U.S. patent application number 14/695533 was filed with the patent office on 2015-10-22 for optical loss structure integrated in an illumination apparatus.
The applicant listed for this patent is QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.. Invention is credited to Ion Bita, Russell Wayne Gruhlke, Marek Mienko, Gang Xu.
Application Number | 20150301268 14/695533 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39205209 |
Filed Date | 2015-10-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150301268 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bita; Ion ; et al. |
October 22, 2015 |
OPTICAL LOSS STRUCTURE INTEGRATED IN AN ILLUMINATION APPARATUS
Abstract
Various embodiments of a display device described herein include
an optical propagation region, at least one optical loss structure,
an optical isolation layer, and a plurality of display elements.
The propagation region includes a light guide in which light is
guided via total internal reflection and turning features
configured to redirect the light out of the propagation region. The
loss structure would disrupt the total internal reflection of at
least some of the light guided within the propagation region if
disposed directly adjacent thereto. The optical isolation layer
includes a non-gaseous material between the propagation region and
the loss structure, and is configured to increase an amount of
light that is totally internal reflected in the propagation region.
The plurality of display elements are positioned to receive the
light redirected out of the propagation region. The loss structure
is positioned between the plurality of display elements and the
propagation region.
Inventors: |
Bita; Ion; (San Jose,
CA) ; Xu; Gang; (Cupertino, CA) ; Mienko;
Marek; (San Jose, CA) ; Gruhlke; Russell Wayne;
(Milpitas, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc. |
San Diego |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
39205209 |
Appl. No.: |
14/695533 |
Filed: |
April 24, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
12444142 |
Apr 2, 2009 |
9019183 |
|
|
PCT/US2007/020680 |
Sep 24, 2007 |
|
|
|
14695533 |
|
|
|
|
60850024 |
Oct 6, 2006 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
156/60 ;
427/69 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G02B 6/0065 20130101;
G02B 26/001 20130101; G02B 6/0053 20130101; G02B 6/0056 20130101;
G02B 6/0051 20130101; G02B 6/0033 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F21V 8/00 20060101
F21V008/00; G02B 26/00 20060101 G02B026/00 |
Claims
1. (canceled)
2. A display device comprising: a plurality of display elements; an
optical propagation region including: a substrate to provide
support to the plurality of display elements, wherein the substrate
is configured to guide light in the optical propagation region via
total internal reflection; and turning features configured to
redirect the light out of the optical propagation region, wherein
the plurality of display elements are positioned to receive the
light redirected out of the optical propagation region; at least
one optical loss structure between the plurality of display
elements and the optical propagation region, wherein the at least
one optical loss structure would disrupt the total internal
reflection of at least some of the light guided within the optical
propagation region if disposed directly adjacent to the optical
propagation region; and an optical isolation layer between the
optical propagation region and the at least one optical loss
structure, the optical isolation layer including a non-gaseous
material adjacent to the optical propagation region, the optical
isolation layer configured to cause total internal reflection of
the light guided in the optical propagation region.
3. The display device of claim 2, wherein the plurality of display
elements are reflective display elements configured to reflect
light to produce an image.
4. The display device of claim 3, configured such that the light
reflected by the plurality of display elements to produce the image
passes through the optical loss structure, the optical isolation
layer, and the optical propagation region.
5. The display device of claim 3, wherein the plurality of
reflective display elements includes a plurality of interferometric
modulators.
6. The display device of claim 2, wherein the at least one optical
loss structure includes a diffuser.
7. The display device of claim 6, wherein the diffuser includes
surface diffusing features.
8. The display device of claim 7, wherein the optical isolation
layer is adjacent to the at least one optical loss structure such
that an interface between the optical isolation layer and the at
least one optical loss structure includes the surface diffusing
features.
9. The display device of claim 6, wherein the diffuser includes a
plurality of microstructures disposed in a matrix material.
10. The display device of claim 2, wherein the optical isolation
layer includes a multi-layer interference stack.
11. The display device of claim 10, wherein the multi-layer
interference stack includes: a first layer closest to the optical
propagation region, the first layer having an index of refraction
higher than an index of refraction of the optical propagation
region, wherein the first layer is a sub-wavelength thin film
having a thickness less than about a wavelength of visible light;
and a second layer having an index of refraction lower than the
index of refraction of the optical propagation region such that the
second layer causes light to be guided via total internal
reflection in the optical propagation region and the first
layer.
12. The display device of claim 11, wherein the multi-layer
interference stack includes a third layer having an index of
refraction that is higher than the index of refraction of the
second layer of the multi-layer interference stack, and wherein the
second layer is between the first layer and the third layer.
13. The display device of claim 12, wherein the first and third
layers include titanium dioxide and the second layer includes
magnesium fluoride.
14. The display device of claim 10, wherein the multi-layer
interference stack includes a plurality of layers each having a
thickness less than about a wavelength of visible light.
15. The display device of claim 10, wherein the multi-layer
interference stack includes a plurality of optical films having
indices of refraction that alternate between higher than the index
of refraction of the optical propagation region and lower than the
index of refraction of the optical propagation region.
16. The display device of claim 2, wherein the plurality of display
elements are adjacent to the at least one optical loss
structure.
17. The display device of claim 2, wherein the optical propagation
region includes a light guide, wherein the light guide and the
substrate are configured to guide the light in the optical
propagation region via total internal reflection, and wherein the
light guide includes the turning features.
18. The display device of claim 2, further comprising: a processor
that is configured to communicate with the plurality of display
elements, the processor being configured to process image data; and
a memory device that is configured to communicate with the
processor.
19. The display device of claim 18, further comprising: a driver
circuit configured to send at least one signal to the plurality of
display elements; and a controller configured to send at least a
portion of the image data to the driver circuit.
20. The display device of claim 18, further comprising an image
source module configured to send said image data to said processor,
wherein the image source module includes at least one of a
receiver, transceiver, and transmitter.
21. The display device of claim 18, further comprising an input
device configured to receive input data and to communicate said
input data to said processor.
22. A method of making a display device, the method comprising:
providing an optical propagation region that includes: a substrate
that is configured to guide light in the optical propagation region
via total internal reflection; and turning features configured to
redirect the light out of the optical propagation region; disposing
a plurality of display element to receive the light redirected out
of the optical propagation region, wherein the substrate of the
optical propagation region provides support to the plurality of
display elements; disposing at least one optical loss structure
between the plurality of display elements and the optical
propagation region, wherein the at least one optical loss structure
would disrupt the total internal reflection of at least some of the
light guided within the optical propagation region if disposed
directly adjacent to the optical propagation region; and disposing
an optical isolation layer between the optical propagation region
and the at least one optical loss structure, the optical isolation
layer including a non-gaseous material adjacent to the optical
propagation region, the optical isolation layer configured to cause
total internal reflection of the light guided in the optical
propagation region.
23. The method of claim 22, wherein the substrate includes a first
side and a second side, wherein the optical isolation layer is
deposited onto the first side of the substrate, wherein the at
least one optical loss structure is deposited onto the optical
isolation layer, and wherein the plurality of display elements are
deposited onto the at least one optical loss structure.
24. The method of claim 23, wherein the optical propagation region
includes a light guide disposed on the second side of the
substrate, wherein the substrate and the light guide are configured
to guide the light in the optical propagation region via total
internal reflection, and wherein the light guide includes the
turning features.
25. The method of claim 22, wherein the plurality of display
elements are reflective display elements configured to reflect
light to produce an image.
26. The method of claim 22, wherein the at least one optical loss
structure includes a diffuser.
27. The method of claim 26, wherein the diffuser includes surface
diffusing features.
28. The method of claim 26, wherein the diffuser includes a
plurality of microstructures disposed in a matrix material.
29. The method of claim 22, wherein the optical isolation layer
includes a multi-layer interference stack.
30. A display device comprising: a plurality of display elements;
an optical propagation region including: means for supporting the
plurality of display elements, wherein the supporting means is
configured to guide light in the optical propagation region via
total internal reflection; and means for redirecting light out of
the optical propagation region, wherein the plurality of display
elements are positioned to receive the light redirected out of the
optical propagation region; means for disrupting the total internal
reflection of at least some of the light guided within the optical
propagation region if disposed directly adjacent to the optical
propagation region, wherein the disrupting means is between the
optical propagation region and the plurality of display elements;
and means for optically isolating the optical propagation region
from the disrupting means, wherein the optically isolating means is
between the optical propagation region and the disrupting means,
the optically isolating means including a non-gaseous material
adjacent to the optical propagation region, the optically isolating
means configured to cause total internal reflection of the light
guided in the optical propagation region.
31. The display device of claim 30, wherein the supporting means
includes a substrate, or wherein the light redirecting means
includes turning features, or wherein the disrupting means includes
at least one loss structure, or wherein the optically isolating
means includes an optical isolation layer.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 12/444,142, filed Apr. 2, 2009, and titled
"OPTICAL LOSS STRUCTURE INTEGRATED IN AN ILLUMINATION APPARATUS,"
which is a United States National Phase entry under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn.371 of PCT Application No. PCT/US2007/020680, with an
international filing date of Sep. 24, 2007, and titled "OPTICAL
LOSS STRUCTURE INTEGRATED IN AN ILLUMINATION APPARATUS OF A
DISPLAY," which claims the priority benefit under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn.119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/850,024,
filed Oct. 6, 2006, and titled "METHOD FOR INTEGRATING A LIGHT
DIFFUSER IN AN ILLUMINATION DEVICE OF A DISPLAY SYSTEM." Each of
the applications identified above is incorporated herein by
reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) include micro
mechanical elements, actuators, and electronics. Micromechanical
elements may be created using deposition, etching, and/or other
micromachining processes that etch away parts of substrates and/or
deposited material layers or that add layers to form electrical and
electromechanical devices. One type of MEMS device is called an
interferometric modulator. As used herein, the term interferometric
modulator or interferometric light modulator refers to a device
that selectively absorbs and/or reflects light using the principles
of optical interference. In certain embodiments, an interferometric
modulator may comprise a pair of conductive plates, one or both of
which may be transparent and/or reflective in whole or part and
capable of relative motion upon application of an appropriate
electrical signal. In a particular embodiment, one plate may
comprise a stationary layer deposited on a substrate and the other
plate may comprise a metallic membrane separated from the
stationary layer by an air gap. As described herein in more detail,
the position of one plate in relation to another can change the
optical interference of light incident on the interferometric
modulator. Such devices have a wide range of applications, and it
would be beneficial in the art to utilize and/or modify the
characteristics of these types of devices so that their features
can be exploited in improving existing products and creating new
products that have not yet been developed.
SUMMARY
[0003] In certain embodiments, a display device comprises an
optical propagation region, at least one optical loss structure, an
optical isolation layer, and a plurality of display elements. The
optical propagation region comprises a light guide in which light
is guided via total internal reflection. The optical propagation
region further comprises turning features configured to redirect
the light out of the optical propagation region. The at least one
optical loss structure would disrupt the total internal reflection
of at least some of the light guided within the optical propagation
region if disposed directly adjacent thereto. The optical isolation
layer comprises a non-gaseous material between the optical
propagation region and the optical loss structure. The optical
isolation layer is configured to increase an amount of light that
is totally internal reflected in the optical propagation region.
