Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080231935 | ORNAMENTAL DISPLAY DEVICE - An ornamental display device having an interferometric modulator for displaying an ornamental image. The ornamental device may have a patterned diffuser formed on a transparent substrate to provide an ornamental image or information. The ornamental device may also 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. | 09-25-2008 |
20080247028 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MULTISTATE INTERFEROMETRIC LIGHT MODULATION - A multi-state light modulator comprises a first reflector. A first electrode is positioned at a distance from the first reflector. A second reflector is positioned between the first reflector and the first electrode. The second reflector is movable between an undriven position, a first driven position, and a second driven position, each having a corresponding distance from the first reflector. In one embodiment, the three positions correspond to reflecting white light, being non-reflective, and reflecting a selected color of light. Another embodiment is a method of making the light modulator. Another embodiment is a display including the light modulator. | 10-09-2008 |
20080303531 | METHODS FOR VISUALLY INSPECTING INTERFEROMETRIC MODULATORS FOR DEFECTS - A method is provided for visual inspection of an array of interferometric modulators in various driven states. This method may include driving multiple columns or rows of interferometric modulators via a single test pad or test lead, such as test pad, and then observing the array for discrepancies between the expected optical output and the actual optical output of the array. This method may particularly include, for example, driving a set of non-adjacent rows or columns to a state different from the intervening rows or columns and then observing the optical output of the array. | 12-11-2008 |
20090022884 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MICRO-ELECTROMECHANICAL OPERATION OF AN INTERFEROMETRIC MODULATOR - An interferometric modulator is formed by a stationary layer and a mirror facing the stationary layer. The mirror is movable between the undriven and driven positions. Landing pads, bumps or spring clips are formed on at least one of the stationary layer and the mirror. The landing pads, bumps or spring clips can prevent the stationary layer and the mirror from contacting each other when the mirror is in the driven position. The spring clips exert force on the mirror toward the undriven position when the mirror is in the driven position and in contact with the spring clips. | 01-22-2009 |
20090086301 | DISPLAY ELEMENT HAVING FILTER MATERIAL DIFFUSED IN A SUBSTRATE OF THE DISPLAY ELEMENT - Optical filter functionality is incorporated into a substrate of a display element thereby decreasing the need for a separate thin film filter and, accordingly, reducing a total thickness of a filtered display element. Filter functionality may be provided by any filter material, such as pigment materials, photoluminescent materials, and opaque material, for example. The filter material may be incorporated in the substrate at the time of creating the substrate or may be selectively diffused in the substrate through a process of masking the substrate, exposing the substrate to the filter material, and heating the substrate in order to diffuse the filter material in the substrate. | 04-02-2009 |
20090097100 | OPTICAL FILMS FOR CONTROLLING ANGULAR CHARACTERISTICS OF DISPLAYS - In various embodiments of the invention, an interferometric display device is provided having an external film with a plurality of structures that reduce the field-of-view of the display. These structures may comprise, for example, baffles or non-imaging optical elements such as compound parabolic collectors. The baffles may comprise a plurality of vertically aligned surfaces arranged, e.g., in a grid. In certain preferred embodiments these baffles are opaque or reflective. These vertical surfaces, therefore, can substantially block light from exiting the interferometric display device in a substantially non-perpendicular direction. These vertical surfaces may, however, permit light directed in a substantially vertical direction to exit the display. The non-imaging optical elements, e.g., compound parabolic collectors, redirect light from large incident angles into more normal angles towards the display. As a result, the light reflected by the display to the user is also at a more normal angle. | 04-16-2009 |
20090201571 | INTEGRATED FRONT LIGHT DIFFUSER FOR REFLECTIVE DISPLAYS - A reflective electronic display includes a front light assembly with a diffuser for enlarging the viewing cone of the display. The front light may include a substrate, a plurality of optical turning features, and a diffuser formed therebetween. The haze of the diffuser may be spatially non-uniform and switchable between two or more levels. | 08-13-2009 |
20090219600 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF ACTUATING MEMS DISPLAY ELEMENTS - Apparatus and methods of actuating MEMS display elements are disclosed. The disclosed embodiments can be incorporated into other drive schemes for MEMS display elements. In one embodiment, an apparatus for controlling a MEMS display element to display a frame of video data, said MEMS display element comprising a portion of an array of MEMS display elements, includes an array controller configured to assert a potential difference on said MEMS display element during a first portion of a frame display write process to place the MEMS display element in a first display state, and to assert a potential difference on said MEMS display element during a second portion of the frame display write process to place the MEMS display element in a second display state to display the frame of the video data, where the first display state is different from the second display state. In another embodiment, an array controller asserts a large potential difference across a MEMS display element to affect charge build up and an offset voltage level. In another embodiment, an array controller asserts a series of pulses to rapidly switch the MEMS display element between states to overcome adverse conditions that may affect the operation of the MEMS display element. | 09-03-2009 |
20090267869 | ORNAMENTAL DISPLAY DEVICE - 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. | 10-29-2009 |
