Asymmetric overlap and suspended shutter structure
Systems and methods for displays that have a moveable shutter formed on a substrate having an aperture. The shutter, in at least one position, is asymmetrically aligned over the aperture. The asymmetric alignment provides an overlap between shutter and the substrate on one side of the aperture that is larger than an overlap between the shutter and the substrate on another side of the aperture. Typically, the larger overlap increases the ability of the shutter to reduce light passing through the aperture when then shutter is the in the at least one position.
1. A display, comprising:
a first layer having a first aperture with a first side spaced apart from a second side;
a second layer having a second aperture; and
a shutter for obstructing passage of light through the first aperture and having a first shutter edge spaced apart from a second shutter edge, and, in a first position, aligned with the first aperture so as to have the first shutter edge extending a length past the first side of the first aperture and the second shutter edge extending a second longer length past the second side of the first aperture, wherein:
the shutter is interposed between the first layer and the second layer,
the second aperture and the first aperture are at least partially coextensive with one another,
the second aperture is wider than the first aperture in a direction perpendicular to the first shutter edge, and
the shutter is wider than the first aperture in the direction perpendicular to the first shutter edge and wider than the second aperture in the direction perpendicular to the first shutter edge.
2. The display according to claim 1 , further comprising
an actuator for moving the shutter between the first position and a second position, wherein moving the shutter to the second position from the first position causes the first shutter edge to traverse the aperture.
3. The display according to claim 2 , wherein the first position aligns the shutter with the first aperture so as to block passage of light through the first aperture and wherein the second position aligns the shutter with the first aperture so as to allow light to pass through the first aperture.
4. The display according to claim 1 , wherein the second aperture extends further towards the second shutter edge than the first aperture.
5. The display according to claim 1 , wherein a portion of the shutter extends across the first aperture when the shutter is in the second position.
6. The display according to claim 1 , further comprising a light cavity, wherein the first layer is interposed between the light cavity and the shutter and the light cavity is arranged to pass light toward the aperture.
7. The display according to claim 1 , wherein the first layer includes a plurality of apertures, each having a respective shutter and a respective actuator for moving the shutter between the first position and a second position.
8. The display according to claim 7 , wherein at least two shutters of the plurality of shutters move in different directions of motion when transitioning from the first position to the second position.
9. The display according to claim 7 , further comprising
a processor that is configured to communicate with the display, the processor being configured to process image data, and
a memory device that is configured to communicate with the processor.
10. The display according to claim 9 , further comprising
a driver circuit configured to send at least one signal to the display, and
a controller configured to send at least a portion of the image data to the driver circuit.
11. The display according to claim 9 , further comprising:
an image source module configured to send the image data to the processor, wherein the image source module comprises at least one item selected from the group consisting of: a) a receiver, b) a transceiver, and c) a transmitter.
12. The display according to claim 9 , further comprising:
an input device configured to receive input data and to communicate the input data to the processor.
13. A method of manufacturing a display, comprising:
providing a first layer having a first aperture with a first side spaced apart from a second side;
providing a second layer having a second aperture;
disposing, between the first layer and the second layer and proximate the first aperture, a moveable shutter having a first shutter edge spaced apart from a second shutter edge and being arranged for traversing a path proximate the aperture to a first position for obstructing passage of light through the first aperture, wherein the shutter is wider in a direction aligned with the path than the first aperture and wider in the direction aligned with the path than the second aperture; and
aligning the shutter with the first aperture to have the first shutter edge extending a length past the first side of the first aperture and the second shutter edge extending a second longer length past the second side of the first aperture when the shutter is in the first position.
14. The method according to claim 13 , further comprising
providing an actuator for moving the shutter between the first position and a second position, wherein moving the shutter to the second position causes the first shutter edge to traverse the first aperture.
15. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the second aperture extends further towards the second shutter edge than the first aperture.
16. The method according to claim 13 , further comprising:
forming the second aperture to extend across the shutter when the shutter is in the second position.