The plurality of display elements are positioned to receive the
light redirected out of the optical propagation region. The optical
loss structure is positioned between the plurality of display
elements and the optical propagation region.
[0004] In certain embodiments, a display device comprises means for
guiding light via total internal reflection, means for disrupting
the total internal reflection of at least some of the light guided
within the light guiding means if the total internal reflection
disrupting means is disposed directly adjacent to the light guiding
means, means for optically isolating the light guiding means from
the total internal reflection disrupting means, and means for
displaying an image. The light guiding means comprises means for
redirecting light out of the light guiding means and to the image
displaying means. The optical isolating means comprises a
non-gaseous material. The optical isolating means is disposed
between the light guiding means and the total internal reflection
disrupting means. The optically isolating means is configured to
increase an amount of light that is totally internal reflected in
the light guiding means. The image displaying means is positioned
to receive light redirected out of the light guiding means. The
total internal reflection disrupting means is positioned between
the image displaying means and the light guiding means.
[0005] In certain embodiments, a method of manufacturing a display
device comprises providing a plurality of display elements,
disposing an optical propagation region in proximity to said
plurality of display elements, disposing an optical loss structure
between the plurality of display elements and the optical
propagation region, and disposing an optical isolation layer
between the optical propagation region and the optical loss
structure. The optical propagation region comprises a light guide
in which light is guided via total internal reflection. The optical
propagation region comprises turning features configured to
redirect the light out of the optical propagation region. The
optical loss structure would disrupt the total internal reflection
of at least some of the light guided within the optical propagation
region if disposed directly adjacent thereto. The optical isolation
layer increases the amount of light that is totally internal
reflected in the optical propagation region.
[0006] In certain embodiments, an illumination apparatus comprises
an optical propagation region comprising a light guide in which
light is guided via total internal reflection and a layer coupled
to the optical propagation region. The optical propagation region
further comprises turning features configured to redirect the light
out of the optical propagation region. The layer includes a matrix
and a microstructure. At least a portion of the layer has an index
of refraction less than an index of refraction of the optical
propagation region. The layer is configured to increase an amount
of light that is totally internal reflected in the optical
propagation region.
[0007] In certain embodiments, an illumination apparatus comprises
an optical propagation region comprising a light guide in which
light is guided via total internal reflection, at least one optical
loss structure, and an optical isolation layer comprising a
non-gaseous material between the optical propagation region and the
optical loss structure. The optical propagation region further
comprises turning features configured to redirect the light out of
the optical propagation region. The at least one optical loss
structure is selected from the group consisting of a diffuser, a
polarizer, and a color filter. The optical isolation layer is
configured to increase an amount of light that is totally
internally reflected in the optical propagation region.
[0008] In certain embodiments, a method of manufacturing a display
device comprises providing an optical propagation region, providing
an optical loss structure, and disposing an optical isolation layer
between the optical propagation region and the optical loss
structure. The optical propagation region comprises a light guide
in which light is guided via total internal reflection. The optical
propagation region comprises turning features configured to
redirect the light out of the optical propagation region. The
optical loss structure is selected from the group consisting of a
diffuser, a polarizer, and a color filter. The optical isolation
layer increases the amount of light that is totally internally
reflected in the optical propagation region.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is an isometric view depicting a portion of one
embodiment of an interferometric modulator display in which a
movable reflective layer of a first interferometric modulator is in
a relaxed position and a movable reflective layer of a second
interferometric modulator is in an actuated position.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a system block diagram illustrating one embodiment
of an electronic device incorporating a 3.times.3 interferometric
modulator display.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a diagram of movable mirror position versus
applied voltage for one exemplary embodiment of an interferometric
modulator of FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 4 is an illustration of a set of row and column
voltages that may be used to drive an interferometric modulator
display.
[0013] FIG. 5A illustrates one exemplary frame of display data in
the 3.times.3 interferometric modulator display of FIG. 2.
[0014] FIG. 5B illustrates one exemplary timing diagram for row and
column signals that may be used to write the frame of FIG. 5A.
[0015] FIGS. 6A and 6B are system block diagrams illustrating an
embodiment of a visual display device comprising a plurality of
interferometric modulators.
[0016] FIG. 7A is a cross section of the device of FIG. 1.
[0017] FIG. 7B is a cross section of an alternative embodiment of
an interferometric modulator.
[0018] FIG. 7C is a cross section of another alternative embodiment
of an interferometric modulator.
[0019] FIG. 7D is a cross section of yet another alternative
embodiment of an interferometric modulator.
[0020] FIG. 7E is a cross section of an additional alternative
embodiment of an interferometric modulator.
[0021] FIG. 8A is a cross section of a portion of a display device
comprising a light guide adjacent to a diffuser.
[0022] FIG. 8B is a cross section of a portion of a display device
comprising a light guide spaced from a diffuser by an air gap.
[0023] FIG. 9A is a cross section of a portion of an example
embodiment of a display device comprising an optical propagation
region of a light guide decoupled from a diffuser by an optical
isolation layer.
[0024] FIG. 9B is a cross section of a portion of another example
embodiment of a display device comprising an optical propagation
region, which is formed by a light guide and a substrate, decoupled
from a diffuser by an optical isolation layer.
[0025] FIG. 10A is a cross section of the embodiment of FIG. 9A
comprising an optical propagation region decoupled from an optical
loss layer (e.g. diffuser) by an optical isolation layer.
[0026] FIG. 10B illustrates an example ray of light propagating
through an optical propagation region of the light guide at an
angle of incidence, .theta..sub.i.
[0027] FIG. 10C illustrates the average reflectivity at different
angles of incidence for different example optical isolation
layers.
[0028] FIG. 11 is a cross section of a portion of another example
embodiment of a display device wherein the optical loss layer and
the an optical isolation layer are integrated together in a volume
diffuser, optical isolation being provided by matrix material of
the volume diffuser and optical loss being provided by scattering
features in the matrix material.
[0029] FIG. 12 is a cross section of a portion of yet another
example embodiment of a display device wherein the optical loss
layer comprises a surface diffuser having surface variation and the
optical isolation layer comprises a layer that planarizes the
surface variation.
[0030] FIG. 13A is a cross section of a portion of still another
example embodiment of a display device comprising a light guide
having an optical propagation region decoupled from an optical loss
layer by an optical isolation layer, wherein the optical isolation
layer comprises a multi-layer stack.
[0031] FIG. 13B is an expanded cross section of the multi-layer
stack of FIG. 13A.
[0032] FIG. 13C illustrates the photoptic reflectivity at different
angles of incidence for an example embodiment of an optical
propagation region.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0033] The following detailed description is directed to certain
specific embodiments of the invention. However, the invention can
be embodied in a multitude of different ways. In this description,
reference is made to the drawings wherein like parts are designated
with like numerals throughout. As will be apparent from the
following description, the embodiments may be implemented in any
device that is configured to display an image, whether in motion
(e.g., video) or stationary (e.g., still image), and whether
textual or pictorial. More particularly, it is contemplated that
the embodiments may be implemented in or associated with a variety
of electronic devices such as, but not limited to, mobile
telephones, wireless devices, personal data assistants (PDAs),
hand-held or portable computers, GPS receivers/navigators, cameras,
MP3 players, camcorders, game consoles, wrist watches, clocks,
calculators, television monitors, flat panel displays, computer
monitors, auto displays (e.g., odometer display, etc.), cockpit
controls and/or displays, display of camera views (e.g., display of
a rear view camera in a vehicle), electronic photographs,
electronic billboards or signs, projectors, architectural
structures, packaging, and aesthetic structures (e.g., display of
images on a piece of jewelry). MEMS devices of similar structure to
those described herein can also be used in non-display applications
such as in electronic switching devices.
[0034] An optical isolation layer useful in the illumination
assembly of a display device is provided. The optical isolation
layer is disposed between an optical propagation region of a light
guide used for illumination and an optical loss structure or layer.
As used herein, the term "optical loss structure" or "optical loss
layer" is to be given its broadest possible meaning, including, but
not limited to, a feature that absorbs light or a feature that
redirects the propagation of light into directions undesired for
the purpose of propagating light in the optical propagation region.
For example, the optical loss structure would disrupt the total
internal reflection of at least some of the light guided within the
optical propagation region if disposed directly adjacent thereto.
The optical loss structure or layer may comprise, without
limitation, a diffuser, an absorber, a polarizer, a color filter,
and the like. The optical propagation region has upper and lower
interfaces that support propagation of light along the optical
propagation region. Without the optical isolation layer, the lower
interface might be formed by the optical propagation region and the
optical loss layer. In such a configuration, the optical loss layer
may disrupt reflection of light incident on the lower interface at
grazing incidence. The optical isolation layer is used to separate
the optical propagation region and the optical loss structure or
layer, thereby promoting reflection at grazing incidence. In
certain embodiments, for example, the optical isolation layer
causes light directed at the lower interface of the optical
propagation region at grazing incidence (e.g., angles greater than
about 40.degree.) to be reflected therefrom. Light is therefore
guided along the optical propagation region without substantial
disruption by the optical loss structure or layer. The optical
isolation layer also causes light directed at the lower interface
of the optical propagation region at low angles (e.g., angles
greater than about 40.degree.) to pass therethrough with little to
no reflection (e.g., less than 4%, less than 2%, less than 1%). As
used herein, the term "optical propagation region" may be used to
describe a light guide film or plate, a light guide film stack, a
substrate having a light guide film or a light guide film stack
formed thereon, etc. As used herein, the term "film" is to be given
its broadest ordinary meaning, including, but not limited to, a
material or plurality of materials having a thickness. In some
embodiments, the optical isolation layer comprises a material with
a lower index of refraction than the optical propagation region,
although the optical isolation layer may comprises material having
an index of refraction than the optical propagation region. In some
embodiments, the optical isolation layer comprises a multi-layer
interference stack. In some embodiments, the optical loss structure
and the optical isolation layer are integrated in a single layer.
In certain such embodiments, the layer comprises a material
including a plurality of particles or microstructures therein. The
microstructures can be designed to achieve selected optical
functions (e.g., diffuser, color filter, polarizer, etc.).
[0035] One interferometric modulator display embodiment comprising
an interferometric MEMS display element is illustrated in FIG. 1.
In these devices, the pixels are in either a bright or dark state.
In the bright ("on" or "open") state, the display element reflects
a large portion of incident visible light to a user. When in the
dark ("off" or "closed") state, the display element reflects little
incident visible light to the user, Depending on the embodiment,
the light reflectance properties of the "on" and "off" states may
be reversed. MEMS pixels can be configured to reflect predominantly
at selected colors, allowing for a color display in addition to
black and white.
[0036] FIG. 1 is an isometric view depicting two adjacent pixels in
a series of pixels of a visual display, wherein each pixel
comprises a MEMS interferometric modulator. In some embodiments, an
interferometric modulator display comprises a row/column array of
these interferometric modulators. Each interferometric modulator
includes a pair of reflective layers positioned at a variable and
controllable distance from each other to form a resonant optical
gap with at least one variable dimension. In one embodiment, one of
the reflective layers may be moved between two positions. In the
first position, referred to herein as the relaxed position, the
movable reflective layer is positioned at a relatively large
distance from a fixed partially reflective layer. In the second
position, referred to herein as the actuated position, the movable
reflective layer is positioned more closely adjacent to the
partially reflective layer. Incident light that reflects from the
two layers interferes constructively or destructively depending on
the position of the movable reflective layer, producing either an
overall reflective or non-reflective state for each pixel.
