiple ornamental device to provide coordinated images based on externals received or pre-programmed images.

Claims

1. A method of forming a display device, comprising:

providing an interferometric modulator comprising a transparent substrate, a partially reflective layer and a substantially reflective layer spaced apart and separated from the partially reflective layer by a cavity; and

covering the substrate with a diffuser, wherein the diffuser is patterned to provide information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the information comprises a logo.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the partially reflective layer and the diffuser are on opposite sides of the transparent substrate.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein covering the substrate with the diffuser comprises attaching the diffuser to the substrate using an adhesive.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising attaching the diffuser to the transparent substrate prior to fabrication of the interferometric modulator.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the diffuser is formed on the transparent substrate by spin-coating.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing an attachment means on the display device whereby the display device is configured to be worn.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the display device is configured as jewelry.

9. A display device, comprising:

a transparent substrate;

a first surface for reflecting light on the substrate;

a second surface for reflecting light, the second surface being substantially parallel to the first surface, wherein the second surface is separated from the first surface; and

a patterned diffuser on the substrate, wherein the diffuser is patterned to provide information.

10. The display device of claim 9, wherein the information comprises a logo.

11. The display device of claim 9, wherein the diffuser has a varied thickness.

12. The display device of claim 9, wherein the diffuser comprises a polymer film.

13. The display device of claim 9, wherein the diffuser film is about 50-100 μ

m thick.

14. A display device, comprising:

means for transmitting light;

a first reflecting means on the light transmitting means;

a second reflecting means substantially parallel to the first reflecting means, wherein the second reflecting means is separated from the first reflecting means; and

means for diffusing light on a second side of the transmitting means, wherein the diffusing means is patterned to provide information.

15. The display device of claim 14, wherein the information comprises a logo.

16. The display device of claim 14, wherein the first reflecting means comprises a first reflective layer and the second reflecting means comprises a second reflective layer.

17. The display device of claim 14, wherein the means for transmitting light comprises a transparent substrate.

18. The display device of claim 14, wherein the diffusing means comprises a diffuser film.

19. The display device of claim 14, wherein the diffusing means has a varied thickness.

20. The display device of claim 14, wherein the diffusing means comprises a polymer film.

21. The display device of claim 14, wherein the diffusing means is about 50-100 μ

m thick.