System and method for display device with reinforcing substance

• US 7,990,601 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2010
• Issued: 08/02/2011
• 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: Palmateer, Lauren
• Primary Examiner(s): Stultz; Jessica T
• Application Number:
  US12/727,171
• Publication Number:
  US 20100172013A1
• Time in Patent Office: 502 Days
• Field of Search: 359/245
• US Class Current: 359/245
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 2201/047 Optical MEMS not provided for in B81B2201/042 - B81B2201/045
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 3/007 For controlling stiffness, e.g. ribs
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 7/0038 using materials for controlling the level of pressure, contaminants or moisture inside of the package, e.g. getters
• CPC Class Codes: B81C 2203/0163 Reinforcing a cap, e.g. with ribs
• 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

Abstract

A package structure and method of packaging an interferometric modulator with a reinforcing substance to help support the integrity of the package. In some embodiments the reinforcing substance is a desiccant integrated into the backplate or the transparent substrate.

Claims

1. A display device comprising:

a transparent substrate;

an interferometric modulator configured to modulate light transmitted through the transparent substrate;

a backplate cover sealed to said transparent substrate to form a package, wherein said interferometric modulator is inside said package; and

a prolonged-acting desiccant associated with said backplate cover, wherein said prolonged-acting desiccant has a half-life for absorbing water of not less than 10 hours.

2. The display device of claim 1, wherein the prolonged acting desiccant comprises calcium oxide and wherein the half-life of the prolonged acting desiccant is not less than about 40 hours.

3. The display device of claim 1 wherein said prolonged acting desiccant comprises a polymer containing zeolites.

4. The display device of claim 3, wherein said prolonged acting desiccant absorbs water at no more than about a rate of 0.2 mg/hour.

5. The display device of claim 4, wherein said prolonged acting desiccant absorbs water at a rate of between about 0.2 mg/hour and 0.01 mg/hour.

6. The display device of claim 1, wherein the transparent substrate is glass.

7. The display device of claim 1, wherein the backplate cover is glass.

8. The display device of claim 1, wherein the device has an array of interferometric modulators disposed on the transparent substrate.

9. The display device of claim 1, wherein the backplate cover is hermetically sealed to the transparent substrate.

10. A display device comprising:

a transparent substrate;

an array of interferometric modulators disposed on the transparent substrate and configured to modulate light transmitted through the transparent substrate;

a backplate cover;

a seal disposed between the transparent substrate and the backplate cover to form a package, wherein the array of interferometric modulators is inside said package; and

a prolonged-acting desiccant associated with the backplate cover, wherein the prolonged-acting desiccant has a half-life for absorbing water of not less than 10 hours.

11. The display device of claim 10, wherein the prolonged acting desiccant has a half-life of not less than 40 hours

12. The display device of claim 10, wherein the prolonged acting desiccant comprises calcium.

13. The display device of claim 10, wherein the prolonged acting desiccant comprises a polymer containing zeolites.

14. The display device of claim 10, wherein the prolonged acting desiccant absorbs water at a rate of between about 0.2 mg/hour and 0.01 mg/hour.

15. The display device of claim 10, wherein the transparent substrate is glass.

16. The display device of claim 10, wherein the backplate cover is glass.

17. The display device of claim 10, wherein the seal is a hermetic seal.