[0037] The depicted portion of the pixel array in FIG. 1 includes
two adjacent interferometric modulators 12a and 12b. In the
interferometric modulator 12a on the left, a movable reflective
layer 14a is illustrated in a relaxed position at a predetermined
distance from an optical stack 16a, which includes a partially
reflective layer. In the interferometric modulator 12b on the
right, the movable reflective layer 14b is illustrated in an
actuated position adjacent to the optical stack 16b.
[0038] The optical stacks 16a and 16b (collectively referred to as
optical stack 16), as referenced herein, typically comprise several
fused layers, which can include an electrode layer, such as indium
tin oxide (ITO), a partially reflective layer, such as chromium,
and a transparent dielectric. The optical stack 16 is thus
electrically conductive, partially transparent, and partially
reflective, and may be fabricated, for example, by depositing one
or more of the above layers onto a transparent substrate 20. The
partially reflective layer can be formed from a variety of
materials that are partially reflective such as various metals,
semiconductors, and dielectrics. The partially reflective layer can
be formed of one or more layers of materials, and each of the
layers can be formed of a single material or a combination of
materials.
[0039] In some embodiments, the layers of the optical stack 16 are
patterned into parallel strips, and may form row electrodes in a
display device as described further below. The movable reflective
layers 14a, 14b may be formed as a series of parallel strips of a
deposited metal layer or layers (orthogonal to the row electrodes
of 16a, 16b) deposited on top of posts 18 and an intervening
sacrificial material deposited between the posts 18. When the
sacrificial material is etched away, the movable reflective layers
14a, 14b are separated from the optical stacks 16a, 16b by a
defined gap 19. A highly conductive and reflective material such as
aluminum may be used for the reflective layers 14, and these strips
may form column electrodes in a display device.
[0040] With no applied voltage, the gap 19 remains between the
movable reflective layer 14a and optical stack 16a, with the
movable reflective layer 14a in a mechanically relaxed state, as
illustrated by the pixel 12a in FIG. 1. However, when a potential
difference is applied to a selected row and column, the capacitor
formed at the intersection of the row and column electrodes at the
corresponding pixel becomes charged, and electrostatic forces pull
the electrodes together. If the voltage is high enough, the movable
reflective layer 14 is deformed and is forced against the optical
stack 16. A dielectric layer (not illustrated in this Figure)
within the optical stack 16 may prevent shorting and control the
separation distance between layers 14 and 16, as illustrated by
pixel 12b on the right in FIG. 1. The behavior is the same
regardless of the polarity of the applied potential difference. In
this way, row/column actuation that can control the reflective vs.
non-reflective pixel states is analogous in many ways to that used
in conventional LCD and other display technologies.
[0041] FIGS. 2 through 5B illustrate one exemplary process and
system for using an array of interferometric modulators in a
display application.
[0042] FIG. 2 is a system block diagram illustrating one embodiment
of an electronic device that may incorporate aspects of the
invention. In the exemplary embodiment, the electronic device
includes a processor 21 which may be any general purpose single- or
multi-chip microprocessor such as an ARM, Pentium.RTM., Pentium
II.RTM., Pentium III.RTM., Pentium IV.RTM., Pentium.RTM. Pro, an
8051, a MIPS.RTM., a Power PC.RTM., an ALPHA.RTM., or any special
purpose microprocessor such as a digital signal processor,
microcontroller, or a programmable gate array. As is conventional
in the art, the processor 21 may be configured to execute one or
more software modules. In addition to executing an operating
system, the processor may be configured to execute one or more
software applications, including a web browser, a telephone
application, an email program, or any other software
application.
[0043] In one embodiment, the processor 21 is also configured to
communicate with an array driver 22. In one embodiment, the array
driver 22 includes a row driver circuit 24 and a column driver
circuit 26 that provide signals to a display array or panel 30. The
cross section of the array illustrated in FIG. 1 is shown by the
lines 1-1 in FIG. 2. For MEMS interferometric modulators, the
row/column actuation protocol may take advantage of a hysteresis
property of these devices illustrated in FIG. 3. It may require,
for example, a 10 volt potential difference to cause a movable
layer to deform from the relaxed state to the actuated state.
However, when the voltage is reduced from that value, the movable
layer maintains its state as the voltage drops back below 10 volts.
In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3, the movable layer does not
relax completely until the voltage drops below 2 volts. Thus, there
exists a window of applied voltage, about 3 to 7 V in the example
illustrated in FIG. 3, within which the device is stable in either
the relaxed or actuated state. This is referred to herein as the
"hysteresis window" or "stability window." For a display array
having the hysteresis characteristics of FIG. 3, the row/column
actuation protocol can be designed such that during row strobing,
pixels in the strobed row that are to be actuated are exposed to a
voltage difference of about 10 volts, and pixels that are to be
relaxed are exposed to a voltage difference of close to zero volts.
After the strobe, the pixels are exposed to a steady state voltage
difference of about 5 volts such that they remain in whatever state
the row strobe put them in. After being written, each pixel sees a
potential difference within the "stability window" of 3-7 volts in
this example. This feature makes the pixel design illustrated in
FIG. 1 stable under the same applied voltage conditions in either
an actuated or relaxed pre-existing state. Since each pixel of the
interferometric modulator, whether in the actuated or relaxed
state, is essentially a capacitor formed by the fixed and moving
reflective layers, this stable state can be held at a voltage
within the hysteresis window with almost no power dissipation.
Essentially no current flows into the pixel if the applied
potential is fixed
[0044] In typical applications, a display frame may be created by
asserting the set of column electrodes in accordance with the
desired set of actuated pixels in the first row. A row pulse is
then applied to the row 1 electrode, actuating the pixels
corresponding to the asserted column lines. The asserted set of
column electrodes is then changed to correspond to the desired set
of actuated pixels in the second row. A pulse is then applied to
the row 2 electrode, actuating the appropriate pixels in row 2 in
accordance with the asserted column electrodes. The row 1 pixels
are unaffected by the row 2 pulse, and remain in the state they
were set to during the row 1 pulse. This may be repeated for the
entire series of rows in a sequential fashion to produce the frame.
Generally, the frames are refreshed and/or updated with new display
data by continually repeating this process at some desired number
of frames per second. A wide variety of protocols for driving row
and column electrodes of pixel arrays to produce display frames are
also well known and may be used in conjunction with the present
invention.
[0045] FIGS. 4, 5A, and 5B illustrate one possible actuation
protocol for creating a display frame on the 3.times.3 array of
FIG. 2. FIG. 4 illustrates a possible set of column and row voltage
levels that may be used for pixels exhibiting the hysteresis curves
of FIG. 3. In the FIG. 4 embodiment, actuating a pixel involves
setting the appropriate column to -V.sub.bias, and the appropriate
row to +.DELTA.V, which may correspond to -5 volts and +5 volts,
respectively Relaxing the pixel is accomplished by setting the
appropriate column to +V.sub.bias, and the appropriate row to the
same +.DELTA.V, producing a zero volt potential difference across
the pixel. In those rows where the row voltage is held at zero
volts, the pixels are stable in whatever state they were originally
in, regardless of whether the column is at +V.sub.bias, or
-V.sub.bias. As is also illustrated in FIG. 4, it will be
appreciated that voltages of opposite polarity than those described
above can be used, e.g., actuating a pixel can involve setting the
appropriate column to +V.sub.bias, and the appropriate row to
-.DELTA.V. In this embodiment, releasing the pixel is accomplished
by setting the appropriate column to -V.sub.bias, and the
appropriate row to the same -.DELTA.V, producing a zero volt
potential difference across the pixel.
[0046] FIG. 5B is a timing diagram showing a series of row and
column signals applied to the 3.times.3 array of FIG. 2 which will
result in the display arrangement illustrated in FIG. 5A, where
actuated pixels are non-reflective. Prior to writing the frame
illustrated in FIG. 5A, the pixels can be in any state, and in this
example, all the rows are at 0 volts, and all the columns are at +5
volts. With these applied voltages, all pixels are stable in their
existing actuated or relaxed states.
[0047] In the FIG. 5A frame, pixels (1,1), (1,2), (2,2), (3,2) and
(3,3) are actuated. To accomplish this, during a "line time" for
row 1, columns 1 and 2 are set to -5 volts, and column 3 is set to
+5 volts. This does not change the state of any pixels, because all
the pixels remain in the 3-7 volt stability window. Row 1 is then
strobed with a pulse that goes from 0, up to 5 volts, and back to
zero. This actuates the (1,1) and (1,2) pixels and relaxes the
(1,3) pixel. No other pixels in the array are affected. To set row
2 as desired, column 2 is set to -5 volts, and columns 1 and 3 are
set to +5 volts. The same strobe applied to row 2 will then actuate
pixel (2,2) and relax pixels (2,1) and (2,3). Again, no other
pixels of the array are affected. Row 3 is similarly set by setting
columns 2 and 3 to -5 volts, and column 1 to +5 volts. The row 3
strobe sets the row 3 pixels as shown in FIG. 5A. After writing the
frame, the row potentials are zero, and the column potentials can
remain at either +5 or -5 volts, and the display is then stable in
the arrangement of FIG. 5A. It will be appreciated that the same
procedure can be employed for arrays of dozens or hundreds of rows
and columns. It will also be appreciated that the timing, sequence,
and levels of voltages used to perform row and column actuation can
be varied widely within the general principles outlined above, and
the above example is exemplary only, and any actuation voltage
method can be used with the systems and methods described
herein.
[0048] FIGS. 6A and 6B are system block diagrams illustrating an
embodiment of a display device 40. The display device 40 can be,
for example, a cellular or mobile telephone. However, the same
components of display device 40 or slight variations thereof are
also illustrative of various types of display devices such as
televisions and portable media players.
[0049] The display device 40 includes a housing 41, a display 30,
an antenna 43, a speaker 45, an input device 48, and a microphone
46. The housing 41 is generally formed from any of a variety of
manufacturing processes as are well known to those of skill in the
art, including injection molding and vacuum forming. In addition,
the housing 41 may be made from any of a variety of materials,
including, but not limited to, plastic, metal, glass, rubber, and
ceramic, or a combination thereof. In one embodiment, the housing
41 includes removable portions (not shown) that may be interchanged
with other removable portions of different color, or containing
different logos, pictures, or symbols.
[0050] The display 30 of exemplary display device 40 may be any of
a variety of displays, including a bi-stable display, as described
herein. In other embodiments, the display 30 includes a flat-panel
display, such as plasma, EL, OLED, STN LCD, or TFT LCD as described
above, or a non-flat-panel display, such as a CRT or other tube
device, as is well known to those of skill in the art. However, for
purposes of describing the present embodiment, the display 30
includes an interferometric modulator display, as described
herein.
