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US 8,508,447 B2Granted
Display device and pixel therefor
AssigneeMicrosoft Corporation
InventorsAnna Pyayt, Gary K. Starkweather, Michael J. Sinclair
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pixel includes a primary element and a secondary element. At least a portion of the primary element is deformable between two positions. In one position, the light source is reflected such that the observer observes a dark pixel. In the other position, the light is reflected such that the observer observes a bright pixel. Gray levels of light are viewable by varying between the two positions.
Claims19
A pixel comprising:
- a primary element including a first, reflective surface configured to reflect light received from a light source;
- a secondary element having a first surface that is spaced apart from and facing the first, reflective surface of the primary element;
- and
- wherein the first, reflective surface of the primary element is deformable to focus reflected light onto the first surface of the secondary element, the first, reflective surface being deformable from a first position to a second position in which the first, reflective surface has a substantially parabolic shape by adjusting a radius of curvature of the first, reflective surface of the primary element to change a focal length of the first, reflective surface, wherein the pixel appears dark when the first, reflective surface of the primary element is in one of the first position and the second position and the pixel appears bright when the first, reflective surface of the primary element is in the other one of the first position and the second position.
1 more element
A display device comprising:
- a screen;
- and
- at least one module having an array of pixels, each pixel including:
- a deformable primary mirror having a reflective first surface, an opposing second surface, and an aperture that extends between the first and second surfaces, wherein the reflective first surface faces a direction away from the screen and is at least partially deformable between a first position and a second position;
- and
- a secondary mirror having a reflective surface that faces the screen and the aperture of the primary mirror, the reflective surface of the secondary mirror being configured to reflect light, received from the primary mirror, through the aperture of the primary mirror and towards the screen, the screen being configured to receive light emitted through the aperture of each pixel to form a viewable image;
- wherein, when the reflective first surface of the primary mirror is in the second position, the reflective first surface of the primary mirror reflects light from a light source toward the secondary mirror and the secondary mirror reflects the light through the aperture and into the screen such that the pixel appears bright;
- and
- wherein, when the reflective first surface of the primary mirror is in the first position, the reflective first surface of the primary mirror reflects light from the light source such that the pixel appears dark.
6 more elements
A method of fabricating a pixel, the method comprising:
- forming a primary structure comprising:
- a first conductive material deposited on a first substrate;
- a first spacer comprising a material deposited on the first conductive material;
- a second conductive material deposited on the first spacer and forming an aperture, the second conductive material having a reflective surface that is deformable between a first and a second position in response to a voltage applied to the second conductive material, wherein the reflective surface has a substantially parabolic shape by adjusting a radius of curvature of the reflective surface of the second conductive material to change a focal length of the reflective surface, the spacer being at least partially disposed between the first and second conductive materials;
- and
- removing a portion of the first spacer coupled to the second conductive material through the aperture;
- forming a secondary structure comprising an opaque material deposited on a second substrate;
- and coupling the primary structure and the secondary structure together with a second spacer.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.