Ion Bita

US Patent:

7619822, Nov 17, 2009

Filed:

Jan 30, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/669074

Inventors:

Russell Wayne Gruhike - Santa Clara CA, US
Mark Mienko - San Jose CA, US
Gang Xu - Cupertino CA, US
Ion Bita - San Jose CA, US

Assignee:

QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc. - San Diego CA

International Classification:

G02B 5/02
F21V 7/04
G02B 26/00

US Classification:

359599, 362600, 362603, 362609, 362610, 359291

Abstract:

Various embodiments of the invention include an interferometric optical modulator comprising a substrate layer and a light direction layer. Such an interferometric modulator may be integrated with a diffuser layer in a display device in a way that physically integrates the diffuser layer into the light direction layer in a way where the diff-user layer does not interact with light propagating within the light direction layer. As a result, most of the light propagating within the light direction layer does not penetrate into the diffuser which would inhibit performance of the display. In some embodiments, the interface between the diffuser layer and the light direction layer has a lower index of refraction than the light direction layer and the transparent substrate so that total internal reflection occurs at the interface.

US Patent:

7777954, Aug 17, 2010

Filed:

Jan 30, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/669074

Inventors:

Russell Wayne Gruhike - Santa Clara CA, US
Mark Mienko - San Jose CA, US
Gang Xu - Cupertino CA, US
Ion Bita - San Jose CA, US

Assignee:

QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc. - San Diego CA

International Classification:

G02B 5/02
F21V 7/04
G02B 26/00

US Classification:

359599, 362600, 362603, 362609, 362610, 359291

Abstract:

Various embodiments of the invention include an interferometric optical modulator comprising a substrate layer and a light direction layer. Such an interferometric modulator may be integrated with a diffuser layer in a display device in a way that physically integrates the diffuser layer into the light direction layer in a way where the diff-user layer does not interact with light propagating within the light direction layer. As a result, most of the light propagating within the light direction layer does not penetrate into the diffuser which would inhibit performance of the display. In some embodiments, the interface between the diffuser layer and the light direction layer has a lower index of refraction than the light direction layer and the transparent substrate so that total internal reflection occurs at the interface.

US Patent:

7864403, Jan 4, 2011

Filed:

Mar 27, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/413452

Inventors:

Ion Bita - San Jose CA, US
Jeffrey B. Sampsell - Pueblo West CO, US

Assignee:

Qualcomm Mems Technologies, Inc. - San Diego CA

International Classification:

G02B 26/00

US Classification:

359292, 359291

Abstract:

In various embodiments, devices, methods, and systems for adjusting the reflectivity spectrum of a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) device are described herein. The method comprises depositing a reflectivity modifying layer with the optical cavity of an interferometric modulator, where the reflectivity modifying layer shifts or trims the shape of the interferometric modulator's wavelength reflectivity spectrum relative to the absence of the reflectivity modifying layer.

US Patent:

7898723, Mar 1, 2011

Filed:

Apr 2, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/061312

Inventors:

Kasra Khazeni - San Jose CA, US
Manish Kothari - Cupertino CA, US
Ion Bita - San Jose CA, US
Marek Mienko - San Jose CA, US
Gang Xu - Cupertino CA, US

Assignee:

QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc. - San Diego CA

International Classification:

G02B 26/00
G02B 26/08
G02F 1/29

US Classification:

359291, 359298

Abstract:

A microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) display element may include a photovoltaic structure configured to generate electric energy from incident light. In one embodiment, the display element includes a first layer that is at least partially transmissive of light, a second layer that is at least partially reflective of light, and a photovoltaic element that is formed on the first layer or the second layer or formed between the first layer and the second layer. The second layer is spaced from the first layer and is selectably movable between a first position in which the display element has a first reflectivity and a second position in which the display element has a second reflectivity. The first reflectivity is greater than the second reflectivity. The photovoltaic element is at least partially absorptive of light and is configured to convert a portion of the absorbed light into electric energy, at least when the second layer is in the second position.

US Patent:

7949213, May 24, 2011

Filed:

Dec 7, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/952872

Inventors:

Marek Mienko - San Jose CA, US
Gang Xu - Cupertino CA, US
Ion Bita - San Jose CA, US
Russell Wayne Gruhlke - Milpitas CA, US
Alberto Emerico Brewer - Chula Vista CA, US

Assignee:

QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc. - San Diego CA

International Classification:

G02B 6/26
G02B 6/42

US Classification:

385 31, 362600, 362602, 362603, 362607, 362617, 362330, 362560, 362561, 362 971, 362 972, 362 973, 385129, 385131

Abstract:

In various embodiments described herein, a display device includes a front illumination apparatus that comprises a first light guide disposed forward of an array of display elements, such as an array of interferometric modulators, to distribute light across the array of display elements. The light guide panel is edge illuminated by a light source positioned behind the array display elements. The light from such a light source is coupled to a second light guide disposed behind the array of display elements and positioned laterally with respect to the light source. The light in the second light guide is coupled into the first light guide using a small optical coupling element such as a turning mirror. In some embodiments the second light guide may comprise the backplate of the display device.

US Patent:

7969641, Jun 28, 2011

Filed:

Feb 13, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/371538

Inventors:

Ion Bita - San Jose CA, US
Chun-Ming Wang - Fremont CA, US
Gang Xu - Cupertino CA, US

Assignee:

QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc. - San Diego CA

International Classification:

G02B 7/02

US Classification:

359290, 359315, 349 27

Abstract:

A power generating black mask comprising an anti-reflection layer deposited over a substrate, a first electrode layer deposited over the anti-reflection layer, a semi-conductor layer deposited over the first electrode layer and a second electrode layer deposited over the semi-conductor layer.

US Patent:

8040589, Oct 18, 2011

Filed:

Feb 11, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/369630

Inventors:

Ion Bita - San Jose CA, US
Gang Xu - Cupertino CA, US
Marek Mienko - San Jose CA, US
Lai Wang - Milpitas CA, US
Russell W. Gruhlke - Milpitas CA, US

Assignee:

QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc. - San Diego CA

International Classification:

G02B 26/00

US Classification:

359290

Abstract:

Various embodiments of the present invention relate to enhancing the brightness of displays that employ illumination systems. In some embodiments, the illumination systems include light guides, diffractive microstructure, and light-turning features. The diffractive microstructure may be configured to receive ambient light at a first angle and produce diffracted light at a second angle greater than the first angle and greater than the critical angle for of light guide. The light is thereby guided within the light guide. The light-turning features may be configured to turn the light guided within the light guide out of a light guide and onto, for example, a spatial light modulator at near normal incidence.

US Patent:

8061882, Nov 22, 2011

Filed:

Apr 1, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/416886

Inventors:

Ion Bita - San Jose CA, US
Marek Mienko - San Jose CA, US
Gang Xu - Cupertino CA, US
Russell W. Gruhlke - Milpitas CA, US

Assignee:

QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc. - San Diego CA

International Classification:

F21V 7/04

US Classification:

362623, 362612, 362615

Abstract:

The invention comprises devices and methods for coupling a light source to a display illumination device. In one embodiment, an illumination device includes a light guide comprising a front surface, a back surface, a light coupling section configured to receive optical energy from a light source in to the light guide through said front surface or said back surface at an angle about normal to the optical energy receiving surface, and further configured to direct light through said light guide, and a light turning section configured to redirect out of the light guide at least a portion of the light received from said light coupling section, said redirected light at an angle about normal to the optical energy receiving surface.