[0051] The components of one embodiment of exemplary display device
40 are schematically illustrated in FIG. 6B. The illustrated
exemplary display device 40 includes a housing 41 and can include
additional components at least partially enclosed therein. For
example, in one embodiment, the exemplary display device 40
includes a network interface 27 that includes an antenna 43, which
is coupled to a transceiver 47. The transceiver 47 is connected to
a processor 21, which is connected to conditioning hardware 52. The
conditioning hardware 52 may be configured to condition a signal
(e.g., filter a signal). The conditioning hardware 52 is connected
to a speaker 45 and a microphone 46. The processor 21 is also
connected to an input device 48 and a driver controller 29. The
driver controller 29 is coupled to a frame buffer 28 and to an
array driver 22, which in turn is coupled to a display array 30. A
power supply 50 provides power to all components as required by the
particular exemplary display device 40 design.
[0052] The network interface 27 includes the antenna 43 and the
transceiver 47 so that the exemplary display device 40 can
communicate with one or more devices over a network. In one
embodiment, the network interface 27 may also have some processing
capabilities to relieve requirements of the processor 2L The
antenna 43 is any antenna known to those of skill in the art for
transmitting and receiving signals. In one embodiment, the antenna
transmits and receives RF signals according to the IEEE 802.11
standard, including IEEE 802.11(a), (b), or (g). In another
embodiment, the antenna transmits and receives RF signals according
to the BLUETOOTH standard. In the case of a cellular telephone, the
antenna is designed to receive CDMA, GSM, AMPS, or other known
signals that are used to communicate within a wireless cell phone
network. The transceiver 47 pre-processes the signals received from
the antenna 43 so that they may be received by and further
manipulated by the processor 21. The transceiver 47 also processes
signals received from the processor 21 so that they may be
transmitted from the exemplary display device 40 via the antenna
43.
[0053] In an alternative embodiment, the transceiver 47 can be
replaced by a receiver. In yet another alternative embodiment,
network interface 27 can be replaced by an image source, which can
store or generate image data to be sent to the processor 21. For
example, the image source can be a digital video disc (DVD) or a
hard-disc drive that contains image data, or a software module that
generates image data.
[0054] Processor 21 generally controls the overall operation of the
exemplary display device 40. The processor 21 receives data, such
as compressed image data from the network interface 27 or an image
source, and processes the data into raw image data or into a format
that is readily processed into raw image data. The processor 21
then sends the processed data to the driver controller 29 or to
frame buffer 28 for storage. Raw data typically refers to the
information that identifies the image characteristics at each
location within an image. For example, such image characteristics
can include color, saturation, and gray-scale level.
[0055] In one embodiment, the processor 21 includes a
microcontroller, CPU, or logic unit to control operation of the
exemplary display device 40. Conditioning hardware 52 generally
includes amplifiers and filters for transmitting signals to the
speaker 45, and for receiving signals from the microphone 46.
Conditioning hardware 52 may be discrete components within the
exemplary display device 40, or may be incorporated within the
processor 21 or other components.
[0056] The driver controller 29 takes the raw image data generated
by the processor 21 either directly from the processor 21 or from
the frame buffer 28 and reformats the raw image data appropriately
for high speed transmission to the array driver 22. Specifically,
the driver controller 29 reformats the raw image data into a data
flow having a raster-like format, such that it has a time order
suitable for scanning across the display array 30. Then the driver
controller 29 sends the formatted information to the array driver
22. Although a driver controller 29, such as a LCD controller, is
often associated with the system processor 21 as a stand-alone
Integrated Circuit (IC), such controllers may be implemented in
many ways. They may be embedded in the processor 21 as hardware,
embedded in the processor 21 as software, or fully integrated in
hardware with the array driver 22.
[0057] Typically, the array driver 22 receives the formatted
information from the driver controller 29 and reformats the video
data into a parallel set of waveforms that are applied many times
per second to the hundreds and sometimes thousands of leads coming
from the display's x-y matrix of pixels.
[0058] In one embodiment, the driver controller 29, array driver
22, and display array 30 are appropriate for any of the types of
displays described herein. For example, in one embodiment, driver
controller 29 is a conventional display controller or a bi-stable
display controller (e.g., an interferometric modulator controller).
In another embodiment, array driver 22 is a conventional driver or
a bi-stable display driver (e.g., an interferometric modulator
display). In one embodiment, a driver controller 29 is integrated
with the array driver 22. Such an embodiment is common in highly
integrated systems such as cellular phones, watches, and other
small area displays. In yet another embodiment, display array 30 is
a typical display array or a bi-stable display array (e.g., a
display including an array of interferometric modulators).
[0059] The input device 48 allows a user to control the operation
of the exemplary display device 40. In one embodiment, input device
48 includes a keypad, such as a QWERTY keyboard or a telephone
keypad, a button, a switch, a touch-sensitive screen, or a
pressure- or heat-sensitive membrane. In one embodiment, the
microphone 46 is an input device for the exemplary display device
40. When the microphone 46 is used to input data to the device,
voice commands may be provided by a user for controlling operations
of the exemplary display device 40.
[0060] Power supply 50 can include a variety of energy storage
devices as are well known in the art. For example, in one
embodiment, power supply 50 is a rechargeable battery, such as a
nickel-cadmium battery or a lithium ion battery. In another
embodiment, power supply 50 is a renewable energy source, a
capacitor, or a solar cell including a plastic solar cell, and
solar-cell paint. In another embodiment, power supply 50 is
configured to receive power from a wall outlet.
[0061] In some embodiments, control programmability resides, as
described above, in a driver controller which can be located in
several places in the electronic display system. In some
embodiments, control programmability resides in the array driver
22. Those of skill in the art will recognize that the
above-described optimizations may be implemented in any number of
hardware and/or software components and in various
configurations.
[0062] The details of the structure of interferometric modulators
that operate in accordance with the principles set forth above may
vary widely. For example, FIGS. 7A-7E illustrate five different
embodiments of the movable reflective layer 14 and its supporting
structures. FIG. 7A is a cross section of the embodiment of FIG. 1,
where a strip of metal material 14 is deposited on orthogonally
extending supports 18. In FIG. 7B, the moveable reflective layer 14
is attached to supports at the corners only, on tethers 32. In FIG.
7C, the moveable reflective layer 14 is suspended from a deformable
layer 34, which may comprise a flexible metal. The deformable layer
34 connects, directly or indirectly, to the substrate 20 around the
perimeter of the deformable layer 34. These connections are herein
referred to as support posts. The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7D
has support post plugs 42 upon which the deformable layer 34 rests.
The movable reflective layer 14 remains suspended over the gap, as
in FIGS. 7A-7C, but the deformable layer 34 does not form the
support posts by filling holes between the deformable layer 34 and
the optical stack 16. Rather, the support posts are formed of a
planarization material, which is used to form support post plugs
42. The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7E is based on the
embodiment shown in FIG. 7D, but may also be adapted to work with
any of the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 7A-7C, as well as
additional embodiments not shown. In the embodiment shown in FIG.
7E, an extra layer of metal or other conductive material has been
used to form a bus structure 44. This allows signal routing along
the back of the interferometric modulators, eliminating a number of
electrodes that may otherwise have had to be formed on the
substrate 20.
[0063] In embodiments such as those shown in FIG. 7, the
interferometric modulators function as direct-view devices, in
which images are viewed from the front side of the transparent
substrate 20, the side opposite to that upon which the modulator is
arranged. In these embodiments, the reflective layer 14 optically
shields the portions of the interferometric modulator on the side
of the reflective layer opposite the substrate 20, including the
deformable layer 34. This allows the shielded areas to be
configured and operated upon without negatively affecting the image
quality. Such shielding allows the bus structure 44 in FIG. 7E,
which provides the ability to separate the optical properties of
the modulator from the electromechanical properties of the
modulator, such as addressing and the movements that result from
that addressing. This separable modulator architecture allows the
structural design and materials used for the electromechanical
aspects and the optical aspects of the modulator to be selected and
to function independently of each other. Moreover, the embodiments
shown in FIGS. 7C-7E have additional benefits deriving from the
decoupling of the optical properties of the reflective layer 14
from its mechanical properties, which are carried out by the
deformable layer 34. This allows the structural design and
materials used for the reflective layer 14 to be optimized with
respect to the optical properties, and the structural design and
materials used for the deformable layer 34 to be optimized with
respect to desired mechanical properties.
[0064] An internal source of illumination may be provided for
illumination of reflective display devices in dark ambient
environments. In certain embodiments, integration of an
illumination source in display devices comprising a plurality of
display elements (e.g., interferometric modulators) includes
laminating a film or film stack providing some or all of the
optical functions to a substrate. Light can be injected into this
film or film stack and can propagate therein across the face of the
display device. In certain embodiments, for example, a light guide
film or film stack may be laminated to a substrate using a
light-diffusive pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA). The light guide
film or film stack forms a "light guide" having an "optical
propagation region" into which light is injected and through which
the light propagates along the length of the light guide. In
certain embodiments, the optical propagation region comprises a
light guide film or film stack and does not include the substrate.
In other embodiments, the optical propagation region comprises a
light guide film or film stack and a substrate. Regardless of the
particular configuration, the optical propagation region includes
upper and lower interfaces that reflect light incident thereon at
grazing incidence to support the propagation of light along the
length of the light guide. In some embodiments, the light guide
includes a "turning film" (e.g., "prismatic film") that forms the
upper interface distal to the display elements that is configured
to reflect (or "turn") rays propagating in the light guide towards
the display elements.
[0065] When the optical propagation region is immediately adjacent
to display elements of a display device, the reflectivity of light
rays directed at grazing incidence onto the lower interface between
the optical propagation region and the display elements may be
disadvantageously reduced. Such reduced reflectivity can result in
reduced illumination, color, contrast, and/or brightness uniformity
of the display device. Accordingly, in some embodiments, an optical
isolation layer is introduced between the optical propagation
region and the display elements in order to increase the
reflectivity of the light at grazing incidence. The upper and lower
interfaces separate the light guide from two materials which have
refractive indices smaller than the smallest refractive index of
the elements comprising the optical propagation region. In this
application, grazing incidence is defined for rays propagating
inside the optical propagation region at an angle that is larger
than the largest of the two angles describing total internal
reflection ("TIR") at each of the two interfaces, so that at
grazing incidence the propagating rays experience total internal
reflection at both the upper and lower interfaces of the optical
propagation region.
[0066] In various embodiments, the optical isolation layer is
configured to reflect more than about 20%, about 25%, about 30%,
about 35%, about 40%, about 45%, about 50%, about 55%, about 60%,
about 65%, about 70%, about 75%, about 80%, about 85%, about 90%,
about 95%, or higher of light incident on the optical isolation
layer from within the optical propagation region at angles of
incidence greater than about 40.degree., about 50.degree., about
55.degree., about 60.degree., about 65.degree., about 70.degree.,
about 75.degree., about 80.degree., about 85.degree., or higher
relative to the normal to the lower interface of the optical
propagation region. A "high" angle of incidence is, in some
embodiments, at or above the largest TIR angle corresponding to the
two interfaces (e.g., about 68.degree. if the two TIR angles are
about 39.degree. and 68.degree.) whereupon reflection of the
incident light approaches 100%. Light at "lower" angles is partly
reflected and partly refracted when it interacts with one of the
interfaces of the optical propagation region where the angle of
incidence is smaller than the total internal reflection angle of
said interface. Other combinations of reflectivity of the optical
isolation layer and angles of incidence are also possible.
