| Patent application number | Description | Published |
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| 20090122036 | CONTROLLER AND DRIVER FEATURES FOR BI-STABLE DISPLAY - An interference modulator (Imod) incorporates anti-reflection coatings and/or microfabricated supplemental lighting sources. An efficient drive scheme is provided for matrix addressed arrays of IMods or other micromechanical devices. An improved color scheme provides greater flexibility. Electronic hardware can be field reconfigured to accommodate different display formats and/or application functions. An IMod's electromechanical behavior can be decoupled from its optical behavior. An improved actuation means is provided, some one of which may be hidden from view. An IMod or IMod array is fabricated and used in conjunction with a MEMS switch or switch array. An IMod can be used for optical switching and modulation. Some IMods incorporate 2-D and 3-D photonic structures. A variety of applications for the modulation of light are discussed. A MEMS manufacturing and packaging approach is provided based on a continuous web fed process. IMods can be used as test structures for the evaluation of residual stress in deposited materials. | 05-14-2009 |
| 20090279173 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING A STATIC INTERFEROMETRIC DISPLAY DEVICE - Disclosed are apparatus and methods for fabricating a static interferometric display device. A plurality of sputtering modules is used to form static interferometric elements on a substrate. These elements each have a plurality of interferometric sub-elements that each has an interferometric stack. A first sub-element of each element is formed so that an interferometric modulation of light due to the first element's stack transmits at a first color, and a second sub-element of each element is formed so that a second color is transmitted. The sub-elements of each element are arranged with respect to each other so that all of the elements appear as a third color to a user if all the sub-elements of each element are left unmasked. A printing system is then used to mask one or more sub-elements of one or more elements so as to form, with the elements, a static image having multiple colors. | 11-12-2009 |
| 20100214642 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MODULATING LIGHT WITH OPTICAL COMPENSATION - 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. | 08-26-2010 |
| 20100218496 | PASSIVE HEAT ENGINE SYSTEMS AND COMPONENTS - Methods for harnessing a heat source to produce energy are provided. One method comprises transferring heat from the heat source to a working fluid using at least one heat pipe; and performing work via the heated working fluid. Another method comprises operating a thermodynamic cycle to convert heat into work, comprising displacing a working fluid within a closed loop, said closed loop being defined by a first pathway within a working chamber, and a return pathway external to the return chamber; wherein displacement of the working fluid along the first pathway causes sympathetic displaced of a movable member held captive in the working chamber, and displacement of the working fluid along the external pathway is under influence of capillary forces; and transferring heat to the working fluid using at least one first heat pipe. Components and systems for implementing the methods are also provided. | 09-02-2010 |
| 20100315695 | MICROELECTROMECHANICAL DEVICE WITH RESTORING ELECTRODE - Light in the visible spectrum is modulated using an array of modulation elements, and control circuitry connected to the array for controlling each of the modulation elements independently, each of the modulation elements having a surface which is caused to exhibit a predetermined impedance characteristic to particular frequencies of light. The amplitude of light delivered by each of the modulation elements is controlled independently by pulse code modulation. Each modulation element has a deformable portion held under tensile stress, and the control circuitry controls the deformation of the deformable portion. Each deformable element has a deformation mechanism and an optical portion, the deformation mechanism and the optical portion independently imparting to the element respectively a controlled deformation characteristic and a controlled modulation characteristic. The deformable modulation element may be a non-metal. The elements are made by forming a sandwich of two layers and a sacrificial layer between them, the sacrificial layer having a thickness related to the final cavity dimension, and using chemical (e.g., water) or a plasma based etch process to remove the sacrificial layer. | 12-16-2010 |
| 20110043891 | METHOD FOR MODULATING LIGHT - Light is modulated using an array of modulation elements formed on a semiconductor substrate, and control circuitry connected to the array for controlling each of the modulation elements independently, each of the modulation elements having a surface which is caused to exhibit a predetermined impedance characteristic to particular frequencies of light. Each modulation element has a deformable portion held under tensile stress, and the control circuitry controls the deformation of the deformable portion. The elements are made by forming a sandwich of two layers and a sacrificial layer between them, the sacrificial layer having a thickness related to the final cavity dimension, and using water or an oxygen based plasma to remove the sacrificial layer. | 02-24-2011 |
| 20110120452 | SOLAR FLUX CONVERSION MODULE - In one embodiment a solar collector is provided. The collector has a modular heat transfer component which includes a heat transfer core to heat up a heat transfer fluid. The collector makes use of the heat transfer fluid itself to prevent heat loss through radiation. | 05-26-2011 |
| 20110188110 | MICROELECTROMECHANICAL DEVICE WITH RESTORING ELECTRODE - Light in the visible spectrum is modulated using an array of modulation elements, and control circuitry connected to the array for controlling each of the modulation elements independently, each of the modulation elements having a surface which is caused to exhibit a predetermined impedance characteristic to particular frequencies of light. The amplitude of light delivered by each of the modulation elements is controlled independently by pulse code modulation. Each modulation element has a deformable portion held under tensile stress, and the control circuitry controls the deformation of the deformable portion. Each deformable element has a deformation mechanism and an optical portion, the deformation mechanism and the optical portion independently imparting to the element respectively a controlled deformation characteristic and a controlled modulation characteristic. The deformable modulation element may be a non-metal. The elements are made by forming a sandwich of two layers and a sacrificial layer between them, the sacrificial layer having a thickness related to the final cavity dimension, and using chemical (e.g., water) or a plasma based etch process to remove the sacrificial layer. | 08-04-2011 |
| 20120000530 | DEVICE FOR HARNESSING SOLAR ENERGY WITH INTEGRATED HEAT TRANSFER CORE, REGENERATOR, AND CONDENSER - An integrated heat transfer core device for harnessing solar energy is disclosed. The device has a heat transfer core, a regenerator; and a condenser. All of the aforesaid components are integrated. The heat transfer core has a thermal conduction mitigation component to mitigate heat losses from a working fluid due to conduction. Further, the heat transfer core may be packaged in a heat transfer core package that includes a light focusing component to concentrate solar radiation onto each heat transfer core. Solar power systems utilizing the integrated heat transfer core device are also disclosed. | 01-05-2012 |