20100024523 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF TESTING HUMIDITY IN A SEALED MEMS DEVICE - One embodiment provides a method of testing humidity, comprising: i) determining a property of a device which encloses a plurality of interferometric modulators and ii) determining a relative humidity value or a degree of the relative humidity inside the device based at least in part upon the determined property, wherein the determined property comprises at least one of i) the thickness and width of a seal of the device and ii) adhesive permeability of a component of the device. In one embodiment, the determined property further comprises at least one of the following: i) temperature-humidity combination inside the device, ii) a desiccant capacity inside the device and iii) a device size. | 02-04-2010 |
20100073392 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DRIVING INTERFEROMETRIC MODULATORS - Systems and methods for driving a display of MEMS devices are disclosed. In one embodiment, a display includes an array comprising a plurality of interferometric modulators, and a driving circuit coupled to said array, said driving circuit configured to provide actuation signals to drive said array based on a temperature of the display. In another embodiment, a method of driving an array having a plurality of interferometric modulators configured into a display is disclosed, where the method includes sensing the temperature at a predetermined location in display, communicating a signal based on the sensed temperature to a display driver, generating an actuation signal to drive said display based on the received signal, and providing the actuation signal to the array. | 03-25-2010 |
20100141557 | LIGHT GUIDE - In various embodiments described herein, a display device includes a front illumination device that comprises a light guide disposed forward of an array of display elements, such as an array of interferometric modulators, to distribute light across the array of display elements. The light guide panel may include a turning layer to deliver uniform illumination from a light source to the array of display elements. For many portable display applications, the light guide panel comprises the substrate used in fabricating the display elements. The light guide panel may include additional films as well. The light guide panel, for example, may include a diffuser and/or an optical isolation layer to further enhance the optical imaging characteristics of the display. | 06-10-2010 |
20100245370 | EM SHIELDING FOR DISPLAY DEVICES - A shielding material that can be arranged with respect to display elements to reduce potential damage or degraded performance caused by incident EM, such as UV and/or IR. The shielding material can be configured to be substantially transparent in visible light wavelengths. The shielding material can include inorganic materials, such as oxides including zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Display elements can include a shielding material and an outer coating to reduce undesirable optical characteristics of an air/shielding material interface. The shielding material can be electrically conductive and function as a conductive layer in a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device. In some embodiments, the shielding material can be disposed forward (closer to the viewer) of the electrodes of the display elements to prevent the high energy UV light from building up electrical charge in the electrodes. In some embodiments, the shielding material can also block certain wavelengths of light in the visible spectrum to darken the dark state of the display elements to improve the contrast ratio of the display. | 09-30-2010 |
20110128307 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MANIPULATING COLOR IN A DISPLAY - Embodiments include methods and devices for controlling the spectral profile and color gamut of light produced by an interferometric display. Such devices include illuminating a display with selected wavelengths of light. Embodiments also include a display comprising separate sections that output different predetermined colors of light. Other embodiments include methods of making the aforementioned devices. | 06-02-2011 |
20110141163 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MANIPULATING COLOR IN A DISPLAY - A method and device for manipulating color in a display includes a display in which one or more of the pixels includes one or more display elements, such as interferometric modulators, configured to output colored light and one or more display elements configured to output white light. Other embodiments include methods of making such displays. In addition, embodiments include color displays configured to provide a greater proportion of the intensity of output light in green portions of the visible spectrum in order to increase perceived brightness of the display. | 06-16-2011 |
20110148751 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MANIPULATING COLOR IN A DISPLAY - A method and device for manipulating color in a display is disclosed. In one embodiment, a display comprises interferometric display elements formed to have spectral responses that produce white light. In one embodiment, the produced white light is characterized by a standardized white point. | 06-23-2011 |
20110175948 | ORNAMENTAL DISPLAY - 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. | 07-21-2011 |
20110193770 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR WAVELENGTH FILTERING - Embodiments include devices and methods for wavelength filtering. For example, one embodiment includes a display comprising a plurality of the display elements each comprising a movable reflector, a first partial reflector, and a second partial reflector. The first partial reflector is positioned at a first distance from the movable reflector and forms a first optical resonant cavity therebetween. The second partial reflector is positioned at a second distance from said first partial reflector and forming a second optical resonant cavity therebetween. In various embodiments, the movable reflector is movable with respect to the first partial reflector to alter the first optical cavity. Other embodiments include a method of making devices. | 08-11-2011 |