[0067] In some embodiments, in addition to providing relatively
high reflectivity for light rays at grazing incidence, the optical
isolation layer is adapted to provide high transmittance of light
rays at low angles of incidence (e.g., at the upper and/or lower
interfaces). Thus, light, for example redirected by a turning film
or originating from the ambient, can pass freely through the
optical isolation layer and into the display elements with reduced
reflection from the surfaces of the optical isolation layer. In
certain such embodiments, light from the display elements (e.g.,
reflected by interferometric modulators) can pass freely through
the optical isolation layer and through the surfaces thereof
without substantial Fresnel reflection (e.g., less than about 4%,
3%, 2%, 1%, 0.5%, 0.3%, 0.1%, etc.).
[0068] Interferometric modulators are generally specular in nature,
so certain embodiments of display devices comprising
interferometric modulators preferably comprise a light diffusive
element (or "diffuser"). When a diffuser or other optical loss
structure is adjacent to an optical light guide, light propagating
through the light guide at grazing incidence, e.g., at angles
greater than 40.degree. (the "light guided modes"), which should be
reflected within the light guide by total internal reflection, may
instead be scattered one or multiple times and redirected into
non-light guided modes, or absorbed due to the intrinsic material
absorption of certain elements inside the optical system with which
light may interact. FIG. 8A schematically illustrates a
cross-sectional portion of a display device 80 comprising an array
of display elements 81 (e.g., interferometric modulators), a
substrate 82 (e.g., comprising glass, plastic, etc.), an optical
loss layer or structure 83 (e.g., comprising a diffuser, an
absorber, a polarizer, a color filter, etc.), and a light guide 84.
Because the light guide 84 is immediately adjacent to the optical
loss layer 83, the reflectivity of light rays at grazing incidence
on a lower interface of the optical propagation region between the
light guide 84 and the optical loss layer 83 can be
disadvantageously reduced. An example of the undesired effects that
may be caused by adjacent optical loss layers 83 is that the light
propagating in the light guide 84 may interact with an optical loss
layer 83 having scattering properties, which may reduce the total
amount of useful light carried by the light guide. Additionally,
rays may be scattered at angles that are absorbed more strongly by
certain components of the display device 80 (e.g., the display
elements 81), which can reduce the illumination, brightness
uniformity, color, and/or contrast of the display device 80. In the
case where the display elements 81 comprise interferometric
modulators, portions of the light scattered into the
interferometric cavities may be absorbed regardless of the state of
the interferometric modulators, which can result in a loss of light
that reduces the brightness, uniformity, color, and/or contrast of
the display device 80. The presence of an optical loss layer 83
directly adjacent to the light guide 84 can thereby cause unwanted
scattering, which can disrupt the light propagation, or cause
unwanted absorption, which can reduce uniformity and/or
brightness.
[0069] One way to increase the internal reflection of light
propagating at angles of grazing incidence is to provide an air gap
between the optical loss layer 83 and the light guide 84. FIG. 8B
illustrates a portion of a display device 86 in which the optical
loss layer 83 is separated from the light guide 84 by an air gap
85. The index of refraction of air is 1.0, which is less than the
index of refraction of the light guide 84. Thus, light propagating
through the light guide 84 at grazing incidence undergoes total
internal reflection and does not interact with an adjacent optical
loss layer 83. The light may thus reflect back into, and propagate
through, the light guide 84, thereby providing a more illuminated
display device 86. However, an air gap 85 can increase the
thickness of the display device 86 (e.g., by several hundred
microns (.mu.m)) and can reduce the contrast of the display device
86. Forming the air gap 85 may involve increased complexity.
Additionally, one or more anti-reflective coatings on one or more
sides of the air gap 85 may be required (e.g., to achieve a certain
contrast level), thereby significantly increasing the costs of
manufacturing.
[0070] Accordingly, in some embodiments, an optical isolation layer
(or "optical isolation region") comprising a film or a material is
introduced between the optical propagation region and the optical
loss layer (e.g., the diffuser) in order to increase the
reflectivity of the light rays at grazing incidence. In various
embodiments in which the index of refraction of the material of the
optical isolation layer is different (e.g., lower) than the index
of refraction of the optical propagation region, an interface
between the optical propagation region and the optical loss layer
total internally reflects light incident thereon at grazing angles
(e.g., angles greater than the critical angle).
[0071] In certain embodiments, the optical propagation region
comprises a planar or substantially flat light guide and the
optical isolation layer is immediately adjacent to the light guide.
In various embodiments, the optical isolation layer is adapted to
reflect more than about 20%, about 25%, about 30%, about 35%, about
40%, about 45%, about 50%, about 55%, about 60%, about 65%, about
70%, about 75%, about 80%, about 85%, about 90%, about 95%, or
higher of light incident on the optical isolation layer from within
the optical propagation region at angles greater than about
40.degree., about 50.degree., about 55.degree., about 60.degree.,
about 65.degree., about 70.degree., about 75.degree., about
80.degree., about 85.degree., or higher relative to normal to the
lower interface of the optical propagation region. In certain
embodiments, the optical isolation layer is adapted to reflect more
than about 40% of light incident on the lower interface at angles
greater than about 70.degree. relative to normal to the optical
propagation region. In various embodiments, the optical isolation
layer is preferably between about 100 nanometers (nm) and 100
.mu.m, more preferably between about 100 nm and 10 .mu.m, or even
more preferably between about 100 nm and 3 .mu.m. Other thicknesses
are also possible.
[0072] In some embodiments, in addition to providing relatively
high reflectivity for light rays at grazing incidence, the optical
isolation layer is adapted to provide high transmittance of light
rays at low angles of incidence at the lower interface. In
embodiments in which the index of refraction of the material of the
optical isolation layer is substantially close to, but is less
than, the index of refraction of the optical propagation region,
the interface between the optical propagation region and the
optical loss layer is essentially transparent for light incident
thereon at lower angles (e.g., angles close to normal to the
interface, such as turned towards the interface by a turning film
or from the ambient) and has reduce Fresnel reflection. Thus,
light, for example redirected by a turning film at the upper
interface or from the ambient propagating through the upper
interface, can pass freely through the lower interface. In certain
embodiments, light, for example redirected by a turning film on an
upper interface or from the ambient propagating through the upper
interface, can pass freely through the lower interface of the
optical isolation layer and into display elements proximate to a
side of the lower interface. In certain such embodiments, light
from the display elements (e.g., reflected by interferometric
modulators) can pass freely through the optical isolation layer and
through the upper interface.
[0073] In certain embodiments, decoupling an optical loss layer
(e.g., a diffusing layer or absorbing layer) from an optical
propagation region without utilizing an air gap (e.g., using
instead an optical isolation layer) can advantageously increase the
amount of light that propagates through the optical propagation
region without substantially increasing thickness or significantly
increasing the costs of manufacturing. By allowing light to
propagate through an optical propagation region without losses due
to an adjacent optical loss layer, the performance of the optical
propagation region can be increased tremendously compared to
illumination apparatuses in which the optical loss layer is
directly optically coupled to the optical propagation region.
Moreover, such embodiments allow the efficient integration of a
diffuser with a light guide, thereby enabling development of a
light guide that performs independently of the state of the
underlying display elements and/or optics. Other examples of
optical parameters that can be changed without affecting the
performance of the light guide include, for example, optical
buffering the interferometric modulator, differences in the
reflectivity of the interferometric modulator of different
architectures, varying display content and brightness level, etc.
Accordingly, the light guide can be treated as a "drop-in" module
because the optical functionality of the light guide is decoupled
from the state of the array of display elements onto which it is
laminated or added. Although described herein largely in terms of
diffusers for display devices comprising interferometric modulators
and light guides, it will be appreciated that an illumination
apparatus comprising an optical propagation region decoupled from
an optical loss region (e.g., including polarizers, diffusers,
color filters, absorbers, and the like) may be applied to a wide
variety of display technologies (e.g., reflective liquid crystal,
transmissive liquid crystal, transflective liquid crystal,
electrophoretic, etc.).
[0074] When not optically decoupled from the optical propagation
region, a diffuser can be responsible for a loss of optical energy
in the optical propagation region (e.g., greater than about 25%,
greater than about 50%, greater than about 75%, etc. depending on
the length of the display device, the thickness of the diffuser,
the thickness of the optical propagation region, and light
diffusion strength (i.e., Haze level). However, the practical
benefits of optically decoupling an optical propagation region from
an optical loss layer is even higher because the combined optical
losses of the light guided modes to both the optical loss layer
(e.g., diffuser, absorbing layer) as well as the display elements
(e.g., interferometric modulators) can be very severe, and
decoupling the optical propagation region (e.g., light guide film
or film stack, light guide plus substrate, etc.) from the optical
isolation layer implicitly decouples the optical propagation region
from the display elements, as well.
[0075] FIG. 9A illustrates a portion of a display device 90
comprising an array of display elements 91 (e.g., interferometric
modulators), a substrate 92 (e.g., comprising glass, plastic,
etc.), and an illumination apparatus comprising an optical loss
layer 93 (e.g., comprising a diffuser, an absorber, a polarizer, a
color filter, etc.), and an optical propagation region 97
comprising a light guide 94. In certain embodiments, the substrate
92 provides a means for supporting the display elements 91 and/or
certain other layers during fabrication of the display elements 91.
The illumination apparatus of the display device 90 further
comprises an optical isolation layer 95 between the optical
propagation region 97 and the optical loss layer 93. The optical
isolation layer 95 comprises a material. In some embodiments, the
material is a solid. In some embodiments, the material is a liquid
(e.g., a viscous liquid). In some embodiments, the material is
gel-like. The optical isolation layer 95 is configured such that
light propagating through the optical propagation region 97 at
grazing incidence does not interact with the optical loss layer 93,
but also such that light propagating through the optical
propagation region 97 at low angles (e.g., due to being turned
towards the array of display elements 91 by a turning film of the
light guide 94 or from the ambient) may interact with the optical
loss layer 93, the substrate 92, and the array of display elements
91.
[0076] Integrating the optical isolation layer 95 within the
display device 90 allows it to be formed before, during, and/or
after manufacture of the display elements 91 on the substrate 92.
For example, in manufacturing an interferometric modulator display,
the optical loss layer 93 may be deposited onto the substrate 92 as
a first step of the manufacturing. It will be appreciated that the
substrate 92 can act as a means for supporting the display elements
91 and/or certain other layers during fabrication in such
embodiments. Coating processes including spin coating, blade
coating, spray coating, fluid dispensing, film coating, etc. may be
employed. Deposition may be by suitable deposition techniques,
including, but not limited to, chemical vapor deposition (CVD)
and/or physical vapor deposition (PVD). The optical loss layer 93
may also be laminated to the substrate 92 in certain embodiments.
In some embodiments, the optical isolation layer 95 is applied onto
the light guide 94, and then the stack including the optical
isolation layer 95 and the light guide 94 is applied onto the
substrate 92. Pressure sensitive adhesive may be used. In some
embodiments in which the optical loss layer 93 comprises a
diffuser, the diffuser comprises an adhesive matrix with scatter
particles incorporated therein.
[0077] The optical isolation layer 95 may be formed on the optical
loss layer 93. For example, in manufacturing an interferometric
modulator display, the optical isolation layer 95 may be deposited
or applied onto the optical loss layer 93 on the substrate 92. It
will be appreciated that the substrate 92 can act as a means for
supporting the display elements 91 and/or certain other layers
during fabrication in such embodiments. In embodiments in which the
optical isolation layer 95 comprises multiple layers of material,
each layer may be sequentially deposited.
