Patents by Inventor Brian Gally

Brian Gally has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20060067641
    Abstract: A package structure and method of packaging for an interferometric modulator. A thin film material is deposited over an interferometric modulator and transparent substrate to encapsulate the interferometric modulator. A gap or cavity between the interferometric modulator and the thin film provides a space in which mechanical parts of the interferometric modulator may move. The gap is created by removal of a sacrificial layer that is deposited over the interferometric modulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Publication date: March 30, 2006
    Inventors: Lauren Palmateer, William Cummings, Brian Gally, Mark Miles, Jeffrey Sampsell, Clarence Chui, Manish Kothari
  • Publication number: 20060066543
    Abstract: An ornamental display device having an interferometric modulator for displaying an ornamental image. The ornamental device may have a patterned diffuser formed on a transparent substrate to provide an ornamental image. The ornamental device may also be a piece of jewelry or an article that may be worn. The image displayed may have an iridescent appearance. A controller may also be used to control images displayed on multiple ornamental device to provide coordinated images based on externals received or pre-programmed images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2005
    Publication date: March 30, 2006
    Inventors: Brian Gally, William Cummings
  • Publication number: 20060066864
    Abstract: Process control monitors are disclosed that are produced using at least some of the same process steps used to manufacture a MEMS device. Analysis of the process control monitors can provide information regarding properties of the MEMS device and components or sub-components in the device. This information can be used to identify errors in processing or to optimize the MEMS device. In some embodiments, analysis of the process control monitors may utilize optical measurements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2005
    Publication date: March 30, 2006
    Inventors: William Cummings, Brian Gally
  • Publication number: 20060066586
    Abstract: In various embodiments of the invention, an interferometric light modulating display device is provided having a touchscreen above the light modulating display device. The touchscreen may have a diffusing material that may be part of the touchscreen. In some embodiments, the diffusing material may be used to reduce or minimize the color-shift or may be used to change the properties of light reflected by the display such that light modulating display device appears more diffuse and less specularly reflecting. In other embodiments, a light source is provided beneath the touchscreen and one or more reflective surfaces are provided such that at least a portion of the light from the light source that is directed toward the touchscreen is reflected to the light modulating device without passing through the touchscreen. In other embodiments, a diffusing material is provided that may scatter light using different sized scatterers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2005
    Publication date: March 30, 2006
    Inventors: Brian Gally, William Cummings
  • Publication number: 20060066856
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for measuring color and contrast in specular reflective devices such as interferometric modulators. To make color and contrast determinations, light reflected from a specular reflective device may be measured in-line with illumination of the device. The measurements may include measuring the spectra of light reflected from the device being tested as well as from specular bright and dark standards. The spectra may be used to determine a reflectance spectrum and color parameters for the specular reflective device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2005
    Publication date: March 30, 2006
    Inventors: William Cummings, Brian Gally
  • Publication number: 20060066935
    Abstract: An interferometric modulator manufactured according to a particular set of processing parameters may have a non-zero offset voltage. A process has been developed for modifying the processing parameters to shift the non-zero offset voltage closer to zero. For example, the process may involve identifying a set of processing parameters for manufacturing an interferometric modulator that results in a non-zero offset voltage for the interferometric modulator. The set of processing parameters may then be modified to shift the non-zero offset voltage closer to zero. For example, modifying the set of processing parameters may involve modifying one or more deposition parameters used to make the interferometric modulator, applying a current (e.g., a counteracting current) to the interferometric modulator, and/or annealing the interferometric modulator. Interferometric modulators made according to the set of modified processing parameters may have improved performance and/or simpler drive schemes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2005
    Publication date: March 30, 2006
    Inventors: William Cummings, Brian Gally
  • Publication number: 20060066932
    Abstract: The fabrication of a MEMS device such as an interferometric modulator is improved by employing an etch stop layer between a sacrificial layer and a mirror layer. The etch stop may reduce undesirable over-etching of the sacrificial layer and the mirror layer. The etch stop layer may also serve as a barrier layer, buffer layer, and/or template layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2005
    Publication date: March 30, 2006
    Inventors: Clarence Chui, Manish Kothari, Brian Gally, Ming-Hau Tung
  • Publication number: 20060067652
    Abstract: A method is provided for visual inspection of an array of interferometric modulators in various driven states. This method may include driving multiple columns or rows of interferometric modulators via a single test pad or test lead, and then observing the array for discrepancies between the expected optical output and the actual optical output of the array. This method may particularly include, for example, driving a set of non-adjacent rows or columns to a state different from the intervening rows or columns, and then observing the optical output of the array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2005
    Publication date: March 30, 2006
    Inventors: William Cummings, Brian Gally
  • Publication number: 20060066560
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods of actuating MEMS display elements are disclosed. The disclosed embodiments can be incorporated into other drive schemes for MEMS display elements. In one embodiment, an apparatus for controlling a MEMS display element to display a frame of video data, said MEMS display element comprising a portion of an array of MEMS display elements, includes an array controller configured to assert a potential difference on said MEMS display element during a first portion of a frame display write process to place the MEMS display element in a first display state, and to assert a potential difference on said MEMS display element during a second portion of the frame display write process to place the MEMS display element in a second display state to display the frame of the video data, where the first display state is different from the second display state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2005
    Publication date: March 30, 2006
    Inventors: Brian Gally, William Cummings
  • Publication number: 20060067600
    Abstract: Optical filter functionality is incorporated into a substrate of a display element thereby decreasing the need for a separate thin film filter and, accordingly, reducing a total thickness of a filtered display element. Filter functionality may be provided by any filter material, such as pigment materials, photoluminescent materials, and opaque material, for example. The filter material may be incorporated in the substrate at the time of creating the substrate or may be selectively diffused in the substrate through a process of masking the substrate, exposing the substrate to the filter material, and heating the substrate in order to diffuse the filter material in the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2005
    Publication date: March 30, 2006
    Inventors: Brian Gally, William Cummings
  • Publication number: 20060024880
    Abstract: An interferometric modulator is formed by a stationary layer and a mirror facing the stationary layer. The mirror is movable between the undriven and driven positions. Landing pads, bumps or spring clips are formed on at least one of the stationary layer and the mirror. The landing pads, bumps or spring clips can prevent the stationary layer and the mirror from contacting each other when the mirror is in the driven position. The spring clips exert force on the mirror toward the undriven position when the mirror is in the driven position and in contact with the spring clips.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2005
    Publication date: February 2, 2006
    Inventors: Clarence Chui, William Cummings, Brian Gally, Ming-Hau Tung
  • Publication number: 20050254115
    Abstract: A package is made of a transparent substrate having an interferometric modulator and a back plate. A non-hermetic seal joins the back plate to the substrate to form a package, and a desiccant resides inside the package. A method of packaging an interferometric modulator includes providing a transparent substrate and manufacturing an interferometric modulator array on a backside of the substrate. A back plate is provided and a desiccant is applied to the back plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2004
    Publication date: November 17, 2005
    Applicant: Iridigm Display Corporation
    Inventors: Lauren Palmateer, Brian Gally, William Cummings, Manish Kothari, Clarence Chui
  • Publication number: 20050212738
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are iMoD displays optimized by utilizing different materials for one or more different color subpixels. Such optimized displays have improved color gamut over displays where all subpixels are constructed with the same material. Also disclosed are methods for manufacturing such displays and methods for optimizing iMoD displays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Publication date: September 29, 2005
    Inventor: Brian Gally