The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 27, 2012
Filed:
Aug. 24, 2009
Kevin J. Derichs, Buda, TX (US);
Carey King, Austin, TX (US);
Daniel K. Van Ostrand, The Woodlands, TX (US);
Berry Tod Cox, Spring, TX (US);
Reed J. Killion, Spring, TX (US);
Kevin J. Derichs, Buda, TX (US);
Carey King, Austin, TX (US);
Daniel K. Van Ostrand, The Woodlands, TX (US);
Berry Tod Cox, Spring, TX (US);
Reed J. Killion, Spring, TX (US);
Rambus Inc., Sunnyvale, CA (US);
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).