[0078] The optical isolation layer 95 may also be integrated with
the optical loss layer 93, for example in the structure 98 of FIG.
9A and the structure 118 described below with respect to FIG. 11.
For example, in manufacturing an interferometric modulator display,
the integrated structure 98 comprising the optical isolation layer
95 and the optical loss layer 93 may be deposited onto the opposite
side of the substrate 92 as the display elements 91. It will be
appreciated that the substrate 92 can act as a means for supporting
the display elements 91 and/or certain other layers during
fabrication in such embodiments. In some embodiments, the
integrated structure 98 is applied onto the light guide 94, and
then the stack including the integrated structure 98 and the light
guide 94 is applied onto the substrate 92 or onto a display device
comprising the substrate 92 and display elements 91. In some
embodiments, the integrated structure 98 has dual optical
functionality: optical isolation and optical loss. In certain such
embodiments, the integrated structure 98 comprises a
multi-functional pressure sensitive adhesive which attaches the
light guide 94 to the side of the substrate 92 that is opposite
from the display elements side 91
[0079] After formation of the optical isolation layer 95, ordinary
deposition and patterning steps used to form display elements
(e.g., interferometric modulators, as described above) may be
performed to fabricate the display elements 91 on the other side of
the substrate 92, which can be used for structural support of the
display elements 91 and/or certain other layers during fabrication.
Upon completion of manufacturing the display elements 91, the light
guide 94 may be attached (e.g., laminated, embossed, applied, etc.)
to the opposite side of the substrate 92 on the optical isolation
layer 95. For example, the light guide 94 including a turning film
may be laminated onto the substrate 92. For another example, the
light guide 94 may be attached by first laminating a base film (or
layer or multi-layer stack) to the substrate 92 and subsequently
laminating a prismatic film to the base film. For yet another
example, the light guide 94 may be attached by first laminating a
prismatic film onto a base film (or layer or multi-layer stack) and
subsequently laminating the base film with the prismatic film
thereon onto the substrate 92. In other embodiments, a different
order of steps may be used. For example, in some embodiments, the
display elements 91 (e.g., interferometric modulators) can be
formed prior to either or both the optical loss layer 93 and the
optical isolation layer 95. Other variations are also possible.
[0080] FIG. 9B illustrates a portion of a display device 96
comprising an array of display elements 91 (e.g., interferometric
modulators), and an illumination apparatus comprising a substrate
92 (e.g., comprising glass, plastic, etc.), an optical loss layer
93, and a light guide 94. In such an embodiment, the optical
propagation region 97 comprises the light guide film or film stack
94 and the substrate 92. In certain embodiments, the substrate 92
provides a means for supporting the display elements 91 and/or
certain other layers during fabrication of the display elements 91.
The optical loss layer 93 is adjacent to the array of display
elements 91, so the optical isolation layer 95 is between the
substrate 92 and the optical loss layer 93. As such, the embodiment
illustrated in FIG. 9B also comprises an optical propagation region
97 decoupled from an optical loss layer 93 and consequently also
decoupled from the display elements 91.
[0081] In certain embodiments, an illumination apparatus comprising
a substrate 92 (e.g., comprising glass, plastic, etc.), an optical
loss layer 93, and a light guide 94. Such an apparatus would look
like FIG. 9B if the optical isolation layer 95 was removed and if
the substrate 92 was thus adjacent to the optical loss layer 93.
The substrate 92 is disposed between the optical loss layer 93 and
the light guide 94 such that the substrate 92 acts as an optical
isolation layer. For example, the substrate 92 is configured such
that light propagating through the optical light guide 94 at
grazing incidence does not interact with the optical loss layer 93,
but also such that light propagating through the light guide 94 at
low angles may be transmitted through with the optical loss layer
93, the substrate 92, and be incident on the array of display
elements 91. In such embodiments, the substrate 92 comprises a
material having an index of refraction that is lower than the index
of refraction of the light guide 94. For example, in embodiments in
which the light guide 94 has an index of refraction of about 1.59,
the substrate 92 may comprise quartz (having an index of refraction
of about 1.45), aluminosilicate display glass (having an index of
refraction of about 1.52), etc. As discussed below with respect to
FIG. 10C, as the difference between the indices of refraction of
the light guide 94 and the optical isolation layer, which is the
substrate 92 in this embodiment, increases, the range of angles of
incidence that may be totally internally reflected increases. In
such embodiments, the separate optical isolation layer 95 discussed
above may be eliminated and the substrate may be used as the
optical isolation layer, advantageously reducing costs. However,
embodiments including a separate optical isolation layer 95 may
provide more flexibility in selection of materials.
[0082] As described above, integrating the optical isolation layer
95 within the display device 96 allows it to be formed before,
during, and/or after manufacture of the display elements 91 on the
substrate 92. In certain embodiments, the optical isolation layer
95 is formed on the light guide 94 so that the entire stack above
the substrate 92 can be applied in one step to produce the display
device 96. In certain embodiments of manufacturing an
interferometric modulator display device, the optical isolation
layer 95 is deposited onto the substrate 92 before the light guide
94 is applied onto the substrate 92. It will be appreciated that
the substrate 92 can act as a means for supporting the display
elements 91 and/or certain other layers during fabrication in such
embodiments. In embodiments in which the optical isolation layer 95
comprises multiple layers of material (e.g., a plurality of films),
each layer may be sequentially deposited. After formation of the
optical isolation layer 95, the optical loss layer 93 may be
disposed on the optical isolation layer 95 using deposition or
lamination techniques, for example, as described above. After
formation of the optical loss layer 93, ordinary deposition and
patterning steps used to form display elements (e.g.,
interferometric modulators, as described above) may be performed to
fabricate the display elements 91 on the optical loss layer 93. The
light guide 94 may be attached (e.g., laminated, embossed, applied,
etc.) on the opposite side of the substrate 92 either before,
after, or during manufacturing the display elements 91. For
example, the light guide 94 including a turning film may be
laminated onto the substrate 92. For another example, the light
guide 94 may be attached by first laminating a base film (or layer
or multi-layer stack) to the substrate 92 and subsequently
laminating a prismatic film to the base film. For yet another
example, the light guide 94 may be attached by first laminating a
prismatic film onto a base film (or layer or multi-layer stack) and
subsequently laminating the base film with the prismatic film
thereon onto the substrate 92. Other variations are also possible.
After formation of the light guide 94 (e.g., by attachment), the
light guide 94 and the substrate 92 form the optical propagation
region 97. Other approaches are possible. In certain embodiments,
for example, the optical loss layer and/or the optical isolation
layer are formed after forming the display elements (e.g.,
interferometric modulators).
[0083] As described above for the structure 98 of FIG. 9A, the
optical isolation layer 95 may be integrated with the optical loss
layer 93, for example in the structure 98 of FIGS. 9A and 9B and
the structure 118 described below with respect to FIG. 11. For
example, in manufacturing an interferometric modulator display, the
optical isolation layer integrated with the optical loss layer 98
may be deposited onto the same side of the substrate 92 as the
display elements 91. It will be appreciated that the substrate 92
can act as a means for supporting the display elements 91 and/or
certain other layers during fabrication in such embodiments.
[0084] FIG. 10A illustrates a portion of an example embodiment of
an illumination apparatus 100 comprising an optical isolation layer
104 between an optical propagation region 106 and an optical loss
layer 102. The optical loss layer 102 may comprise a diffuser,
color filter, absorber, polarizer, or other type of layer. The
optical isolation layer 104 comprises a material. In some
embodiments, the material is a solid. In some embodiments, the
material is a liquid (e.g., a viscous liquid). In some embodiments,
the material is gel-like. In some embodiments, the optical
isolation layer 104 comprises a substrate. The optical propagation
region 106 may comprise, for example, a light guide (e.g., as
illustrated in FIG. 9A), a light guide and a substrate (e.g., as
illustrated in FIG. 9B), a light guide with a turning film
laminated thereon, adhesive layers, and the like. When the optical
propagation region 106 comprises a light guide film, the light
guide film may comprise a material such as polycarbonate, glass
(e.g., aluminosilicate, borosilicate, etc.), and the like.
Polycarbonate has an index of refraction of about 1.59 at
wavelengths in the visible spectrum, and glass typically has an
index of refraction of about 1.52 at visible wavelengths. In order
to increase the reflection (e.g., by enabling total internal
reflection) of light rays at grazing incidence into the optical
propagation region 106, the optical isolation layer 104 has an
index of refraction that is lower than the index of refraction of
the optical propagation region 106. The difference in indices of
refraction between the optical propagation region 106 and the
optical isolation layer 104 causes light rays at grazing incidence
to be totally internally reflected from the lower interface 105
between the optical propagation region 106 and the optical
isolation layer 104. Thus, when the optical propagation region 106
comprises polycarbonate, the optical isolation layer 104 may have
an index of refraction lower than about 1.59, and when the optical
propagation region 106 comprises glass, the optical isolation layer
104 may have an index of refraction lower than about 1.52. The
optical isolation layer 104 may, for example, comprise silicones
(e.g., optically clear silicone-based adhesives) having indices of
refraction between 1.4 and 1.45, nanoporous glassy materials (e.g.,
nanoporous silica, spin-on glasses, etc.) having indices of
refraction between 1.4 and 1.45, fluoropolymers (e.g., amorphous
transparent fluoropolymers such as DuPont NC-211) having good
adhesion to glass and plastics and indices of refraction between
about 1.3 and 1.4, and others (e.g., aerogels having indices of
refraction less than about 1.2 and acrylate-based materials having
indices of refraction of about 1.47). Acrylate-based materials are
preferred for low costs and ease of integration, but materials with
an index of refraction that is substantially less than the index of
refraction of the optical propagation region 106 (e.g., having an
index of refraction difference of about 0.1 or more) are preferred
for optical characteristics, as described below with respect to
FIG. 10C. Other materials can also be used.
[0085] Light propagating through the material of the optical
isolation layer 104 at low angles of incidence (e.g., due to being
turned by a light turning film of the optical propagation region
106 or from the ambient) preferably loses less than about 4% of its
intensity or flux, more preferably loses less than about 2% of its
intensity or flux, even more preferably loses less than about 1% of
its intensity or flux, still more preferably loses less than about
0.6% of its intensity or flux, yet still more preferably loses less
than about 0.2% of its intensity or flux, or yet even still more
preferably loses less than about 0.1% of its intensity or flux.
