1. An electrophoretic display device comprising a pixel comprising charged pigment particles for determining a pigmentation of the pixel,
the pixel comprising an aperture area being a visible part of the pixel determining the pigmentation of the pixel, the pixel further comprising a storage area for storing the charged pigment particles away from the aperture area,
the pixel comprising an accumulation electrode and a field electrode, the accumulation electrode being arranged at the storage area for accumulating the charged pigment particles away from the aperture area, and the field electrode occupying a field-electrode area being at least a part of the aperture area of the pixel, the charged pigment particles being movable between the accumulation electrode and the field electrode under control of an electric field, a dimension of the charged pigment particles being selected sufficiently small to obtain a uniform distribution of charged pigment particles across the field-electrode area for generating a substantial homogeneous pigmentation at the part of the aperture of the pixel occupied by the field electrode, the sufficiently small charged pigment particles having a repellent force to prevent the forming of a rim of charged pigment particles at or around the field-electrode edges, the charged pigment particles comprise nano-particles having a particle size below 400 nanometers, wherein
the accumulation electrode and the field electrode are arranged in a configuration wherein the accumulation electrode is arranged at a top side of the pixel to block viewing of accumulated particles in the storage area through the aperture area of the pixel, and the field electrode is located at an opposite bottom side of the pixel to thereby define a vertical space with the accumulation electrode and provide at least partly vertical movement of the charged particles therebetween; and wherein
the electrophoretic display device comprises a plurality of pixels, each comprising the aperture area comprising the field electrode, and each comprising the storage area comprising the accumulation electrode, the accumulation electrodes of the plurality of pixels being coupled to form a common accumulation electrode for the plurality of pixels, the common accumulation electrode omitting a need for a barrier between the plurality of pixels; and wherein
a part of the common accumulation electrode that is arranged adjacent to the field electrodes of adjacent pixels is shared between said adjacent pixels in such a manner that said part of the common accumulation electrode is configured to accumulate charged pigment particles corresponding to both adjacent pixels.
2. The electrophoretic display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrophoretic display device comprises a driver circuit for driving the pixel and for determining a pigmentation of the pixel, the driver circuit being configured for temporarily varying a static charge difference between the field electrode and the accumulation electrode for determining an amount of charged pigment particles to move from the accumulation electrode to the field electrode andor from the field electrode to the accumulation electrode.
3. The electrophoretic display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the field-electrode area is larger than half the aperture area.
4. The electrophoretic display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the field-electrode area is substantially equal to the aperture area.
5. The electrophoretic display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the field electrode is at least partially transparent to visible light.
6. The electrophoretic display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the field electrode is at least partially reflective to visible light.
7. The electrophoretic display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the accumulation electrode of the pixel comprises a first accumulation electrode and a second accumulation electrode, and wherein the charged pigment particles comprise a first type of charged pigment particles and a second type of charged pigment particles, the first type of charged pigment particles being oppositely charged with respect to the second type of charged pigment particles, and, in operation, the first accumulation electrode being oppositely charged with respect to the second accumulation electrode.
8. The electrophoretic display device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first and second accumulation electrodes are arranged at opposite side edges of the top side of the pixel, the first and second accumulation electrodes being spaced laterally and vertically relative to the field electrode and defining therebetween the aperture area of the pixel.
9. The electrophoretic display device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first and second accumulation electrodes define first and second storage areas for the first and second types of charged particles to thereby block viewing of the first and second types of charged pigment particles when in the first and second storage areas, respectively.
10. The electrophoretic display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pixel comprises a first sub-pixel and a second sub-pixel adjacent to the first sub-pixel and stacked in a direction substantially perpendicular to the aperture area.
11. The electrophoretic display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrophoretic display device comprises a backlighting system for illuminating the pixel, the charged pigment particles in the pixel being configured for altering a transmission of light emitted by the backlighting system through the pixel.
12. A driver circuit for use in an electrophoretic display device according to claim 1, the driver circuit being configured for applying a time-varying electric field between the accumulation electrode and the field electrode of the electrophoretic display device for determining an amount of charged pigment particles being moved between the accumulation electrode and the field electrode.
