By Reflection Patents (Class 359/318)
  • Patent number: 11754843
    Abstract: This invention is augmented reality eyewear with a radial, honeycomb, or nested-ring array of selectively-movable reflective elements. These reflective elements can each be moved from a first configuration which is parallel to a line of sight from an eye to a second configuration which is perpendicular to this line of sight. The second configuration reflects light displaying a virtual image to the eye and blocks environmental light in the area of the virtual image. Since light from the environment does not shine through the virtual object, the virtual object appears solid instead of “ghost like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Holovisions LLC
    Inventor: Robert A. Connor
  • Patent number: 10955725
    Abstract: A beam steering device is provided and includes: a first layer including a plurality of reflection regions; a second layer on the first layer and including a plurality of refractive-index-variable regions, each having a refractive index that is controlled by an applied voltage; an antenna layer on the second layer and including a plurality of nano-structures; and a driving circuit layer on a lower side of the first layer and comprising a plurality of circuit units, each respectively configured to control a voltage applied to one of the refractive-index-variable regions. The antenna layer is divided into a first region configured to control a travelling direction of incident light and a second region that is not configured to control the travelling direction of the incident light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sunil Kim, Junghyun Park
  • Patent number: 10852592
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device is disclosed. The liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate, and a plurality of grooves periodically spaced apart from each other over the first substrate. The liquid crystal display device also includes a pixel electrode and a common electrode spaced apart from each other over the first substrate, and a liquid crystal layer including a plurality of liquid crystal capsules on the grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jung-Im Hwang, Hyun-Sook Jeon
  • Patent number: 9594263
    Abstract: The effective focal length of an optical system can be electronically controlled using switchable wave plates in conjunction with polarized light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Fakespace Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian E. McDowall, Mark Bolas
  • Patent number: 9110316
    Abstract: A method of amplifying a magneto-optical Kerr effect by using photon crystal structures, and a photon crystal having an amplified magneto-optical Kerr effect, and a method of fabricating the photon crystal. The method of amplifying a magneto-optical Kerr effect by using photon crystal structures includes amplifying the magneto-optical Kerr effect by fabricating a magnetic photon crystal including a crystal magnet and using a periodically-structured surface of the crystal magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignees: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., FACTORY OF NEW MATERIALS LLC
    Inventors: Andrey Anatolevich Eliseev, Nina Aleksandrovna Sapoletova, Kirill Sergeevich Napolskiy, Andrey Anatolevich Grunin, Andrey Anatolevich Fedyanin
  • Patent number: 9110318
    Abstract: A driving device of a display apparatus, and a method of manufacturing the driving device. The driving device may have a specific structure, and be manufactured in such a manner, because a first electrode of a micro optical switch device may be formed simultaneously with the formation of at least a source region and a drain region, or a gate electrode of an active device and a capacitor electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dong-sik Shim, Woon-bae Kim, Hyung Choi
  • Publication number: 20150138628
    Abstract: The invention relates to a glazing used as projection screen operating in reflection, comprising a front face, onto which the image is projected, and a rear face. The glazing comprises a variable light scattering system comprising a functional film capable of switching between a transparent state and a scattering state and a coating comprising at least one mirror layer, said coating being separated from the front face at least by the functional film. The invention also relates to the use of a glazing as projection screen, to a projection system and to a projection method using said glazing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Pierrick Guiset, Patrick Gayout
  • Patent number: 9036243
    Abstract: On/off digital drive signals are used to create arbitrary spatial and temporal ribbon movement patterns in MEMS ribbon arrays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Alces Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: David M Bloom, Matthew A Leone
  • Patent number: 9001412
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical (MEMS) device includes a substrate, a movable element over the substrate, and an actuation electrode above the movable element. The movable element includes a deformable layer and a reflective element. The deformable layer is spaced from the reflective element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Clarence Chui, William Cummings, Brian James Gally, Lior Kogut, Ming-Hau Tung, Yeh-Jiun Tung, Chih-Wei Chiang, Denis Endisch
  • Patent number: 8995040
    Abstract: An exterior mirror assembly with an optical display is suggested, whereby a light opening (2) is provided on the exterior mirror assembly for the passage of light of a warning display. The optical display comprieses of a display housing (4), into which an active illuminated display element (10) is mounted as a light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: SMR Patents S.a.r.l.