This loss may be due, for example, to Fresnel reflection as a
result of the mismatch in index of refraction. It will be
appreciated that the greater the difference in indices of
refraction between the optical isolation layer 104 and the optical
propagation region 106, the greater the amount of reflectance of
light at low angles of incidence. For example, a polycarbonate
optical propagation region 106 (having an index of refraction of
about 1.59) coupled to an acrylate-based optical isolation layer
104 (having an index of refraction of about 1.47) has a
polarization-averaged reflectivity of about 0.2%, a polycarbonate
optical propagation region 106 coupled to a silicone optical
isolation layer 104 (having an index of refraction of about 1.41)
has a polarization-averaged reflectivity of about 0.4%, a
polycarbonate optical propagation region 106 coupled to a
fluoropolymer optical isolation layer 104 (having an index of
refraction of about 1.37) has a polarization-averaged reflectivity
of about 0.6%, and a polycarbonate optical propagation region 106
coupled to a plastic optical isolation layer 104 (having an index
of refraction of about 1.3) has a polarization-averaged
reflectivity of about 1%, but a polycarbonate optical propagation
region 106 coupled to an aerogel optical isolation layer 104
(having an index of refraction of about 1.2) has a
polarization-averaged reflectivity of about 2%. In order to
increase the amount of flux into the display elements when using an
aerogel optical isolation layer 104, the material that comprises
the optical isolation layer 106 may be modified. For example,
polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) has an index of refraction of about
1.47, which, coupled to an aerogel optical isolation layer 104 has
a polarization-averaged reflectivity of about 1%. Moreover, a PMMA
optical propagation region 106 coupled to a fluoropolymer optical
isolation layer 104 has a polarization-averaged reflectivity of
about 0.1%. By contrast, in an illumination apparatus comprising an
air gap 85 between the optical propagation region 84 and the
optical loss layer 83 (e.g., as illustrated in FIG. 8B), light
propagating through the air gap 85 at low angles of incidence
(e.g., due to being turned by a light turning film of the optical
propagation region 84 or from the ambient) loses at least about
5.2% of its intensity or flux each time it crosses the interface
between a polycarbonate light guide 84 (having an index of
refraction of about 1.59) and the air gap 85 (having an index of
refraction of about 1.0).
[0086] FIG. 10B illustrates an angle of propagation, .theta..sub.i,
(e.g., angle of incidence) propagating through an optical
propagation region 106. The angle of incidence, .theta..sub.i, is
the angle from the normal to an interface 105 between the optical
propagation region 106 and the optical isolation layer 104. Light
at angles of grazing incidence are typically larger than about
40.degree. from said normal to the interface.
[0087] In some embodiments, the material of the optical isolation
layer 104 is selected at least in part by modeling with Fresnel
equations, which describe the reflectivity between materials having
different indices of refraction at different angles and light
polarizations. FIG. 10C depicts the average reflectivity for S and
P polarizations of various substances in accordance with certain
embodiments of the illumination apparatus 100 of FIG. 10A,
calculated for the interface with the smaller refractive index
difference of the light guide (i.e., the interface 105 in
embodiments in which the light guide 106 is adjacent to air at the
interface comprising the turning features). Solid curve 107 depicts
the average reflectivity of an optical propagation region 106
comprising polycarbonate having an index of refraction of about
1.59 and an optical isolation layer 104 comprising a fluoropolymer
having an index of refraction of about 1.37. The difference in the
indices of refraction is about 0.22 (1.59-1.37). The reflectivity
for angles of incidence greater than about 58.degree. is 100% and
the reflectivity for angles of incidence below about 50.degree. is
nearly zero. Dotted curve 108 depicts the average reflectivity of
an optical propagation region 106 comprising polycarbonate having
an index of refraction of about 1.59 and an optical isolation layer
104 comprising silicone having an index of refraction of about
1.41. The difference in the indices of refraction is about 0.18
(1.59-1.41). The reflectivity for angles of incidence greater than
about 62.degree. is 100% and the reflectivity for angles of
incidence below about 55.degree. is nearly zero. Dashed curve 109
depicts the average reflectivity of an optical propagation region
106 comprising polycarbonate having an index of refraction of about
1.59 and an optical isolation layer 104 comprising an
acrylate-based material having an index of refraction of about
1.47. The difference in the indices of refraction is about 0.12
(1.59-1.47). The reflectivity for angles of incidence greater than
about 67.degree. is 100% and the reflectivity for angles of
incidence below about 60.degree. is nearly zero. It will be
appreciated that common fluoropolymers may not be easy to integrate
into a certain display devices due to their low adhesion to glass
and plastics. However, certain fluoropolymers (e.g., DuPont NC-211)
have been developed that do have good adhesion to glass and
plastics. As illustrated in FIG. 10C, as the difference between the
indices of refraction of the optical propagation region 106 and the
optical isolation layer 104 increases, the range of angles of
incidence that may be totally internally reflected (i.e., the
length of the straight portion of the curves 107, 108, 109 at 100%
average reflectivity) increases. It is to be understood that the
other interface of the light guide, assumed here to have a larger
refractive index difference, exhibits a similar reflectivity
behavior as function of incidence angle where total internal
reflection starts at substantially smaller angles of incidence
(e.g., 39.degree. for polycarbonate-air) than the TIR angles shown
in FIG. 10C (e.g., about 60.degree. or larger). Certain embodiments
of the present invention increase (e.g., maximize) the range of
angles which experience TIR at the upper and lower interfaces of
the light guide 106 while minimizing the sum of the reflections at
angles close to normal to the upper and lower interfaces.
[0088] Although each of the curves 107, 108, 109 depicts the
average reflectivity as asymptotically approaching about 0% at
about 40.degree., it will be appreciated that the reflectivity may
be affected by Fresnel reflection, as described above. Thus, the
average reflectivity of the solid curve 107 at an angle of
incidence of about 0.degree. (i.e., normal incidence to the
interface 105) is about 0.6%, the average reflectivity of the
dotted curve 108 at an angle of incidence of about 0.degree. is
about 0.4%, and the average reflectivity of the dashed curve 109 at
an angle of incidence of about 0.degree. is about 0.2%. By
contrast, the average reflectivity at an angle of incidence of
about 0.degree. of a curve depicting the average reflectivity of an
optical propagation region 84 comprising polycarbonate having an
index of refraction of about 1.59 and an air gap 85 having an index
of refraction of about 1.0 at an angle of incidence of about
0.degree. is about 5.2%. Thus, the loss of intensity or flux in
such an illumination apparatus at such angles is disadvantageously
large in comparison to illumination apparatus comprising an optical
isolation layer comprising, for example, material having a higher
index than air and that more closely matches the index of the
optical propagation region, in addition to the problems associated
with increased thickness and manufacturing costs discussed
above.
[0089] FIG. 11 is a cross section of a portion of another example
embodiment of an illumination apparatus 110 comprising an optical
propagation region 116 decoupled from an optical loss layer by an
optical isolation layer comprising an engineered volume diffuser
118. The optical propagation region 116 may comprise, for example,
a light guide (e.g., as illustrated in FIG. 9A), a light guide and
a substrate (e.g., as illustrated in FIG. 9B), a light guide with a
turning film laminated thereon, adhesive layers, and the like. The
volume diffuser 118 is engineered so that light at grazing
incidence in the light guide 116 (e.g., the ray 1 in FIG. 11) is
totally internal reflected and does not substantially interact with
the diffuser 118, while light at lower incidence angles in the
light guide 116 (e.g., ray 2 in FIG. 11) interacts with the
diffuser 118 and is subsequently scattered. Thus, the engineered
volume diffuser 118 can provide multiple optical functions: acting
as an optical isolation layer for the light guide 116, reducing
reflection for lower incidence light at the lower interface 115 of
the light guide 116, and diffusing light turned by the light
turning microstructure of the light guide 116 or originating from
the ambient above the display 110. The engineered volume diffuser
118 comprises a base material (or "matrix") 114 and a filler (or
"microstructure") 112 disposed therein.
[0090] In certain embodiments, the filler comprise particles or
particulates or voids. These particulates or voids may have a size
and/or geometry that scatters light. In some embodiments these
particulates are absorbing. In various embodiments, for example,
the particulates may absorb all of the visible spectrum and diffuse
light. (In other embodiments, the particulates may absorb a portion
of the visible spectrum and filter out color. In certain
embodiments, the particulates are elongated and may be oriented
similarly so as to polarize light.)
[0091] In some embodiments, the filler or microstructure 112
occupies about 10%, about 5%, or less by volume of the engineered
volume diffuser 118. In certain embodiments, the base or matrix
material 114 has an index of refraction lower than the index of
refraction of the optical propagation region 116. Accordingly, the
lower interface 115 between the optical propagation region 116 and
the engineered volume diffuser 118 total internally reflects light
incident thereon at grazing angles (e.g., angles greater than the
critical angle relative to the interface 115 between the optical
propagation region 116 and the matrix material 114 of the diffuser
118), while the interface 115 is essentially transparent for light
incident thereon at higher angles (e.g., angles close to normal to
the interface 115). In certain embodiments, the microstructure 112
has an index of refraction that is higher and/or lower than the
index of refraction of the base material 114.
[0092] In some embodiments in which at least one microstructure
112a is not spaced from the interface 115, the feature 112a has an
index of refraction lower than the index of refraction of the
optical propagation region 116. Accordingly, the lower interface
115 between the optical propagation region 116 and the at least one
microstructure 112a total internally reflects light incident
thereon at grazing angles (e.g., angles greater than the critical
angle), while the interface 115 is essentially transparent for
light incident thereon at higher angles (e.g., angles close to
normal to the interface 115). In certain embodiments, at least one
microstructure 112a is not spaced from the interface 115, and the
microstructure 112a does not have an index of refraction lower than
the index of refraction of the optical propagation region 116.
Accordingly, the light incident on the microstructure 112a at the
lower interface at grazing angles (e.g., angles greater than the
critical angle) may be affected. However, in embodiments in which a
density of the features 112 is low such that there an area of
microstructure 112a at the interface 115 is low with respect to the
total area of the interface 115, such losses may be rendered
insignificant (e.g., negligible).
[0093] In some embodiments in which at least one microstructure
112b is spaced from the interface 115, the volume diffuser 118
comprises an effective interface layer 117 (e.g., comprising
material of the matrix 114) between the feature 112b and the
interface 115. As the effective interface layer 117 becomes
thicker, there is a reduced opportunity for interaction with the
microstructures 112b. Accordingly, light incident on the interface
115 at grazing angles (e.g., angles greater than the critical
angle) does not substantially interact with the microstructure 112b
when the thickness of the layer 117 is sufficiently thick so that
evanescent fields decay to negligible levels for the particular
grazing angle. In some embodiments, a thickness of the layer 117 is
less than about 0.5 .mu.m. In some embodiments, a thickness of the
layer 117 is less than about 1 .mu.m. Other thicknesses are also
possible and the thickness selected may in some embodiments depend
on the indices of refraction of the optical propagation region 116
and the index of refraction of the matrix 114.
[0094] In some embodiments, the illumination apparatus 110
comprises an optical propagation region 116 including supplemental
plastic films that are coated with a light diffusing coating and/or
is fabricated on an interferometric modulator substrate glass. For
example, in embodiments in which the optical propagation region 116
comprises a light guide (e.g., the optical propagation region 97
illustrated in FIG. 9A) and the optical isolation layer and optical
loss layer are integrated in an engineered volume diffuser (e.g.,
the structure 98 illustrated in FIG. 9A or the structure 118
illustrated in FIG. 11), the diffuser may comprise a
light-diffusive pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA). For another
example, in embodiments in which the optical propagation region 116
comprises a light guide and a substrate (e.g., the optical
propagation region 97 illustrated in FIG. 9B) and the optical
isolation layer and optical loss layer are integrated in an
engineered volume diffuser (e.g., the structure 98 illustrated in
FIG. 9B or the structure 118 illustrated in FIG. 11), the diffuser
may comprise a particle-filled glass-like material (an "in-glass
diffuser") on the same side of the substrate as the display
elements. Glass-like materials include glasses obtained by heat
treatment of organosilicon spin-on glasses, glasses obtained by
heat treatment of sol-gel type materials, powdered glass dispersed
in a binder, and others. It will be appreciated that in embodiments
in which the optical propagation region 116 comprises a light guide
(e.g., the optical propagation region 97 illustrated in FIG. 9A)
and the optical isolation layer and optical loss layer are
integrated in an engineered volume diffuser (e.g., the structure 98
illustrated in FIG. 9A or the structure 118 illustrated in FIG.
