Spacers for maintaining display apparatus alignment
The invention relates to methods and apparatus for forming a display apparatus. According to one aspect of the invention, the display apparatus includes a first substrate having an aperture layer formed thereon, a light guide for guiding light towards the aperture layer, a plurality of MEMS light modulators for modulating light passing through the aperture layer from the light guide, and a spacer substantially surrounding the light guide for keeping the light guide and the first substrate a predetermined distance apart from one another, thereby forming a gap between the first substrate and the light guide. Alternatively or in addition, the first substrate may have a control matrix formed thereon.
1. A display apparatus, comprising:
a first substrate having an aperture layer formed thereon,
a light guide for guiding light towards the aperture layer,
a plurality of MEMS light modulators for modulating light passing through the aperture layer from the light guide, and
a spacer substantially surrounding a periphery of the light guide for keeping the light guide and the first substrate a predetermined distance apart from one another, thereby forming a gap between the first substrate and the light guide, wherein the spacer comprises a shelf on which one of the light guide and the first substrate rests.
2. The display apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the spacer comprises a reflective surface for reflecting light into the light guide.
3. The display apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the spacer comprises a structural feature having a geometrical shape selected to maintain alignment between the light guide and a lamp for providing light to the light guide.
4. The display apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the spacer comprises a structural feature having a geometrical shape selected to maintain alignment between the light guide and an electrical connection for controlling a MEMS light modulator of the plurality of MEMS light modulators.
5. The display apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the spacer comprises a structural feature having a geometrical shape selected to maintain alignment between the light guide and the first substrate.
6. The display apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the spacer comprises a structural feature having a geometrical shape selected to restrict translational motion of at least one of the light guide and the first substrate.
7. The display apparatus of claim 1 , comprising an adhesive disposed on the spacer for adhering to at least one of the light guide and the first substrate.
8. The display apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the spacer is disposed between the light guide and the first substrate.
9. The display apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the spacer comprises a rigid material.
10. The display apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the spacer comprises at least one of polycarbonate, polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyacrylate.
11. The display apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the spacer comprises a metal.
12. The display apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the spacer comprises a metal and plastic composite.
13. The display apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the MEMS light modulators comprise shutter-based light modulators.
14. The display apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the MEMS light modulators comprise electrowetting light modulators.
15. The display apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the spacer comprises a structural feature having a geometrical shape selected to maintain alignment between the light guide and a reflective layer for reflecting light towards the light guide.
16. The display apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the aperture layer comprises a reflective aperture layer.
17. The display apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of MEMS light modulators are disposed on the first substrate.
18. The display apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of MEMS light modulators are disposed on a second substrate.
19. A display apparatus, comprising:
a plurality of MEMS light modulators;
a first substrate having a control matrix formed thereon for controlling the plurality of MEMS light modulators,
a light guide for guiding light towards the first substrate, and
a spacer substantially surrounding a periphery of the light guide for keeping the light guide and the first substrate a predetermined distance apart from one another, thereby forming a gap between the first substrate and the light guide, wherein the spacer comprises a structural feature having a geometrical shape selected to maintain alignment between the light guide and the first substrate.
20. The display apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the spacer comprises a structural feature having a geometrical shape selected to maintain alignment between the light guide and a lamp for providing light to the light guide.
21. The display apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the spacer comprises a reflective surface for reflecting light into the light guide.
22. The display apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the spacer comprises a structural feature having a geometrical shape selected to restrict translational motion of at least one of the light guide and the first substrate.
23. The display apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the spacer comprises a shelf on which one of the light guide and the first substrate rests.