    Inventor: Daniel Fritz
  • Patent number: 8982449
    Abstract: A light modulation layer of a full-color reflective display (112), the light modulation layer including an addressing layer (404); a mirror (406) positioned above the addressing layer (404), the mirror (406) configured to reflect light of a predetermined wavelength band; and an electro-optic layer (416) positioned above the mirror (406), the electro-optic layer (416) configured to absorb light of a predetermined wavelength band in response to a signal received from a switching device (204) of the addressing layer (404).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: John Christopher Rudin, Stephen Kitson, Adrian Geisow
  • Patent number: 8864316
    Abstract: Optical MEMS scanning micro-mirror comprising: —a movable scanning micro-mirror (101) pivotally connected to a MEMS body (102) substantially surrounding the lateral sides of the micro-mirror; —an transparent prism (500, 600) substantially covering the reflection side of the micro-mirror; —wherein said prism has its outer face non-parallel to the micro-mirror neutral plane N-N, thereby providing a dual anti-speckle and anti-reflection effect, namely against parasitic light. The invention also provides the corresponding micro-projection system and method for reducing speckle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Lemoptix SA
    Inventors: Lucio Kilcher, Nicolas Abele, Faouzi Khechana
  • Patent number: 8835804
    Abstract: A system for homogenizing the intensity profile of light includes a plurality of fiber coupled light sources for emitting fiber output beams from fiber output ends, and a light pipe optically coupled to the fiber output beams for producing a uniform light pipe output beam, an interleaver that transmits a first set of fiber output beams and reflects a second set of fiber output beams so that the principal rays of the fiber output beams propagate in a common plane, a first optical element for converging the principal rays, and a second optical element for telecentrically imaging the beams into the light pipe such that the principal rays of the beams propagate parallel to each other and the beams are focused in the light pipe in a focal plane transverse to the direction of propagation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: nLIGHT Photonics Corporation
    Inventors: Jason Farmer, Scott Karlsen, Rob Martinsen
  • Patent number: 8797638
    Abstract: A wavelength selective optical switch device includes an incidence and exit part where a signal beam made of light of a multiplicity of wavelengths enters and a signal beam of a selected wavelength exits, a wavelength dispersion element that spatially disperses a signal beam according to the wavelength thereof and multiplexes reflected light, a condensing element that condenses the light dispersed by the wavelength dispersion element onto a two-dimensional plane, and a wavelength selection element that uses a multilevel optical phased array arranged in a position to receive incident light developed on an xy-plane made of an x-axis direction and a y-axis direction perpendicular thereto developed according to a wavelength, having a multiplicity of pixels arrayed in a lattice on the xy-plane, and that cyclically changes the phase shift amount in the y-axis direction to a sawtooth wave pattern for each pixel on the x-axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Santec Corporation
    Inventor: Yuji Hotta
  • Patent number: 8767284
    Abstract: The effective focal length of an optical system can be electronically controlled using switchable wave plates in conjunction with polarized light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Fakespace Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian McDowall, Mark Bolas
  • Patent number: 8755104
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an electrowetting display panel and the manufacturing method thereof The electrowetting display panel comprises: a first glass substrate; a second glass substrate provided opposite to the first glass substrate; a cavity provided between the first glass substrate and the second glass substrate; a colored conductive liquid filled into the cavity; and a reflecting conductive element provided on the surface of the first glass substrate facing away from the second glass substrate, and corresponding to the cavity, wherein the reflecting conductive element is used for controlling the light transmissivity of the colored conductive liquid within the cavity according to the voltage applied to the reflecting conductive element and reflecting the light passing through the colored conductive liquid toward the second glass substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Qi Yao, Jianshe Xue, Zhanfeng Cao, Tianming Dai, Feng Zhang
  • Patent number: 8754859
    Abstract: An electro-optic display comprises, in order, a light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer; a layer of a solid electro-optic material; and a backplane (162) bearing a plurality of pixel electrodes. A peripheral portion of the backplane extends outwardly beyond the layer of solid electro-optic material and bears a plurality of radiation generators (166) and a plurality of radiation detectors (168), the radiation generators and detectors together being arranged to act as a touch screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Holly G. Gates, Robert W. Zehner, Russell J. Wilcox, Matthew J. Aprea
