An optical device includes a non-transparent substrate. The optical device further includes a first optical layer which is at least partially transmissive and at least partially reflective to incident light. The optical device further includes a second optical layer which is at least partially reflective to incident light. The second optical layer is spaced from the first optical layer. At least one of the first optical layer and the second optical layer is movable between a first position with a first distance between the first and second optical layers and a second position with a second distance between the first and second optical layers. Movement of the at least one of the first optical layer and the second optical layer between the first and second positions modulates the reflectivity of the device.

Photonic mems and structures

A multi-state light modulator comprises a first reflector. A first electrode is positioned at a distance from the first reflector. A second reflector is positioned between the first reflector and the first electrode. The second reflector is movable between an undriven position, a first driven position, and a second driven position, each having a corresponding distance from the first reflector. In one embodiment, the three positions correspond to reflecting white light, being non-reflective, and reflecting a selected color of light. Another embodiment is a method of making the light modulator. Another embodiment is a display including the light modulator.

Method and device for multistate interferometric light modulation

A system and method for an optical component that masks non-active portions of a display and provides an electrical path for one or more display circuits. In one embodiment an optical device includes a substrate, a plurality of optical elements on the substrate, each optical element having an optical characteristic which changes in response to a voltage applied to the optical element, and a light-absorbing, electrically-conductive optical mask disposed on the substrate and offset from the plurality of optical elements, the optical mask electrically coupled to one or more of the optical elements to provide electrical paths for applying voltages to the optical elements. In another embodiment, a method of providing an electrical signal to optical elements of a display comprises electrically coupling an electrically-conductive light-absorbing mask to one or more optical elements, and applying a voltage to the mask to activate the one or more optical elements.

Device having a conductive light absorbing mask and method for fabricating same

Color photovoltaic (PV) devices formed using interferometric stacks tuned to reflect color covering the front side or back side of a PV cell, device, panel, or array are disclosed. Interferometric stacks covering PV devices include interferometric modulators (IMODs), or dichroic pair stacks. Such devices can be configured to reflect enough light of select wavelengths so as to impart a color, while transmitting enough light to the PV active material so as to generate useful electricity.

Photovoltaic devices with integrated color interferometric film stacks

A wavelength tunable optical filter 14 and a method of making the same The optical filter 14 comprising two back-to-back Fabry-Perot optical cavities 30 & 40 comprising a fixed mirror 31 common to both cavities with parallel displaceable mirrors 32 & 42 located one on each side of the fixed mirror 31 to adjust the overall known length of the respective cavities One optical cavity may have greater length than the other optical cavity

Wavelength selectable optical filter

The present invention provides a wavelength selective optical filter device (240) for receiving input radiation and outputting corresponding filtered output radiation, characterized in that the filter device (240) includes a plurality of at least partially mutually coupled Fabry-Perot optical resonators (330, 340, 360; 360, 400, 430) for filtering the input radiation to generate the output radiation, the filter device (240) being tunable from a first radiation wavelength to a second radiation wavelength by mutually detuning the resonators in a period where the resonators are being retuned from the first wavelength (λ1) to the second wavelength (λ2) so that the filter device (240) is substantially in a non-responsive state during the period. The resonators incorporate freely suspended mirrors (360, 430) which are electrostatically actuated to affect tuning of the resonators (330, 340, 360; 360, 400, 430). The filter device (240) is thereby capable of tuning between different wavelengths without tuning through wavelengths therebetween. The filter device (240) can be included into an add-drop filter (10) for providing channel add and drop functions when the filter (10) is incorporated in a multichannel WDM communication system (100).

Hibberson Ruth

Papers

Wavelength selective optical filter

Wellenlängenselektiver optischer Filter