Reflective display device having viewable display on both sides
AssigneeIdc, LLC
InventorsClarence Chui, Mark Miles
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An interferometric light modulating device having two viewing surfaces is provided. In some embodiments, the device can generate two distinct images, one on each side of the device, simultaneously.
Claims29
A light modulating device comprising:
- a first substrate substantially transparent to light;
- a second substrate substantially transparent to light, the second substrate substantially parallel to the first substrate and spaced from the first substrate;
- at least one support stack coupling the first substrate and the second substrate together;
- a first partially reflective layer coupled to the first substrate;
- a second partially reflective layer coupled to the second substrate, the second partially reflective layer substantially parallel to the first partially reflective layer and spaced from the first partially reflective layer, the first partially reflective layer and the second partially reflective layer defining a cavity therebetween;
- at least one movable layer supported by the at least one support stack, the at least one movable layer movable within the cavity along a direction generally perpendicular to the first and second partially reflective layers;
- and
- a first reflective surface and a second reflective surface coupled to the at least one movable layer to move within the cavity with the at least one movable layer, the first reflective surface and the first partially reflective layer defining a first sub-cavity therebetween, the second reflective surface and the second partially reflective layer defining a second sub-cavity therebetween.
A light modulating device comprising:
- a first substrate means and a second substrate means spaced from the first substrate;
- a first means for partially reflecting light positioned on said first substrate;
- a second means for partially reflecting light positioned on the second substrate;
- a means for reflecting light positioned and movable between said first means for partially reflecting light and said second means for partially reflecting light;
- and
- a means for coupling the first substrate and the second substrate together, wherein said means for coupling the first substrate and the second substrate further supports said means for reflecting light.
A method of creating two oppositely facing images, said method comprising:
- providing a device comprising a first partially reflective layer on a first transparent substrate, a second partially reflective layer on a second transparent substrate that is spaced from the first transparent substrate, and a single movable layer supported on a support stack, said support stack connecting the first partially reflective layer and the second partially reflective layer and positioning the single movable layer between the first and second partially reflective layers;
- moving the moveable layer in a direction generally perpendicular to the first and second partially reflective layers, thereby creating a first image viewable through the first transparent substrate;
- and
- moving the moveable layer in direction generally perpendicular to the first and second partially reflective layers, thereby creating a second image viewable through the second transparent substrate.
A method of manufacturing an interferometric modulator device with two viewable sides, said method comprising:
- providing a first substrate;
- forming a first partially reflective layer;
- forming a first support portion;
- forming a moveable layer;
- forming a reflective layer, wherein said first support portion supports said reflective layer;
- forming a second support portion;
- forming a second partially reflective layer, wherein said first and second partially reflective layers are coupled to said support portions;
- and
- applying a second substrate to the second partially reflective layer.
The method of claim 26, further comprising providing a sacrificial layer and etching said sacrificial layer away to create cavities.
The method of claim 27, further comprising providing holes to the partially reflective layers and the second substrate and using said holes to administer an etchant to the sacrificial layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.