DISPLAY ELEMENTS INCORPORATING ASYMMETRIC APERTURES
This, disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for improving the angular light distribution of a display apparatus. Smaller shutter-based display apparatus that modulate light passing through at least two apertures in an aperture or light blocking layer can provide similar viewing angle characteristics as larger shutter-based modulators by disproportionately reducing the width of a subset of the at least two apertures in relation to the remainder of the apertures. As the width of such apertures is one of the primary determinants of viewing angle, allowing a greater percentage of the light throughput of a shutter assembly to pass through wider apertures helps maintain a wider viewing angle for the display.
1 . An apparatus having an electromechanical systems (EMS) display element, comprising:
a light blocking layer defining at least first and second light blocking layer apertures, wherein the first light blocking layer aperture has at least one dimension that is at least about 25% larger than a corresponding dimension of the second light blocking layer aperture; and
a light obstructing component supported over the light blocking layer configured to move between a light blocking state and a light transmissive state to selectively block the passage of light through the first and second light blocking layer apertures.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the light obstructing component defines a light obstructing component aperture such that when the light obstructing component is in the light transmissive state, the light obstructing component aperture substantially aligns with at least one of the first and second light blocking layer apertures.
3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the light blocking layer defines at least a third light blocking layer aperture and the light obstructing component is configured, in the light blocking state, to block the passage of light through the at least third light blocking layer aperture.
4 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein at least third light blocking layer aperture has dimensions substantially the same as the first light blocking layer aperture.
5 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the first, second, and at least third light blocking layer apertures are arranged substantially in a line along an axis of motion of the light obstructing component; and wherein the second light blocking layer aperture is positioned at one end of the line.
6 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the at least one dimension of the first light blocking layer aperture that is at least 25% larger than the corresponding dimension of the second light blocking layer aperture is a dimension along the axis of motion of the light obstructing component.
7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one dimension of the first light blocking layer aperture is about 100% larger than the corresponding dimension of the second light blocking layer aperture.
8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a display including the EMS display element;
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.
9 . The apparatus of claim 8 , the display further including:
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.
10 . The apparatus of claim 8 , the display further including:
an image source module configured to send the image data to the processor, wherein the image source module comprises at least one of a receiver, transceiver, and transmitter.
11 . The apparatus of claim 8 , the display further including:
an input device configured to receive input data and to communicate the input data to the processor.
12 . A method for forming a display apparatus, the method comprising:
forming a light blocking layer on a substrate, wherein forming the light blocking layer includes forming a first aperture and a second aperture such that the first aperture has at least one dimension that is at least about 25% larger than a corresponding dimension of the second aperture; and
forming a movable light obstructing component configured to move between a light blocking state and a light transmissive state to selectively block the passage of light through the first and second apertures.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein forming the movable light obstructing component includes defining a light obstructing component aperture such that when the light obstructing component is in the light transmissive state, the light obstructing component aperture substantially aligns with at least one of the first and second apertures.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein forming the light blocking layer further includes forming a third aperture having dimensions substantially the same as the dimensions of the first aperture.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein forming the light blocking layer further includes arranging the first, second and the third aperture substantially in a line along an axis of motion of the light obstructing component.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein forming the light blocking layer further includes forming the first and the second apertures such that at least one dimension of the first aperture that is along the axis of motion of the light obstructing component is at least 25% larger than the corresponding dimension of the second aperture.
17 . The method of claim 12 , wherein forming the light blocking layer further includes forming the first and second apertures such that the dimensions of the first aperture are 100% larger than the corresponding dimensions of the second aperture.