  • Patent number: 8743452
    Abstract: Metal nanovoids are grown on a stretchable plastic film. The fabrication proceeds by assembling the template of a single layer of close packed silica spheres on a conducting substrate. A conducting layer is then electrochemically grown on top to form a master. An elastomeric precursor is then coated on the master (e.g. by spinning) and is cured before removal. The resulting plastic film is then coated with a thin (e.g. 20 nm) layer of noble metal (e.g. Au, Ag or Cu), to produce a flexible film. Applications for such tuneable structural color would be coating of injection molded artifacts, such as mobile phone covers, car bodies to form an iridescent skin, wall and fascia decorations, loudspeaker coatings, architectural tent coverings, and clothing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Cambridge Enterprise Limited of the Old Schools
    Inventors: Jeremy John Baumberg, Phillip Nigel Bartlett, Sumeet Mahajan, Robin Cole
  • Patent number: 8659816
    Abstract: This disclosure provides mechanical layers and methods of forming the same. In one aspect, a method of forming a pixel includes depositing a black mask on a substrate, depositing an optical stack over the black mask, and forming a mechanical layer over the optical stack. The black mask is disposed along at least a portion of a side of the pixel, and the mechanical layer defines a cavity between the mechanical layer and the optical stack. The mechanical layer includes a reflective layer, a dielectric layer, and a cap layer, and the dielectric layer is disposed between the reflective layer and the cap layer. The method further includes forming a notch in the dielectric layer of the mechanical layer along the side of the pixel so as to reduce the overlap of the dielectric layer with the black mask along the side of the pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Qualcomm Mems Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yi Tao, Hojin Lee, Fan Zhong
  • Patent number: 8634129
    Abstract: Provided is a wavelength selective switch which includes: at least one input port; a dispersive portion for dispersing wavelength-multiplexed light input from the input port into wavelength-demultiplexed lights; a condenser element for condensing the wavelength-demultiplexed lights dispersed by the dispersive portion; a deflection portion having deflection elements for deflecting, for each wavelength-demultiplexed light condensed by the condenser element; at least one output port for outputting the wavelength-demultiplexed lights deflected by the deflection portion. A light-condensing position shift compensating element is disposed in an optical path between the input port and the dispersive portion or in the dispersive portion, for compensating light-condensing position shift of the wavelength-demultiplexed lights relative to the deflection element, light-condensing position shift being generated based on the arrangement of the input ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Watanabe, Koji Matsumoto, Toshiro Okamura, Takeshi Yamazaki
  • Publication number: 20140002512
    Abstract: A micro-electro-mechanical (MEM) display module including a MEM display panel and a light-emitting apparatus is provided. The MEM display panel includes a plurality of first light-shielding units, a plurality of second light-shielding units, a light-shielding pattern layer and a reflective pattern layer. Each first light-shielding unit includes a first movable light-shielding device having at least one first opening. Each second light-shielding unit includes a second movable light-shielding device having at least one second opening. The light-shielding pattern layer has a plurality of third openings. In a display mode, the first opening of at least one first movable light-shielding device overlaps at least one third opening, and each second movable light-shielding device covers the reflective pattern layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: HTC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Weng-Chang Shen, Hsu-Hsiang Tseng
  • Publication number: 20130300999
    Abstract: In imaging system (100), a spatial light modulator (101) is configured to produce images (102) by scanning a plurality light beams (104,105,106). A first optical element (107) is configured to cause the plurality of light beams to converge along an optical path (114) defined between the first optical element and the spatial light modulator. A second optical element (115) is disposed between the spatial light modulator and a waveguide (1401). The first optical element and the spatial light modulator are arranged such that an image plane (117) is created between the spatial light modulator and the second optical element. The second optical element is configured to collect the diverging light (118) from the image plane and collimate it. The second optical element then delivers the collimated light to a pupil (120) at an input of the waveguide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: MICROVISION, INC.
