Methods and devices for inhibiting tilting of a mirror in an interferometric modulator
AssigneeIdc, LLC
InventorWilliam Cummings
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Interferometric modulators having a separable modulator architecture are disclosed having a reflective layer suspended from a flexible layer over a cavity. The interferometric modulators have one or more anti-tilt members that inhibit undesirable movement of the reflective layer, such as curling and/or tilting. The stabilization of the reflective layer by the anti-tilt members can improve the quality of the optical output of the interferometric modulators, as well as displays comprising such interferometric modulators.
Claims37
An interferometric modulator comprising:
- a substrate;
- an optical layer positioned over the substrate, the optical layer being at least partially transmissive to incident light;
- a mirror positioned over the substrate and movable between a first position spaced from the optical layer by a first distance and a second position spaced from the optical layer by a second distance, the first distance being greater than the second distance, and the mirror having a surface away from the substrate;
- and
- at least one stationary member contacting the surface of the mirror when the mirror is in the first position, wherein the at least one stationary member is configured to inhibit movement of at least a portion of the mirror when the mirror is in the first position.
A member for reducing the movement of a mirror in an interferometric modulator, the member comprising:
- a shaft segment configured to inhibit lateral movement of at least a portion of a mirror in an interferometric modulator in a direction substantially parallel to the mirror;
- and
- at least one head segment configured to inhibit movement of at least a portion of a mirror in an interferometric modulator in a direction generally perpendicular to the mirror.
A visual display device comprising a plurality of interferometric modulators, each interferometric modulator comprising:
- a substrate;
- an optical layer positioned over the substrate, the optical layer being at least partially transmissive to incident light;
- a mirror positioned over the substrate and movable between a first position spaced from the optical layer by a first distance and a second position spaced from the optical layer by a second distance, the first distance being greater than the second distance, and the mirror having a surface facing away from the substrate;
- and
- at least one stationary member contacting the surface of the mirror when the mirror is in the first position, wherein the at least one stationary member is configured to inhibit movement of at least a portion of the mirror when the mirror is in the first position.
An interferometric modulator comprising:
- a substrate;
- an optical layer positioned over the substrate, the optical layer being at least partially transmissive to incident light;
- a mirror positioned over the substrate and movable between a first position spaced from the optical layer by a first distance and a second position spaced from the optical layer by a second distance, the first distance being greater than the second distance, and the mirror having a surface facing away from the substrate;
- and
- at least one stationary mirror-stabilizing means configured to maintain the mirror in a desired orientation when the mirror is in the first position, said mirror-stabilizing means contacting the surface of the mirror when the mirror is in the first position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.