Abstract: A laminate structure and method of manufacture, such as a processed silicon wafer with an overlying layer or cover, includes a first layer or substrate which has a generally-planar region and a peripheral contoured region with falloff from a planar region of the first layer, and a second layer which overlies the first layer and is spaced from the planar region of the first layer a uniform distance by a plurality of uniform spacers, and peripheral spacers located in the peripheral contoured region which extend from the first layer to the second layer to maintain the second layer in the same plane as it extends over the falloff of the peripheral contoured region of the first layer to increase the useable area of the laminate structure. Spherical, deformable and fixed dimension spacers are used.

Abstract: Wafer scale and substrate processing device singulation methods, and devices made by the methods, for singulation of discrete devices from a processed wafer or laminated structures, involves formation of separation scribes or saw cuts at multiple elevations in intersecting scribe streets or lines so that a separation cut in one direction is at a different depth than a separation cut in a different and intersecting direction. Separation or fracture of the wafer or laminated structure along one of the separation cuts does not transfer to the separation line of the intersecting separation cut due to the difference in depth of the intersecting cuts or scribes, and due to the difference in elevation of the bottom surfaces of the cuts or scribes within the scribe streets, resulting in cleaner edges on the separated devices.

Abstract: The invention involves a novel method and structure for utilizing homeotropic vertically aligned nematic liquid crystal cells in the production of high contrast microdisplays. Two circular polarizers are used in order to propagate circularly polarized, rather than planar polarized, light through a liquid crystal cell. The use of circularly polarized light eliminates the liquid crystal director alignment requirements for the transmittance of light necessary for planar polarized light. With no director alignment requirement, it is possible to use perfectly homeotropic vertically aligned nematic cells irrespective of domain size and shape because fringing field induced director tilt will not decrease the transmittance of the liquid crystal cell.

Abstract: A high contrast twisted nematic liquid crystal cell in which outgoing or reflected light is linearly polarized and has the same polarization angle as incoming or incident light when the cell is in an off state. Matching the polarization axes of incoming and outgoing light allows less light to pass through a final analyzer with the cell in an off state to provide a darker off state, and allows more light through with the cell in an on state, resulting in an enhanced contrast ratio display. A method of determining placement of optical retarders for enhanced contrast in a reflective twisted nematic liquid crystal display device is also described.