Methods and apparatus for actuating displays

• US 7,675,665 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2007
• Issued: 03/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Snaptrack Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Pixtronix, Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Inventors: Barton, Roger W., Hagood, Nesbitt W., Gandhi, Jignesh, Payne, Richard S., Fijol, John J., Steyn, Jasper Lodewyk, Fike, Eugene E. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Choi; William C
• Application Number:
  US11/731,628
• Publication Number:
  US 20070216987A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,075 Days
• Field of Search: 359/198, 359/223, 359/224, 359/230, 359/233, 359/290, 359/291, 359/292, 359/295, 359/298, 359/315
• US Class Current: 359/233
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/02 for controlling the intensity of light G02B26/004 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0841 the reflecting element being moved or deformed by electrostatic means
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/08 Active matrix structure, i.e. with use of active elements, inclusive of non-linear two terminal elements, in the pixels together with light emitting or modulating elements
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/0262 The addressing of the pixel, in a display other than an active matrix LCD, involving the control of two or more scan electrodes or two or more data electrodes, e.g. pixel voltage dependent on signals of two data electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3433 using light modulating elements actuated by an electric field and being other than liquid crystal devices and electrochromic devices using liquid crystal devices G09G3/36; using electrochromic devices G09G3/38

Abstract

This invention relates to display apparatuses having an array of light modulators and a plurality of apertures formed in a layer of material. Each light modulator corresponds to one or more apertures and has a portion which may overlap a corresponding aperture, where the size of the overlap is proportional to a distance between the array and the layer of material.

Claims

1. A display apparatus for forming an image comprising:

a first transparent substrate;

a second transparent substrate on which an array of light modulators are formed, wherein light modulators of the array modulate light to form the image;

a spacing element formed from a heat-reflowable material aligning the first transparent substrate with the second transparent substrate, wherein the heat-reflowable material is selected such that while in a molten phase during manufacture of the display apparatus, the heat-reflowable material effects relative movement between the first transparent substrate and the second transparent substrate to align the first and second transparent substrates.

2. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the heat-reflowable material obtains a substantially liquid state between about 150 degrees and about 400 decrees Centigrade.

3. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the spacing element serves as an adhesive joining the first transparent substrate to the second transparent substrate.

4. The display apparatus of claim 1, comprising a reflective aperture layer formed on one of the first transparent substrate and the second transparent substrate.

5. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light modulators comprise MEMS light modulators.

6. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the spacing element is disposed on a periphery of the array of light modulators.

7. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the spacing element is disposed within the array of light modulators.

8. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the heat-reflowable material comprises one of a metal, a plastic, and a glass.

9. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the heat-reflowable material, when in a substantially liquid state, wets the surface of features on both the first transparent substrate and the second transparent substrate.

10. A display apparatus comprising:

a first transparent substrate;

a second transparent substrate on which an array of light modulators are formed;

a spacing element disposed within the array of light modulators and formed from a heat-reflowable material aligning the first transparent substrate with the second transparent substrate, wherein the heat-reflowable material is selected such that while in a molten phase during manufacture of the display apparatus, the heat-reflowable material effects relative movement between the first transparent substrate and the second transparent substrate to align the first and second transparent substrates.

11. The display apparatus of claim 10, wherein the heat-reflowable material obtains a substantially liquid state between about 150 degrees and about 400 decrees Centigrade.

12. The display apparatus of claim 10, wherein the spacing element serves as an adhesive joining the first transparent substrate to the second transparent substrate.

13. The display apparatus of claim 10, comprising a reflective aperture layer formed on one of the first transparent substrate and the second transparent substrate.

14. The display apparatus of claim 10, wherein the light modulators comprise MEMS light modulators.

15. The display apparatus of claim 10, wherein the spacing element is disposed on a periphery of the array of light modulators.

16. The display apparatus of claim 10, wherein the heat-reflowable material comprises one of a metal, a plastic, and a glass.

17. The display apparatus of claim 10, wherein the heat-reflowable material, when in a substantially liquid state, wets the surface of features on both the first transparent substrate and the second transparent substrate.