| US 7,502,159 B2 | ||
| Methods and apparatus for actuating displays | ||
| Nesbitt W. Hagood, IV, Wellesley, Mass. (US); Jasper Lodewyk Steyn, Winchester, Mass. (US); Richard S. Payne, Andover, Mass. (US); Jignesh Gandhi, Burlington, Mass. (US); John J. Fijol, Shrewsbury, Mass. (US); and Roger W. Barton, Grand Marais, Minn. (US) | ||
| Assigned to Pixtronix, Inc., Andover, Mass. (US) | ||
| Filed on Jan. 19, 2007, as Appl. No. 11/656,307. | ||
| Application 11/656307 is a continuation in part of application No. 11/251035, filed on Oct. 14, 2005, granted, now 7,271,945. | ||
| Application 11/251035 is a continuation in part of application No. 11/218690, filed on Sep. 02, 2005, granted, now 7,417,782. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/676053, filed on Apr. 29, 2005. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/655827, filed on Feb. 23, 2005. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2007/0223080 A1, Sep. 27, 2007 | ||
| Int. Cl. G02B 26/00 (2006.01); G02B 26/08 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 359—290 [359/198] | 50 Claims |
| 1. A display apparatus comprising:
a plurality of apertures formed in a layer of material, wherein each aperture has at least one edge,
an array of shutter-based MEMS light modulators positioned between the layer of material and an intended viewer of the display
apparatus, each light modulator including a shutter having a light obstructing portion for selectively obstructing passage
of light though a corresponding one or more apertures, wherein
the shutter is shaped such that in a closed position, the light obstructing portion of the shutter overlaps each of the at
least one edge of its corresponding one or more apertures,
the array is separated from the layer of material by a gap, and
the overlap of each of the at least one edge is proportional to, and greater than or equal to the size of the gap.
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