Systems and methods using interferometric optical modulators and diffusers
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A display comprising a plurality of display elements, each of said display elements comprising:
- a movable reflector;
a partial reflector positioned at a distance from the movable reflector thereby forming an optical resonator cavity, said movable reflector and said partial reflector separated by a gap; and
a diffuser portion disposed forward the movable and partial reflectors,wherein said movable reflector is configured to move with respect to said partial reflector and to alter said optical resonator cavity in response to an electrical signal, andwherein (i) the plurality of display elements has a reflectivity at a viewing angle of about 45°
that is greater than about 75% of the reflectivity of the plurality of display elements when viewed from normal and (ii) the diffuser portions are disposed sufficiently close to the partial reflectors such that the plurality of display elements achieve a contrast of greater than about 5 to 1 while using a displayed test pattern of alternating white and black lines of a spatial period of less than about 0.45 millimeter.
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Abstract
Various embodiments include interferometric optical modulators comprising a substrate layer having a thickness between about 0.1 mm to about 0.45 mm thick and a method for manufacturing the same. The interferometric modulator can be integrated together with a diffuser in a display device. The thin substrate permits use of a thicker substrate. The thinner substrate may increase resolution and reduce overall thickness of the inteferometric modulator. The thicker diffuser may provide increased diffusion and durability.
221 Citations
71 Claims
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1. A display comprising a plurality of display elements, each of said display elements comprising:
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a movable reflector; a partial reflector positioned at a distance from the movable reflector thereby forming an optical resonator cavity, said movable reflector and said partial reflector separated by a gap; and a diffuser portion disposed forward the movable and partial reflectors, wherein said movable reflector is configured to move with respect to said partial reflector and to alter said optical resonator cavity in response to an electrical signal, and wherein (i) the plurality of display elements has a reflectivity at a viewing angle of about 45°
that is greater than about 75% of the reflectivity of the plurality of display elements when viewed from normal and (ii) the diffuser portions are disposed sufficiently close to the partial reflectors such that the plurality of display elements achieve a contrast of greater than about 5 to 1 while using a displayed test pattern of alternating white and black lines of a spatial period of less than about 0.45 millimeter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A display comprising a plurality of display elements, each of said display elements comprising:
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means for spatially modulating light by interferometrically modulating reflectivity, said spatial light modulating means having a maximum resolution less than about 0.45 millimeter; and means for diffusing said light, wherein (i) in one state, said plurality of display elements have a reflectivity at a viewing angle of about 45°
that is greater than about 75% of the reflectivity of the display elements when viewed from normal, and (ii) said plurality of display elements produce a display contrast greater than about 5 to 1 for a test pattern comprising alternating white and black lines with said maximum resolution of said spatial light modulating means. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method of manufacturing a display element, said method comprising:
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forming a movable reflector; forming a partial reflector positioned at a distance from the movable reflector thereby forming an optical resonator cavity, said movable reflector and said partial reflector separated by a gap such that said movable reflector can move toward said partial reflector to modulate said optical resonator cavity; forming a diffuser disposed within about 0.45 millimeter or less of the partial reflector; and forming an electrode portion configured to cause said movable reflector to move with respect to said partial reflector, wherein said movable and partial reflectors are formed on a substrate comprising at least one of glass, plastic, silica, and alumina. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A display comprising a plurality of display elements, each of said display elements comprising:
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a movable reflector; a partial reflector positioned at a distance from the movable reflector thereby forming an optical resonator cavity, said movable reflector configured to move with respect to said partial reflector to alter said optical resonator cavity in response to an electrical signal; and a substrate, said movable reflector, and said partial reflector disposed on one side of said substrate, said substrate having a thickness of about 0.45 millimeter or less. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
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58. A display comprising a plurality of display elements, each of said display elements comprising:
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a movable reflector; a partial reflector positioned at a distance from the movable reflector thereby forming an optical resonator cavity, said movable reflector and said partial reflector separated by a gap; a diffuser portion disposed forward the movable and partial reflectors, wherein said movable reflector is configured to move with respect to said partial reflector and to alter said optical resonator cavity in response to an electrical signal, wherein said diffuser portion is disposed within about 0.45 millimeter of said partial reflector, and wherein said movable reflector and said partial reflector are disposed on a first side of a substrate and said diffuser portion is disposed on a second side of said substrate. - View Dependent Claims (59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64)
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65. A display element comprising:
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a movable reflector; a partial reflector positioned at a distance from the movable reflector thereby forming an optical resonator cavity, said movable reflector and said partial reflector separated by a gap; and a diffuser portion disposed forward the movable and partial reflectors, wherein said movable reflector is configured to move with respect to said partial reflector and to alter said optical resonator cavity in response to an electrical signal, wherein said diffuser portion is disposed within about 0.45 millimeter of said partial reflector, and wherein said movable reflector and said partial reflector are disposed on a first side of a substrate and said diffuser portion is disposed on a second side of said substrate. - View Dependent Claims (66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71)
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Specification