Display device with micromechanical leaf spring switches

A display device comprising two separated supporting plates, an electro-optical medium disposed between said supporting plates, wherein said electro-optical medium includes one of a liquid crystal, an electrophoretic suspension, or an electrochromic material;

• a plurality of picture electrodes formed in rows and columns on facing surfaces of said supporting plates to form a system of picture elements;
• a system of column electrodes disposed with said picture electrodes on one of said supporting plates, wherein said picture electrodes and said column electrodes on said one supporting plate are integrated to strip-shaped electrodes;
• a system of row electrodes disposed with said picture electrodes on a second of said supporting plates;
• and switching means including at least one electrostatically controllable micromechanical leaf spring for providing connection between said picture electrodes and said row electrodes, said micromechanical leaf spring only being a metal free of any insulating layer.

A display device comprising two separated supporting plates;

• an electro-optical medium disposed between said supporting plates, wherein said electro-optical medium includes one of a liquid crystal, an electrophoretic suspension, or an electrochromic material;
• a plurality of picture electrodes formed in rows and columns on one of said supporting plates;
• a common counter electrode provided on a second of said supporting plates to form a system of picture elements with said plurality;
• a system of row electrodes and column electrodes disposed on said one supporting plate, wherein at each crossing of row electrodes and column electrodes an electrically conductive bridge insulates a column electrode from a row electrode;
• and switching means including at least one electrostatically controllable micromechanical leaf spring for providing connection between said column electrode and an associated picture electrode, said micromechanical leaf spring only being a metal free of any insulating layer, and said micromechanical leaf spring extending below said bridge and extending over both said row electrode and a portion of said associated picture electrode, wherein at least one end of said micromechanical leaf spring is connected to said column electrode.

A display device comprising two separated supporting plates;

• an electro-mechanical medium disposed between said supporting plates, wherein said electro-optical medium includes one of a liquid crystal, an electrophoretic suspension, or an electrochromic material;
• a plurality of picture electrodes formed in rows and columns on facing surfaces of said supporting plates to form a system of picture elements;
• a system of column electrodes disposed respectively between said picture electrodes on one of said supporting plates;
• a system of row electrodes disposed respectively between said picture electrodes on a second of said supporting plates;
• and switching means including at least one electrostatically controllable micromechanical leaf spring for providing connection between said picture electrodes and said row electrodes, said micromechanical leaf spring only being a metal free of any insulating layer.

A display device comprising two separated supporting plates;

• an electro-optical medium disposed between said supporting plates, wherein said electro-optical medium includes one of a liquid crystal, an electrophoretic suspension, or an electrochromic material;
• a plurality of picture electrodes formed in rows and columns on one of said supporting plates;
• a common counter electrode provided on a second of said supporting plates;
• a system of row electrodes and column electrodes disposed on said one supporting plate, said row electrodes and said column electrodes being interspersed with said picture electrodes, and being electrically isolated from one another;
• and switching means including at least one electrostatically controllable micromechanical leaf spring for providing connection between said picture electrodes and said row electrodes, said micromechanical leaf spring only being a metal free of any insulating layer.