20110242529 | METHODS FOR VISUALLY INSPECTING INTERFEROMETRIC MODULATORS FOR DEFECTS - A method is provided for visual inspection of an array of interferometric modulators in various driven states. This method may include driving multiple columns or rows of interferometric modulators via a single test pad or test lead, such as test pad, and then observing the array for discrepancies between the expected optical output and the actual optical output of the array. This method may particularly include, for example, driving a set of non-adjacent rows or columns to a state different from the intervening rows or columns and then observing the optical output of the array. | 10-06-2011 |
20110316861 | OPTICAL FILMS FOR DIRECTING LIGHT TOWARDS ACTIVE AREAS OF DISPLAYS - In various embodiments, an interferometric display device includes a plurality of structures that redirect light from an inactive area of the display to an active area of the display. Light incident on the structures that would normally continue towards an inactive area of the display is either reflected, refracted, or scattered towards an active area of the display including moveable and static reflective surfaces that form an optical cavity. | 12-29-2011 |
20120044563 | REDUCED CAPACITANCE DISPLAY ELEMENT - A display element, such as an interferometric modulator, includes a transparent conductor configured as a first electrode and a movable minor configured as a second electrode. Advantageously, the partial reflector is positioned between the transparent conductor and the movable mirror. Because the transparent conductor serves as an electrode, the partial reflector does not need to be conductive. Accordingly, a greater range of materials may be used for the partial reflector. In addition, a transparent insulative material, such as a dielectric, may be positioned between the transparent conductor and the partial reflector, for example, in order to decrease a capacitance of the display element without changing a gap distance between the partial reflector and the movable minor. Thus, a capacitance of the display element may be reduced without changing the optical characteristics of the display element. | 02-23-2012 |
20120057216 | MULTICOMPONENT SACRIFICIAL STRUCTURE - A MEMS comprising a sacrificial structure, which comprises a faster etching portion and a slower etching portion, exhibits reduced damage to structural features when in forming a cavity in the MEMS by etching away the sacrificial structure. The differential etching rates mechanically decouple structural layers, thereby reducing stresses in the device during the etching process. Methods and systems are also provided. | 03-08-2012 |
20120127556 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PACKAGING A DISPLAY - A package structure and method of packaging for an interferometric modulator. A transparent substrate having an interferometric modulator formed thereon is provided. A backplane is joined to the transparent substrate with a seal where the interferometric modulator is exposed to the surrounding environment through an opening in either the backplane or the seal. The opening is sealed after the transparent substrate and backplane are joined and after any desired desiccant, release material, and/or self-aligning monolayer is introduced into the package structure. | 05-24-2012 |
20130009855 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MANIPULATING COLOR IN A DISPLAY - Embodiments include methods and devices for controlling the spectral profile and color gamut of light produced by an interferometric display. Such devices include illuminating a display with selected wavelengths of light. Embodiments also include a display comprising separate sections that output different predetermined colors of light. Other embodiments include methods of making the aforementioned devices. | 01-10-2013 |
20130100003 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MANIPULATING COLOR IN A DISPLAY - A method and device for manipulating color in a display is disclosed. In one embodiment, a display comprises interferometric display elements formed to have spectral responses that produce white light. In one embodiment, the produced white light is characterized by a standardized white point. | 04-25-2013 |
20130135255 | DISPLAY SYSTEMS INCLUDING OPTICAL TOUCHSCREEN - This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for a display device having a front light to provide front illumination to the display element included in the display device and an optical touch screen to provide a touch input to the display device. In one aspect, the display device includes a light source disposed to inject light into a backplate of the display device rearward of the display elements and a light redirector disposed to receive light from the backplate and redirect the received light forward of the display elements for optical touch purpose. | 05-30-2013 |
20130135359 | DISPLAY SYSTEMS INCLUDING ILLUMINATION AND OPTICAL TOUCHSCREEN - This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for a display device having a front light to provide front illumination to the display element included in the display device and an optical touch screen to provide a touch input to the display device. In one aspect, the display device includes a light source disposed to inject light into a backplate of the display device rearward of the display elements and a light redirector disposed to receive light from the backplate and redirect the received light forward of the display elements for optical touch purpose. | 05-30-2013 |
20130135706 | ORNAMENTAL DISPLAY DEVICE - An ornamental display device having at least one interferometric modulator, a signal receiver configured to receive an external signal and a processor configured to control the display based on the external signal is disclosed. In one aspect, the external signal is emitted from a controller. In another aspect, the external signal is emitted from a computer. | 05-30-2013 |
20130176518 | BACK-TO-BACK DISPLAYS - Two-sided, back-to-back displays are formed by sealing the backplates of two displays against one another. Mechanical parameters of the backplates, e.g., stiffness and strength, do not meet the requirements for standalone one-sided displays which are otherwise similar to the two displays. However, when sealed against one another, the backplates reinforce each other to meet or exceed the requirements for both one-sided and two-sided displays. The presence of backplates on each of the constituent one-sided displays allows one or both of those displays to be individually tested, thereby increasing the production yield of the back-to-back displays. The display elements of the displays can comprise interferometric modulators. | 07-11-2013 |