    Inventors: Christian Dean DeJong, Joshua M. Hudman
  • Patent number: 8531755
    Abstract: The present invention describes a micro-mechanical light modulator including a two-dimensional array of modulating elements, in which small modulating elements are organized into larger modulating areas. Using smaller elements organized into larger areas increases the resonant frequency of the modulators and the modulation speed. In some implementations, multiple modulating elements are driven by shared signals, allowing the number of elements driven and the resulting area to increase without increasing the data traffic. In some implementations, an anamorphic optical path is used that leaves individual modulating elements of the micro-mechanical light modulator that are operated as a single area unresolved at an image plane of the workpiece being patterned. Devices and methods are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Micronic Laser Systems AB
    Inventors: Torbjörn Sandström, Per Askebjer
  • Patent number: 8526093
    Abstract: An electrically programmable reticle is made using at least one electrochromatic layer that changes its optical transmissibility in response to applied voltages. Transparent conductor layers are configured to the desired patterns. The electrically programmable reticles are either patterned in continuous forms that have separately applied voltages or in a matrix of rows and columns that are addressed by row and column selects such that desired patterns are formed with the application of a first voltage level and reset with the application of a second voltage level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices
    Inventor: Keith Randolph Miller
  • Patent number: 8520291
    Abstract: An illumination optical system which illuminates an irradiated plane with illumination light provided from a light source includes a spatial light modulator which is arranged in an optical path of the illumination optical system and cooperates with part of the illumination optical system to form a desired light intensity distribution at a pupil position of the illumination optical system or a position optically conjugated with the pupil position. A detection unit detects the light intensity distribution of the illumination light at a position in an optical path extending from the light source to the spatial light modulator. The detection unit includes a light receiving surface which receives some of the illumination light. A control unit controls the spatial light modulator based on the light intensity distribution detected by the detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Hirohisa Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8492863
    Abstract: Optical modulator having wide bandwidth based on Fabry-Perot resonant reflection is disclosed. The optical modulator includes: a bottom Distributed Bragg Reflector (DBR) layer; a top DBR layer including at least one layer, and a modified layer; and an active layer disposed between bottom and top DBR layers, wherein the at least one layer includes at least one pair of a first refractive index layer having a first refractive index and a second refractive index layer having a second refractive index, the modified layer includes at least one pair of a third refractive index layer having a third refractive index and a fourth refractive index layer having a fourth refractive index, the third and the fourth refractive indexes being different, and at least one of the third and the fourth refractive index layers has a second optical thickness that is not ?/4 or that is not an odd multiple thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Yong-chul Cho, Yong-tak Lee, Yong-hwa Park, Byung-hoon Na, Kwang-mo Park, Chang-soo Park
  • Patent number: 8480243
    Abstract: The invention relates to an adaptive mirror based on a ceramic substrate having a corresponding reflector and piezoelectric actuators, a cooling device being integrated in the substrate. The invention likewise relates to a method for the production of such mirrors. The mirrors according to the invention are used for the modulation or deformation of a laser wavefront of high power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignees: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerferung der Angewandten E.V., Friedrich-Schiller-Universitaet Jena
    Inventors: Claudia Bruchmann, Erik Beckert, Thomas Peschel, Christoph Damm
  • Patent number: 8447145
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an ultra-compact optical modulator comprising at least one resonator on a semiconductor chip. The EO modulator modulates incoming light having a certain wavelength range and comprises a waveguide layer accommodating at least one resonator having a periodic complex refraction index distribution structure defining a periodic defect band-edge and a cladding layer; and at least one electrode; the waveguide layer, the cladding layer and the electrode forming a capacitor structure; such that when an external voltage is applied to the capacitor structure the free carrier concentration in the waveguide layer is controlled, enabling a modulation of the resonator's refractive index; wherein the periodic defect band-edge is selected to be within the wavelength range, enabling a slow-light propagation of the incoming light within the waveguide layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Ramot at Tel-Aviv University Ltd.
