Patent · US Expired

Device and method for manipulation of thermal response in a modulator

US7554714B2 · kind B2 · utility

44Cited by
331References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 10, 2005
Grant dateJun 30, 2009
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 4, 2026

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B26/0866
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

By varying the spacing between two surfaces, one of which is disposed in front of the other, an interferometric modulator selectively creates constructive and/or destructive interference between light waves reflecting off the two surfaces. The desired spacing can be achieved by deforming one or both surfaces. A heating element associated with a particular surface causes the deformation by heating the material that forms one or both of the surfaces. By varying the amount of applied heat, the amount of deformation is varied, thus allowing the distance between the surfaces to be controlled and thereby creating constructive and/or destructive interference as desired.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.