Semi-transparent/transflective lighted interferometric devices
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A device comprising:
- a substrate that is at least partially optically transparent;
a first layer over the substrate, wherein the first layer is partially optically absorptive, partially optically reflective, and partially optically transmissive;
a second layer over the substrate and spaced from the first layer, the first layer located between the substrate and the second layer, wherein the second layer is partially optically absorptive, partially optically reflective, and partially optically transmissive, the second layer having a thickness in the range of 30 to 300 Angstroms; and
a light source responsive to a signal and positioned relative to the substrate such that the first layer and the second layer are located between the substrate and the light source, wherein light emitted from the device in a first direction comprisesa first portion of light incident on the substrate, transmitted through the substrate, transmitted through the first layer, reflected by the second layer, transmitted through the first layer, transmitted through the substrate, and emitted from the substrate in the first direction;
a second portion of light incident on the substrate, transmitted through the substrate, reflected by the first layer, transmitted through the substrate, and emitted from the substrate in the first direction; and
a third portion of light from the light source incident on the second layer, transmitted through the second layer, transmitted through the first layer, transmitted through the substrate, and emitted from the substrate in the first direction; and
wherein the light emitted from the device in the first direction has a first color when the light source emits light and a second color when the light source does not emit light, the second color different from the first color.
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Abstract
In certain embodiments, a device is provided that utilizes both interferometrically reflected light and transmitted light. Light incident on the device is interferometrically reflected from a plurality of layers of the device to emit light in a first direction, the interferometrically reflected light having a first color. Light from a light source is transmitted through the plurality of layers of the device to emit from the device in the first direction, the transmitted light having a second color.
46 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A device comprising:
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a substrate that is at least partially optically transparent; a first layer over the substrate, wherein the first layer is partially optically absorptive, partially optically reflective, and partially optically transmissive; a second layer over the substrate and spaced from the first layer, the first layer located between the substrate and the second layer, wherein the second layer is partially optically absorptive, partially optically reflective, and partially optically transmissive, the second layer having a thickness in the range of 30 to 300 Angstroms; and a light source responsive to a signal and positioned relative to the substrate such that the first layer and the second layer are located between the substrate and the light source, wherein light emitted from the device in a first direction comprises a first portion of light incident on the substrate, transmitted through the substrate, transmitted through the first layer, reflected by the second layer, transmitted through the first layer, transmitted through the substrate, and emitted from the substrate in the first direction; a second portion of light incident on the substrate, transmitted through the substrate, reflected by the first layer, transmitted through the substrate, and emitted from the substrate in the first direction; and a third portion of light from the light source incident on the second layer, transmitted through the second layer, transmitted through the first layer, transmitted through the substrate, and emitted from the substrate in the first direction; and
wherein the light emitted from the device in the first direction has a first color when the light source emits light and a second color when the light source does not emit light, the second color different from the first color. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A device comprising:
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a substrate that is at least partially optically transparent; a first layer over the substrate, wherein the first layer is partially optically absorptive, partially optically reflective, and partially optically transmissive; a second layer over the substrate and spaced from the first layer, the first layer located between the substrate and the second layer, wherein the second layer is partially optically absorptive, partially optically reflective, and partially optically transmissive; and a light source responsive to a signal and positioned relative to the substrate such that the first layer and the second layer are located between the substrate and the light source, wherein light emitted from the device in a first direction comprises a first portion of light incident on the substrate, transmitted through the substrate, transmitted through the first layer, reflected by the second layer, transmitted through the first layer, transmitted through the substrate, and emitted from the substrate in the first direction; a second portion of light incident on the substrate, transmitted through the substrate, reflected by the first layer, transmitted through the substrate, and emitted from the substrate in the first direction; and a third portion of light from the light source incident on the second layer, transmitted through the second layer, transmitted through the first layer, transmitted through the substrate, and emitted from the substrate in the first direction, wherein the first portion of light and the second portion of light interfere to produce light having a first color and exhibiting a first angular color shift and the third portion of light has a second color and exhibits a second angular color shift different from the first angular color shift. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A device comprising:
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a substrate that is at least partially optically transparent; a first layer over the substrate, wherein the first layer is partially optically absorptive, partially optically reflective, and partially optically transmissive; a second layer over the substrate and spaced from the first layer, the first layer located between the substrate and the second layer, wherein the second layer is partially optically absorptive, partially optically reflective, and partially optically transmissive; and a light source responsive to a signal and positioned relative to the substrate such that the first layer and the second layer are located between the substrate and the light source, wherein light emitted from the device in a first direction comprises a first portion of light incident on the substrate, transmitted through the substrate, transmitted through the first layer, reflected by the second layer, transmitted through the first layer, transmitted through the substrate, and emitted from the substrate in the first direction; a second portion of light incident on the substrate, transmitted through the substrate, reflected by the first layer, transmitted through the substrate, and emitted from the substrate in the first direction; and a third portion of light from the light source incident on the second layer, transmitted through the second layer, transmitted through the first layer, transmitted through the substrate, and emitted from the substrate in the first direction, and wherein light emitted from the device in a second direction generally opposite to the first direction comprises a fourth portion of light incident on the substrate, transmitted through the substrate, transmitted through the first layer, transmitted through the second layer, and emitted from the device in the second direction; a fifth portion of light incident on the second layer, transmitted through the second layer, reflected from the first layer, transmitted through the second layer, and emitted from the device in the second direction; and a sixth portion of light incident on the second layer, reflected from the second layer, and emitted from the device in the second direction. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. A device comprising:
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a first means for partially absorbing light, partially reflecting light, and partially transmitting light; a second means for partially absorbing light, partially reflecting light, and partially transmitting light, the second means spaced from the first means and having a thickness in the range of 30 to 300 Angstroms; and a means for generating light, wherein light emitted from the device in a first direction comprises a first portion of light incident on the first means, transmitted through the first means, reflected by the second means, transmitted through the first means, and emitted from the device in the first direction; a second portion of light incident on the first means, reflected by the first means, and emitted from the device in the first direction; and a third portion of light generated by the light generation means, incident on the second means, transmitted through the second means, transmitted through the first means, and emitted from the device in the first direction; and
wherein the light emitted from the device in the first direction has a first color when the light source emits light and a second color when the light source does not emit light, the second color different from the first color. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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25. A method of displaying an image, the method comprising:
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providing a device comprising; a substrate that is at least partially optically transparent; a first layer over the substrate, wherein the first layer is partially optically absorptive, partially optically transmissive, and partially optically reflective; and a second layer over the substrate and spaced from the first layer, the first layer located between the substrate and the second layer, wherein the second layer is partially optically absorptive, partially optically transmissive, and partially optically reflective, the second layer having a thickness in the range of 30 to 300 Angstroms; positioning a light source responsive to a signal relative to the substrate such that the first layer and the second layer are located between the substrate and the light source; emitting light from the device in a first direction, the emitted light comprising a first portion of light incident on the substrate, transmitted through the substrate, transmitted through the first layer, reflected by the second layer, transmitted through the first layer, transmitted through the substrate, and emitted from the device in the first direction; a second portion of light incident on the substrate, transmitted through the substrate, reflected by the first layer, transmitted through the substrate, and emitted from the device in the first direction; and a third portion of light from the light source incident on the second layer, transmitted through the second layer, transmitted through the first layer, transmitted through the substrate, and emitted from the device in the first direction; and
wherein the light emitted from the device in the first direction has a first color when the light source emits light and a second color when the light source does not emit light, the second color different from the first color. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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28. A method of displaying an image, the method comprising:
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providing a device comprising a substrate that is at least partially optically transparent; a first layer over the substrate, wherein the first layer is partially optically absorptive, partially optically transmissive, and partially optically reflective; and a second layer over the substrate and spaced from the first layer, the first layer located between the substrate and the second layer, wherein the second layer is partially optically absorptive, partially optically transmissive, and partially optically reflective; positioning a light source responsive to a signal relative to the substrate such that the first layer and the second layer are located between the substrate and the light source; emitting light from the device in a first direction, the emitted light comprising a first portion of light incident on the substrate, transmitted through the substrate, transmitted through the first layer, reflected by the second layer, transmitted through the first layer, transmitted through the substrate, and emitted from the device in the first direction; a second portion of light incident on the substrate, transmitted through the substrate, reflected by the first layer, transmitted through the substrate, and emitted from the device in the first direction; and a third portion of light from the light source incident on the second layer, transmitted through the second layer, transmitted through the first layer, transmitted through the substrate, and emitted from the device in the first direction; and emitting light from the device in a second direction generally opposite to the first direction comprising a fourth portion of light incident on the substrate, transmitted through the substrate, transmitted through the first layer, transmitted through the second layer, and emitted from the device in the second direction; a fifth portion of light incident on the second layer, transmitted through the second layer, reflected from the first layer, transmitted through the second layer, and emitted from the device in the second direction; and a sixth portion of light incident on the second layer, reflected from the second layer, and emitted from the device in the second direction.
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Specification