    Inventors: Damian Goldring, David Mendlovic
  • Patent number: 8432597
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention a digital micro-mirror device is taught that includes a pixel occupying an area of the device and a hinge coupled to the pixel and positioned such that at least a portion of the hinge falls outside the area of the pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Richard L. Knipe
  • Patent number: 8432599
    Abstract: An optical image modulator and a method of manufacturing the same. The optical image modulator includes a substrate, an N electrode contact layer formed on the substrate, a lower distributed Bragg reflection (DBR) layer, a quantum well layer, an upper DBR layer, and a P electrode contact layer sequentially stacked on the N electrode contact layer, a P electrode formed on the P electrode contact layer, and an N electrode formed on the N electrode contact layer. The N electrode is a frame that surrounds the lower DBR layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Yong-Chul Cho, Yong-Tak Lee, Yong-Hwa Park, Byung-Hoon Na, Bong-Kyu Jeong
  • Patent number: 8427736
    Abstract: An illumination device is provided and has a light guide plate, a light source and a light modulator, wherein the light modulator has a pair of transparent substrates a pair of electrodes and a light modulator layer. The light modulator layer includes a first region being changed between a transparent state and a scatterable state depending on intensity of an electric field, and a second region being more transparent than the first region in a scatterable state at an electric field having a certain intensity, the electric field being applied when the first region is changed between the transparent state and the scatterable state, and an occupancy rate of the first region in the light modulator layer is increased with increase in distance from the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kentaro Okuyama, Harumi Sato
  • Patent number: 8422108
    Abstract: An interferometric modulator (Imod) cavity has a reflector and an induced absorber. A direct view reflective flat panel display may include an array of the modulators. Adjacent spacers of different thicknesses are fabricated on a substrate by a lift-off technique used to pattern the spacers which are deposited separately, each deposition providing a different thickness of spacer. Or a patterned photoresist may be used to allow for an etching process to selectively etch back the thickness of a spacer which was deposited in a single deposition. A full-color static graphical image may be formed of combined patterns of interferometric modulator cavities. Each cavity includes a reflector, and an induced absorber, the induced absorber including a spacer having a thickness that defines a color associated with the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark W. Miles
  • Patent number: 8412050
    Abstract: Example embodiments may include a coaxial Free Space Optical (FSO) telescope providing a simplified and more precise structure. Example embodiment telescopes include a prism structure having at least two parallel surfaces associated with a filter and mirror. The filter may reflect or transmit optical signals based on their electromagnetic characteristics. Example embodiment systems include example embodiment coaxial FSO telescopes and transmitters and receivers for receiving and transmitting optical signals. A V-groove and/or lens array may be included in example embodiment FSO systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventor: Gerald Nykolak
  • Publication number: 20130050808
    Abstract: A light modulation layer of a full-color reflective display (112), the light modulation layer including an addressing layer (404); a mirror (406) positioned above the addressing layer (404), the mirror (406) configured to reflect light of a predetermined wavelength band; and an electro-optic layer (416) positioned above the mirror (406), the electro-optic layer (416) configured to absorb light of a predetermined wavelength band in response to a signal received from a switching device (204) of the addressing layer (404).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Inventors: John Christopher Rudin, Stephen Kitson, Adrian Geisow
  • Patent number: 8366275
    Abstract: Image display apparatus (102) comprising projector means (112), a light source (104), at least one primary modulator (106) for modulating light, an auxiliary modulator (110) for modulating the light modulated by the primary modulator (106), optical means (108) for relaying the light modulated by the primary modulator (106) to the auxiliary modulator (110), and control means (118, 120) for controlling the primary modulator (106) and the auxiliary modulator (110), characterized in that: the primary modulator (106) comprises a first array of pixels, and the auxiliary modulator (110) comprises a second array of pixels; each pixel in the first array of pixels of the primary modulator (106) is controlled by the control means (118, 120) as a function of video input data for each pixel in the first array of pixels; and each pixel in the second array of pixels of the auxiliary modulator (110) is controlled by control means (118, 120) as a function of video input data for each equivalent pixel in the second array of pi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins UK Limited