13. Chargeable or charged pigment particles for use in an electrophoretic display device according to claim 1, wherein the chargeable or charged pigment particles, when charged and in use in the electrophoretic display device, are selected sufficiently small to obtain a uniform distribution of charged pigment particles across the field-electrode area, the sufficiently small charged pigment particles having a repellent force to prevent the forming of a rim of charged pigment particles at or around the field-electrode edges, the charged pigment particles comprising nano-particles having a particle size below 400 nanometers.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An optical coupling method for modular apparatus, the method comprising:
providing an enclosure, wherein the enclosure has a first external port and a second external port;
providing a first delivery fiber connected to the first port;
providing a first gain fiber, wherein a first end of the first gain fiber is connected to the delivery fiber, wherein the first gain fiber is outside the enclosure; and within the enclosure:
generating laser light from a plurality of laser diodes that are within the enclosure;
collimating light from the plurality of laser diodes into a collimated pump-light beam, wherein the pump light in the collimated pump-light beam has a characteristic first wavelength;
directing pump light inside the enclosure from the collimated pump-light beam to exit the enclosure via the first external port such that the pump light propagates through the delivery fiber to the first gain fiber, and wherein the directing of pump light inside the enclosure includes wavelength-selective transmitting the collimated pump-light beam towards the first port;
receiving signal light coming from the first gain fiber outside the enclosure through the delivery fiber and through the first external port, wherein the signal light has a characteristic second wavelength different than the first wavelength; and
directing signal light inside the enclosure between the first external port and the second external port such that light derived from the signal light exits the enclosure via the second external port, wherein the directing of signal light inside the enclosure includes wavelength-selective reflecting of signal light from the first port towards the second port.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
non-linear wavelength converting, inside the enclosure, at least a portion of the signal light having the characteristic second wavelength to a characteristic third wavelength.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
providing feedback inside the enclosure in order to lase the signal light.
4. An optical coupling method for modular apparatus, the method comprising:
providing an enclosure, wherein the enclosure has a first external port and a second external port;
providing a first delivery fiber connected to the first port;
providing a first gain fiber, wherein a first end of the first gain fiber is connected to the delivery fiber, wherein the first gain fiber is outside the enclosure; and within the enclosure:
generating laser pump light from a plurality of laser diodes that are within the enclosure;
stabilizing the pump light using at least one grating;
collimating the pump light from the plurality of laser diodes into a collimated pump-light beam, wherein the pump light in the collimated pump-light beam has a characteristic first wavelength;
directing the pump light inside the enclosure from the collimated pump-light beam to exit the enclosure into the delivery fiber via the first external port;
receiving signal light coming from the delivery fiber outside the enclosure through the first external port, wherein the signal light has a characteristic second wavelength different than the first wavelength; and
directing the signal light inside the enclosure between the first external port and the second external port such that light derived from the signal light exits the enclosure via the second external port; and
coupling a seed signal having the second wavelength to a second end of the first gain fiber such that the seed signal and the pump light counter-propagate in the first gain fiber; and
amplifying the seed signal in the first gain fiber using power from the pump light.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the directing of signal light inside the enclosure includes wavelength-selective reflecting of signal light from the first port towards the second port and the directing of pump light inside the enclosure includes wavelength-selective transmitting the collimated pump-light beam towards the first port.
6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:
disconnecting the first end of the first delivery fiber from the first port;
directly connecting a first end of a second delivery fiber outside the enclosure to the first port, wherein the second delivery fiber is connected to a second gain fiber, and wherein one or more characteristics of the second gain fiber are different than corresponding characteristics of the first gain fiber;
coupling a seed signal to a second end of the second gain fiber such that the seed signal and the pump light counter-propagate in the second gain fiber; and
amplifying the seed signal in the second gain fiber using power from the pump light.
7. The method of claim 4, wherein the providing of the delivery fiber includes providing a photonic-crystal delivery fiber, and connecting the photonic-crystal delivery fiber to the enclosure using solder.
8. The method of claim 4, wherein the directing of signal light inside the enclosure includes wavelength-selective transmitting of a signal light from the first port towards the second port and the directing of pump light inside the enclosure includes wavelength-selective reflecting the collimated pump-light beam towards the first port.
