Micromachined Interferometric Optoelectronic Display Devices

Devices containing planar arrays of micromachined, electrostatically adjustable Fabry-Perot interferometers are undergoing development. These devices could be designed, for example, as color high-definition television displays, as larger flat-panel displays for indoor and outdoor entertainment and advertising, as filter arrays for spectroscopy, and as modulator arrays for optical computing and switching. In comparison with state-of-the-art flat-panel display devices based on liquid crystals, plasmas, and electroluminescence, the present devices offer potential advantages of high speed, insensitivity to changes in temperature, low power consumption, wide viewing angle, scalability, light weight, and long life.