    Inventors: John Robert Harding, Geoffrey Howard Blackham, Phillip John Scarfield
  • Publication number: 20130003166
    Abstract: Projection optics for a lithographic projection system is provided that comprises a spatial light modulator (SLM) from which radiation is reflected and directed to a projection lens that projects the radiation to a substrate. The SLM is illuminated by non telecentric off axis illumination (e.g. from laser radiation that has a spectral bandwidth of the order of 1 picometer, and the projection optics is configured for significant reduction (e.g. at least 10× reduction, 20× reduction, or 50× reduction).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: David Michael Williamson
  • Publication number: 20120313906
    Abstract: A semi-transmissive display apparatus includes: a reflective electrode provided for each pixel, wherein the semi-transmissive display apparatus performs reflective display operation by using the reflective electrodes and transmissive display operation by using spaces between the reflective electrodes of the pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaya Tamaki, Kazuyuki Maeda
  • Patent number: 8320036
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus that includes a waveguide and one or more pixels deployed adjacent the top surface of the waveguide which contains TIR light therein. Each pixel includes a deformable active layer having a first conductor and a driver electronics layer having a second conductor. The driver electronics layer is deployed in spaced-apart relation to the active layer and opposite the waveguide. In a quiescent state of a pixel, the active layer is in contact or near contact with the top surface of the waveguide so as to optically couple light out via FTIR (i.e., pixel's ON state). To actuate the pixel, the electronics layer is configured to selectively apply an electrical potential difference to the second conductor thereby causing the active layer to move away from the top surface so as to prevent the optical coupling of light out of the waveguide (i.e., pixel's OFF state).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin J. Derichs, Carey King, Daniel K. Van Ostrand, Berry Tod Cox, Reed J. Killion
  • Patent number: 8305676
    Abstract: An optical deflector includes multiple voltage-dependent refractive boundaries. Light passes through the refractive boundaries and accumulates a deflection angle. An electrode placed to apply a voltage to the boundaries may be non-uniform to modulate a wavefront as it passes. A scanning laser projector includes the optical deflector to modulate laser light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Microvision, Inc.
    Inventor: Bin Xue
  • Patent number: 8295710
    Abstract: The invention describes a modulator for the quadrature modulation of an optical carrier signal with an I- and a Q-portion, where a first optical multimode interferometer (MMI) splits the optical carrier signal into four branches and that in pairs of branches the I-portion and the Q-portion respectively is modulated with a Mach-Zehnder-Structure and a second optical multimode interferometer (MMI) combines the modulated I-portion and Q-portion again to one quadrature modulated optical output signal (OS).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Nokia Siemens Networks Oy
    Inventor: Winter Marcus
  • Patent number: 8294972
    Abstract: A display device may include a substrate, a thin film layer formed on the substrate and/or having a light absorptance that varies according to an electric field applied to the thin film layer, and/or electrodes disposed to apply the electric field to the thin film layer and/or configured to change the electric field applied to the thin film layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hyun-jong Chung
  • Patent number: 8289613
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical (MEMS) device includes a substrate, a movable element over the substrate, and an actuation electrode above the movable element. The movable element includes a deformable layer and a reflective element. The deformable layer is spaced from the reflective element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Qualcomm Mems Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Clarence Chui, William Cummings, Brian Gally, Lior Kogut, Ming-Hau Tung, Yeh-Jiun Tung, Chih-Wei Chiang, Denis Endisch
  • Patent number: 8285089
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical systems device fabricated on a pre-patterned substrate having grooves formed therein. A lower electrode is deposited over the substrate and separated from an orthogonal upper electrode by a cavity. The upper electrode is configured to be movable to modulate light. A semi-reflective layer and a transparent material are formed over the movable upper electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Qualcomm MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Clarence Chui
  • Publication number: 20120218498
