DEVICES AND METHODS FOR ACHIEVING NON-CONTACTING WHITE STATE IN INTERFEROMETRIC MODULATORS

摘要

This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for providing white light color output from an electromechanical systems (EMS) device with reduced likelihood of stiction. In one aspect, interferometric modulators are configured to provide a white color output while having a non-zero modulator gap dimension. Such a feature can reduce problems associated with zero modulator gap dimensions such as stiction. Various methodologies can be used to yield such a non-zero modulator gap and a white color output. In some implementations, for example, an optical element that introduced wavelength dependent phase shift is used. In some implementations this wavelength dependent phase shifting optical element includes a stack of color filters, a hologram, a diffraction grating, or layers of material having specific thicknesses and wavelength dependent indices of refraction.

主权项

1. An optical device, comprising:
a reflector configured to reflect light; an absorber positioned relative to the reflector so as to provide a first gap between the reflector and the absorber while in a first state and to provide a second gap between the reflector and the absorber while in a second state, the first gap being smaller than the second gap; and an optical element disposed with respect to the reflector and the absorber such that when the absorber and the reflector are separated by a non-zero distance of z0 that provides said first gap between said absorber and said reflector, incident light transmitted through the absorber and reflected from the reflector returns to the absorber and passes therethrough as a substantially white color output from the optical device.