Display device

• US 7,944,601 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2009
• Issued: 05/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Snaptrack Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm MEMS Technologies Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gally, Brian J, Cummings, William J
• Primary Examiner(s): Ben; Loha
• Application Number:
  US12/498,281
• Publication Number:
  US 20090267869A1
• Time in Patent Office: 680 Days
• Field of Search: 359/22, 359/32, 359/260, 359290-295, 359/298, 345/2.3, 345/32, 345/85, 345/87, 345/158, 345/173, 348/552, 348/553, 725/81
• US Class Current: 359/290
• 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 also have a signal receiver configured to receive an external signal. The ornamental device may further have a processor configured to control an image on the display based on the external signal. The external signal is emitted from a controller configured to control a plurality of ornamental devices to display coordinated images. The ornamental device may have a patterned diffuser formed on a transparent substrate to provide an ornamental image or information. The ornamental device may 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. An ornamental device, comprising:

a display having at least one interferometric modulator;

a signal receiver configured to receive an external signal; and

a processor configured to control an image on the display based on the external signal, wherein the external signal is emitted from a controller configured to control a plurality of ornamental devices to display coordinated images.

2. The ornamental device of claim 1, wherein the ornamental device is jewelry.

3. The ornamental device of claim 1, further comprising a switch configured to activate the display.

4. The ornamental device of claim 3, wherein the switch is configured to activate at least a first mode and a second mode of the display, wherein the display reflects a first set of colors when the first mode is activated and the display reflects a second set of colors when the second mode is activated.

5. The ornamental device of claim 3, wherein the switch is configured to activate at least a first mode and a second mode of the display, wherein the display reflects a first image when the first mode is activated and the display reflects a second image when the second mode is activated, wherein the first and second images are different.

6. The ornamental device of claim 1, further comprising a memory device in electrical communication with said processor, wherein the processor is in electrical communication with said display, said processor being configured to process image data.

7. The ornamental device of claim 6, further comprising a driver circuit configured to send a second signal to said display.

8. The ornamental device of claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to send at least a portion of said image data to said driver circuit.

9. The ornamental device of claim 6, further comprising an image source module configured to send said image data to said processor.

10. The ornamental device of claim 9, wherein said image source module comprises at least one of a receiver, transceiver, and transmitter.

11. The ornamental device of claim 6, further comprising an input device configured to receive input data and to communicate said input data to said processor.

12. A method of making an ornamental device, comprising:

providing a display having an interferometric modulator;

providing a signal receiver configured to receive an external signal; and

coupling a processor with the display and the signal receiver, wherein the processor is configured to control an image on the display based on the external signal, wherein the external signal is emitted from a controller configured to control a plurality of ornamental devices to display coordinated images.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the ornamental device is jewelry.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising coupling a switch to the display, wherein the switch is configured to activate the display.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the switch is configured to activate at least a first mode and a second mode of the display, wherein the display reflects a first set of colors when the first mode is activated and the display reflects a second set of colors when the second mode is activated.

16. An ornamental device formed by the method of claim 12.

17. An ornamental device, comprising:

means for interferometrically modulating light;

receiving means for receiving an external signal; and

processing means for controlling an image on the modulating means based on the external signal, wherein the external signal is emitted from a controller configured to control a plurality of ornamental devices to display coordinated images.

18. The ornamental device of claim 17, wherein the receiving means comprises an antenna.

19. The ornamental device of claim 17, wherein the processing means comprises a processor.

20. The ornamental device of claim 17, wherein the ornamental device is jewelry.

21. The ornamental device of claim 17, further comprising a switching means for activating the modulating means.

22. The ornamental device of claim 21, wherein the switching means is configured to activate at least a first mode and a second mode of the modulating means, wherein the modulating means reflects a first set of colors when the first mode is activated and the modulating means reflects a second set of colors when the second mode is activated.

23. The ornamental device of claim 21, wherein the switching means is configured to activate at least a first mode and a second mode of the modulating means, wherein the modulating means reflects a first image when the first mode is activated and the modulating means reflects a second image when the second mode is activated, wherein the first and second images are different.

24. An ornamental article, comprising:

an array of interferometric modulators configured to form a programmable display; and

a processor configured to maintain a video sequence on the display, wherein the video sequence is pre-programmed or based on an external signal.

25. The article of claim 24, further comprising a signal receiver configured to receive an external signal.

26. The article of claim 24, wherein the article further comprises a switch configured to rotate the display through the video sequence.

27. The article of claim 24, wherein the display is configured to display an image based on user input.

28. The article of claim 27, wherein the article may be connected to an external source for programming.

29. The article of claim 28, wherein the external source is a computer.

30. The article of claim 24, further comprising an attachment element whereby the article may be worn.

31. The article of claim 24, wherein an image presented by the video sequence is static.

32. The article of claim 24, wherein the video sequence is dynamic.

33. The article of claim 24, wherein the video sequence displayed is based on a detected temperature of an environment surrounding the article.

34. The article of claim 24, wherein the video sequence displayed is based on image data received from an external source.

35. The article of claim 24, wherein the article is a watch.

36. An ornamental article, comprising:

means for interferometrically modulating light for forming a programmable display; and

processing means for maintaining a video sequence on the display, wherein the video sequence is based on either a pre-programmed image or an external signal.

37. The article of claim 36, further comprising a receiving means for receiving an external signal.

38. The article of claim 37, wherein the receiving means comprises an antenna.

39. The article of claim 36, wherein the article further comprises a switching means for rotating the display through a plurality of images.

40. The article of claim 36, wherein the display is configured to display an image based on user input.

41. The article of claim 40, wherein the article may be connected to an external source for programming.

42. A method of making an ornamental article, comprising:

providing a plurality of interferometric modulators;

configuring the interferometric modulators into an array to form a programmable display; and

electrically connecting a processor to the display for maintaining a video sequence on the display based on either a pre-programmed image or an external signal.

43. The method of claim 42, further comprising electrically connecting a signal receiver to the processor, wherein the signal receiver is configured to receive an external signal.

44. The method of claim 42, further comprising providing a switching means for rotating the display through a plurality of images.

45. The method of claim 42, wherein the display is configured to display an image based on user input.

46. The method of claim 45, further comprising connecting the article to an external source for programming.

47. The method of claim 42, wherein an image displayed is based on a detected temperature of an environment surrounding the article.

48. The method of claim 42, further comprising providing an attaching means for attaching the article, whereby the article may be worn.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein the attaching means comprises a chain.

50. An ornamental article formed by the method of claim 42.