    Abstract: An optically controlled deformable reflective/refractive assembly includes a deformable membrane structure (10) having a reflecting/refractive, electrically conductive surface (10?), which is associated with a rigid photoconductive substrate (14) having an electrically conductive layer (14?) on one side. An electric biasing arrangement applies a potential difference (V0) across the membrane structure (10). A controlling light source (20) illuminates the photoconductive substrate (14) in correspondence of an active region, wherein the light source is arranged for selectively illuminating the substrate (14) by emitting at least an optical beam (B) adapted to generate in an area of the substrate (14) a local electrical charge density proportional to the spatial light intensity of the beam (B) and responsible for a local deformation of the membrane structure (10).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche
    Inventors: Stefano Bonora, Stefania Residori, Umberto Bortolozzo
  • Patent number: 8238021
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for manufacturing a brightness enhancement structure comprising micro-reflectors. The process comprises forming an array of micro-structures by embossing; and depositing a metal layer over the surface of the micro-structures. The present invention also relates to a process for manufacturing a display device comprising micro-reflectors. The present invention further relates to a display device comprising micro-reflectors and color filters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Sipix Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Sprague, Yi-Shung Chaug, HongMei Zang, Xiaojia Wang, Gary Kang
  • Patent number: 8228594
    Abstract: The present invention provides image projection system implemented with a spatial light modulator, for modulating an illumination light projected from a light source wherein said spatial light modulator comprising an image projection system implemented with a spatial light modulator for modulating an illumination light projected from a light source wherein said spatial light modulator comprising: at least two electrically conductive layers functioning as two different electrical wirings and said conductive layers having respectively a first and a second longitudinal directions overlapping and crossing each other; and a fixed electric potential layer electrically connected to a fixed electric potential, wherein the two different conductive layers and fixed electric potential layer overlapping one another and disposed at a location along a light path of the illumination light emitted from the light source to block said illumination light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignees: Silicon Quest Kabushiki-Kaisha, Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Shirai, Yoshihiro Maeda, Fusao Ishii
  • Patent number: 8228595
    Abstract: A spatial light modulator driven with binary pulse-width-modulation requires very high data transfer rate to achieve high grayscale. This invention enables to reduce substantially the data transfer rate using non-sequential order of binary bits, wherein the combination of the sequences of binary bits is selected from the combinations which avoid simultaneous writing of multiple rows. The possible number of such combinations is astronomically large and mathematical programs were developed to find right combinations. These results were proposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Silicon Quest Kabushiki-Kaisha
    Inventors: Fusao Ishii, YiQing Liu
  • Patent number: 8218228
    Abstract: A two-terminal, variable capacitance device is described that is constructed by connecting multiple MEMS devices having different actuation or “pull in” voltages in parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Qualcomm MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Je-Hsiung Lan, Evgeni Gousev, Ernest Tadashi Ozaki
  • Patent number: 8213075
    Abstract: A multi-state light modulator comprises a first reflector. A first electrode is positioned at a distance from the first reflector. A second reflector is positioned between the first reflector and the first electrode. The second reflector is movable between an undriven position, a first driven position, and a second driven position, each having a corresponding distance from the first reflector. In one embodiment, the three positions correspond to reflecting white light, being non-reflective, and reflecting a selected color of light. Another embodiment is a method of making the light modulator. Another embodiment is a display including the light modulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Clarence Chui, William J Cummings, Brian J Gally
  • Patent number: 8213071
    Abstract: Display device is based on layer break up or layer displacement having at least two different states, in which one of the fluids, e.g., oil in a first state, adjoins at least a first support plate and, in the second state, the other fluid at least partly adjoins the first support plate. In one embodiment, a picture element corresponds to a substantially closed space and, in the first state, the other fluid layer substantially completely adjoins both support plates and is divided in two sub-layers. This makes it possible, on the one hand, to use lower voltages to make displacement occur. On the other hand, this opens the opportunity to color displays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung LCD Netherlands R & D Center B.V.
    Inventors: Bokke Johannes Feenstra, Robert Andrew Hayes, Menno Willem Jose Prins