11), the diffuser may also comprise an in-glass diffuser on the
opposite side of the substrate as the display elements. In some
embodiments, the illumination apparatus 110 comprises an optical
propagation region 116 including interferometric modulator
substrate glass and/or supplemental plastic films coated with a
light diffusing formulation of an adhesive, such as a low-index
PSA. Such embodiments may have reflectivity plots similar to those
described above with respect to FIG. 10C for the base material 114
versus the optical propagation region 116.
[0095] The microstructures 112 may be any size or shape, and may be
selected for certain properties of desired optical loss. As an
example, the microstructures 112 may comprise light scattering
features for embodiments in which the optical loss layer comprises
an optical diffuser. As another example, the microstructures 112
may be configured to absorb light at certain wavelengths for
embodiments in which the optical loss layer comprises a color
filter. As yet another example, the microstructures 112 may be
configured to absorb light at all visible wavelengths and a
particular polarization for embodiments in which the optical loss
layer comprises a diffuser or polarizer. In certain such
embodiments, the microstructures 112 are elongated (i.e., having a
length greater than a width) and may be oriented along a preferred
global direction for embodiments in which the optical loss layer
comprises a polarizer.
[0096] FIG. 11 also illustrates an illumination apparatus 110
comprising an optical propagation region 116 and a layer 118. The
optical propagation region 116 may comprise a light guide (e.g., as
illustrated in FIG. 9A), a light guide and a substrate (e.g., as
illustrated in FIG. 9B), a light guide with a turning film
laminated thereon, adhesive layers, and the like. The turning
features are configured to redirect light out of the optical
propagation region 116 towards the interface 115. The layer 118
includes a matrix material 114 and microstructures 112 disposed in
a matrix 114 with an index of refraction less than the smallest
index of refraction of the layers comprising the optical
propagation region 116. Accordingly, the layer 118 is configured to
increase an amount of light that is totally internal reflected in
the optical propagation region 116. The layer 118 may comprise a
diffuser, for example where the microstructures are configured to
scatter light. The layer 118 may comprise a color filter, for
example where the microstructures are configured to absorb light at
a selected wavelength. The layer 118 may comprise a polarizer, for
example where the microstructures are elongated and/or are
configured to absorb light at all visible wavelengths. The
microstructures may have an index of refraction less than the index
of refraction of the optical propagation region. The matrix may
have an index of refraction less than the index of refraction of
the optical propagation region.
[0097] In certain alternative embodiments, the optical isolation
layer 118 of an illumination apparatus 110 comprises a volume
hologram that changes the direction of light in either a controlled
or uncontrolled manner. Such a hologram, may comprise, for example,
a holographic diffuser. This volume hologram may comprise matrix
material having an index of refraction less than the index of
refraction of the optical propagation region 116. Accordingly,
light incident on the interface between the optical propagation
region 116 and the hologram at oblique or grazing angles of
incidence (greater than the critical angle) can be reflected by
total internal reflection. As described above, light rays
propagating through the light propagation region 116 at grazing
incidence are contained via reflection within the optical
propagation region 116, which has a higher refractive index than
the engineered volume diffuser 118, while light originating in the
ambient or turned by an illumination film at low angles of
incidence are, for example, negligibly or minimally reflected.
[0098] FIG. 12 illustrates a portion of yet another example
embodiment of an illumination apparatus 120 comprising an optical
isolation layer 124 between an optical propagation region 126 and
an optical loss layer 122 comprising a surface-structured optical
element. The optical propagation region 126 may comprise, for
example, a light guide (e.g., as illustrated in FIG. 9A), a light
guide and a substrate (e.g., as illustrated in FIG. 9B), a light
guide with a turning film laminated thereon, adhesive layers, and
the like. The optical isolation layer 124 comprises a material
having an index of refraction that is lower than the smallest index
of refraction of the elements comprising the optical propagation
region 126, thereby optically decoupling the optical propagation
region 126 from the optical loss layer 122, e.g., via total
internal reflection. Accordingly, the lower interface 125 between
the optical propagation region 126 and the optical loss layer 122
total internally reflects light incident thereon at grazing angles
(e.g., angles greater than the critical angle), while the interface
125 is essentially transparent for light incident thereon at lower
angles (e.g., angles close to normal to the interface 125) so that
light can interact with the optical element 122. The reflectivity
plots of FIG. 10C may also be applied to certain embodiments of the
illumination apparatus illustrated in FIG. 12, as well.
[0099] The optical loss layer 122 comprises a diffuser 122
including an engineered surface structure 123 having substantially
spatially periodic, random, or spatially non-periodic features
configured to diffuse light. Such a surface structure may comprise,
for example, a holographic diffuser. The surface structure 123 of
the diffuser 122 can be adjusted so that when the diffuser 122 is
adjacent to the optical isolation layer 124 having a low index of
refraction, the diffusion properties of the diffuser 122 are
similar to when the diffusion properties of a diffuser 122 adjacent
to air. In certain embodiments, the optical isolation layer 124
planarizes an interface 125 between the engineered surface
structure 123 of the optical loss layer 122 and the rest of the
illumination apparatus 120. Such a planar interface 125 may allow
for better and/or easier attachment (e.g., lamination) of the
optical loss layer 122 to the optical propagation region 126. For
example, attachment of the optical loss layer 122 to the optical
propagation region 126 may otherwise include air gaps. The optical
loss layer 122 may also comprise randomized holographic
microstructured films (e.g., directional diffusers available from
Physical Optics Corporation of Torrance, Calif., etc.), holographic
gratings, and the like. The optical isolation layer 124 may be
coupled to the optical loss layer 122 by, for example, wet coating
the surface of the structured optical loss layer 122 in a
roll-to-roll process so as to effectively planarize the surface
relief 123.
[0100] FIG. 13A illustrates yet another example embodiment of an
illumination apparatus 130 comprising an optical propagation region
136 decoupled from an optical loss layer 132 by an optical
isolation layer 134 comprising low index material. The optical
propagation region 136 may comprise, for example, a light guide
(e.g., as illustrated in FIG. 9A), a light guide and a substrate
(e.g., as illustrated in FIG. 9B), a light guide with a turning
film laminated thereon, adhesive layers, and the like. The optical
isolation layer 134 comprises a plurality of material layers in a
multi-layer interference stack 134 that is configured to have a
high reflectivity for light propagating through the optical
propagation region 136 at grazing incidence and to have a low
reflectivity for light at low angles of incidence (e.g., light
turned by an illumination film or originating in the ambient). In
certain embodiments, the plurality of material layers includes
interference layers that utilize the properties of thin-film
interference to obtain the desired reflection characteristics. For
example, the layers may include sub-wavelength (e.g., .lamda./4)
thin films of various materials (e.g., dielectric materials). In
some embodiments, the optical isolation layer 134 includes films
having varying indices of refraction. In one such embodiment, films
are provided that alternate between indices of refraction higher
than the index of refraction of the optical propagation region 136
and lower than the index of refraction of the optical propagation
region 136. For example, the optical isolation layer 134 may
include two films, one having an index of refraction higher than
the index of refraction of the optical propagation region 136 and
one having an index of refraction lower than the index of
refraction of the optical propagation region 136.
[0101] Similar to the other optical isolation layers described
herein, the multi-layer interference stack 134 can be used to
decouple an optical propagation region 136 (e.g., a light guide
film or film stack, a light guide film or film stack plus a
substrate, etc.) from any variety of optical loss layer 132 (e.g.,
a diffuser, polarizer, colored filter, absorber, and the like).
Accordingly, a lower interface 137 between the optical propagation
region 136 and the optical loss layer 132 total internally reflects
light incident thereon at grazing angles (e.g., angles greater than
the critical angle), while the interface 137 is essentially
transparent for light incident thereon at higher angles (e.g.,
angles close to normal to the interface 137). The optical isolation
layer 134 can be physically provided (e.g., coated or deposited) on
the optical propagation region 136, may be provided on a base film
(or layer or multi-layer stack) that becomes part of the optical
propagation region 136, or could be coated or deposited on the
optical loss layer 132. Other methods of manufacturing are also
possible.
[0102] FIG. 13B illustrates an example embodiment of a multi-layer
interference stack 134 comprising a layer 131 of titanium dioxide
(TiO.sub.2) having an index of refraction of about 2.32, a layer
133 of magnesium fluoride (MgF.sub.2) having an index of refraction
of about 1.38, and a second layer 135 of titanium dioxide having an
index of refraction of about 2.32. Other materials are also
possible. At least one of the layers 131, 133, 135 comprises a
material that has an index of refraction that is lower than the
index of refraction of the optical propagation region 136, for
example, magnesium fluoride in embodiments in which the optical
propagation region 136 comprises glass having an index of
refraction of about 1.52.
[0103] FIG. 13C graphically illustrates the photopic reflectivity
of an example multi-layer interference stack 134 at different
angles of incidence. Solid line 138 depicts the photopic
reflectivity of an optical propagation region 136 comprising
polycarbonate having an index of refraction of about 1.59 and a
multi-layer interference stack 134 comprising 6.7 nm of titanium
dioxide, 221.8 nm of magnesium fluoride, and 117.5 nm of titanium
dioxide 131. The reflectivity for angles of incidence greater than
about 70.degree. is about 100% and the reflectivity of the angles
of incidence below about 40.degree. is nearly zero (e.g., due to
Fresnel reflection, as described above). It will be appreciated
that various structures (materials, thicknesses, number of layers,
orientation of layers, uniformity, and the like) may impact the
reflectivity curve, any may therefore be optimized to improve the
optical decoupling.
[0104] A wide variety of different embodiments are also possible.
Films, layers, components, and/or elements may be added, removed,
or rearranged. Additionally, processing steps may be added,
removed, or reordered. Also, although the terms "film" and "layer"
have been used herein, such terms as used herein may include film
stacks and multilayers. Such film stacks and multilayers may be
adhered to other structures using adhesives or may be formed on
other structures using deposition or in other manners.
[0105] Moreover, although this invention has been disclosed in the
context of certain preferred embodiments and examples, it will be
understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention
extends beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other
alternative embodiments and/or uses of the invention and obvious
modifications and equivalents thereof. In addition, while several
variations of the invention have been shown and described in
detail, other modifications, which are within the scope of this
invention, will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art
based upon this disclosure. It is also contemplated that various
combinations or sub-combinations of the specific features and
aspects of the embodiments may be made and still fall within the
scope of the invention. It should be understood that various
features and aspects of the disclosed embodiments can be combined
with, or substituted for, one another in order to form varying
modes of the disclosed invention. Thus, it is intended that the
scope of the present invention herein disclosed should not be
limited by the particular disclosed embodiments described above,
but should be determined only by a fair reading of the claims that
follow.
* * * * *