9. An optical coupling method for modular apparatus, the method comprising:
providing an enclosure, wherein the enclosure has a first external port and a second external port;
connecting a first delivery fiber to the first port;
connecting a first end of a first gain fiber to the delivery fiber, wherein the first gain fiber is outside the enclosure; and
within the enclosure:
generating laser pump light from one or more laser diodes that are within the enclosure;
collimating the pump light from the one or more laser diodes into a collimated pump-light beam, wherein the pump light in the collimated pump-light beam has a characteristic first wavelength;
directing the pump light inside the enclosure from the collimated pump-light beam to exit the enclosure via the first external port such that the pump light propagates through the delivery fiber to the gain fiber, and signal light from the gain fiber propagates through the delivery fiber to the first external port;
receiving the signal light coming from outside the enclosure through the first external port, wherein the signal light has a characteristic second wavelength different than the first wavelength;
directing the signal light inside the enclosure between the first external port and the second external port such that light derived from the signal light exits the enclosure via the second external port; and
coupling signal feedback having the second wavelength to the first gain fiber such that lasing occurs in-the first gain fiber using power from the pump light.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first gain fiber is a polarization-maintaining fiber, the method further comprising:
maintaining a polarization of the signal light within the enclosure.
11. A modular optical coupling apparatus comprising:
an enclosure, wherein the enclosure has a first external port and a second external port;
a plurality of laser diodes held within the enclosure, and configured to output pump light;
a beam shaper held within the enclosure and optically coupled to receive pump light from the plurality of laser diodes and to provide a collimated pump-light beam, wherein the pump light in the collimated pump-light beam has a characteristic first wavelength;
at least one stabilization grating located in an optical path between the plurality of laser diodes and the beam shaper and configured to stabilize the pump light;
a first wavelength-selective optical element configured to direct pump light inside the enclosure from the collimated pump-light beam to the first external port and to direct signal light inside the enclosure between the first external port and the second external port, wherein the signal light has a characteristic second wavelength different than the first wavelength;
a delivery fiber outside the enclosure, wherein a first end of the delivery fiber is connected to the first port; and
a first gain fiber outside the enclosure, wherein a first end of the first gain fiber is connected to a second end of the delivery fiber.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:
a second wavelength-selective optical element located between the first wavelength-selective optical element and the plurality of laser diodes and configured to substantially block, inside the enclosure, signal light from reaching the one or more laser diodes, wherein at least the first wavelength-selective element includes a dichroic mirror.
13. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:
a non-linear wavelength converter held inside the enclosure and operable to receive the signal light from the first port having the characteristic second wavelength and to convert at least a portion of the signal light having the characteristic second wavelength to a characteristic third wavelength.
14. A modular optical-coupling apparatus comprising:
an enclosure, wherein the enclosure has a first external port and a second external port;
one or more laser diodes held within the enclosure;
a beam shaper held within the enclosure and optically coupled to receive pump light from one or more laser diodes and to provide a collimated pump-light beam, wherein the pump light in the collimated pump-light beam has a characteristic first wavelength;
a first wavelength-selective optical element configured to direct pump light inside the enclosure from the collimated pump-light beam to exit the enclosure through the first external port and to direct signal light inside the enclosure between the first external port and the second external port, wherein the signal light has a characteristic second wavelength different than the first wavelength;
a delivery fiber outside the enclosure, wherein a first end of the delivery fiber is directly connected to the first port;
a first gain fiber outside the enclosure, wherein a first end of the first gain fiber is connected to a second end of the delivery fiber; and
a seed-signal source that supplies a seed signal having the second wavelength to a second end of the first gain fiber such that the seed signal and the pump light counter-propagate in the first gain fiber, and wherein the apparatus is configured to amplify the seed signal in the first gain fiber using power from the pump light.
15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:
a gain medium coupled to the first port; and
one or more feedback elements configured to form a laser using the gain medium.
16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first wavelength-selective optical element includes a dichroic beam-splitter mirror configured to reflect the signal light from the first port towards the second port and to transmit the collimated pump-light beam towards the first port.
17. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:
a second gain fiber, wherein a first end of the second gain fiber is configured to be directly connected to the delivery fiber, and the apparatus is configured to enable the first gain fiber to be disconnected from the delivery fiber and exchanged by having the second gain fiber connected to the first port.
18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first gain fiber is a polarization-maintaining fiber, and wherein the apparatus is configured to maintain a polarization of the signal light within the enclosure.
19. The apparatus of claim 14,
wherein the delivery fiber is a hollow-core photonic-bandgap fiber having a hollow-endcap termination at a first end.
20. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first wavelength-selective optical element includes a dichroic beam-splitter mirror configured to signal light from the first port towards the second port and to transmit the collimated pump-light beam towards the first port.
21. A modular optical coupling apparatus comprising:
an enclosure, wherein the enclosure has a first external port and a second external port;
a plurality of laser diodes held within the enclosure;
means for combining laser light from the plurality of laser diodes into a collimated pump-light beam;
means for directing pump light inside the enclosure from the collimated pump-light beam to exit the enclosure through the first external port, and wherein the means for directing of pump light inside the enclosure includes means for wavelength-selective transmitting the collimated pump-light beam towards the first port;
a delivery fiber located external to the enclosure and configured to couple the pump light from the first external port to a gain fiber and to couple signal light from the gain fiber to the first eternal port, wherein the delivery fiber is connected to the first external port; and
means for directing signal light inside the enclosure between the first external port and the second external port, wherein the signal light has a characteristic second wavelength different than the first wavelength, wherein the means for directing of signal light inside the enclosure includes means for wavelength-selective reflecting of signal light from the first port towards the second port.
22. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:
means for non-linear wavelength converting, inside the enclosure, at least a portion of the signal light having the characteristic second wavelength to a characteristic third wavelength.
23. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:
means for providing feedback inside the enclosure in order to lase the signal light.
24. A modular optical coupling apparatus comprising:
an enclosure, wherein the enclosure has a first external port and a second external port;
a plurality of laser diodes that are held within the enclosure and that generate pump light;
means for stabilizing the pump light using at least one grating;
means for collimating the pump light from the the plurality of laser diodes into a collimated pump-light beam, wherein the pump light in the collimated pump-light beam has a characteristic first wavelength;
means for directing pump light inside the enclosure from the collimated pump-light beam to exit the enclosure through the first external port, wherein the means for directing pump light inside the enclosure is transmissive to pump light;
means for directing signal light inside the enclosure between the first external port and the second external port, wherein the signal light has a characteristic second wavelength different than the first wavelength, wherein the means for directing signal light inside the enclosure is reflective to signal light;
delivery-fiber means for coupling light between a first end of a first gain fiber outside the enclosure and the first port;
means for coupling a seed signal having the second wavelength to a second end of the first gain fiber such that the seed signal and the pump light counter-propagate in the first gain fiber; and
means for amplifying the seed signal in the first gain fiber using power from the pump light.
25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the means for directing of signal light inside the enclosure includes means for wavelength-selective reflecting of signal light from the first port towards the second port and the means for directing of pump light inside the enclosure includes means for wavelength-selective transmitting the collimated pump-light beam towards the first port.
26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the first gain fiber is a polarization-maintaining fiber, the apparatus farther comprising:
means for maintaining a polarization of the signal light within the enclosure.
27. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the delivery-fiber means further includes
a delivery fiber located outside the enclosure and having a first end permanently affixed to the first port
and a second end connected to the first end of the gain fiber outside the enclosure.
28. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the means for directing of signal light inside the enclosure includes means for wavelength-selective transmitting of a signal light from the first port towards the second port and the means for directing of pump light inside the enclosure includes means for wavelength-selective reflecting the collimated pump-light beam towards the first port.
29. A modular optical coupling apparatus comprising:
an enclosure, wherein the enclosure has a first external port and a second external port;
one or more laser diodes held within the enclosure;
means for collimating the pump light from the one or more laser diodes into a collimated pump-light beam, wherein the pump light in the collimated pump-light beam has a characteristic first wavelength;
means for directing pump light inside the enclosure from the collimated pump-light beam to the first external port;
delivery-fiber means for coupling the pump light from the first external port to a gain fiber and for coupling signal light from the gain fiber to the first eternal port, wherein the delivery-fiber means is external to the enclosure and is connected to the first external port;
means for directing signal light inside the enclosure between the first external port and the second external port, wherein the signal light has a characteristic second wavelength different than the first wavelength;
means for coupling signal feedback having the second wavelength to the first gain fiber; and
means for lasing in the first gain fiber using power from the pump light.
30. The apparatus of claim 29, further comprising:
means for disconnecting the first gain fiber;
means for connecting a second gain fiber outside the enclosure to the delivery-fiber means, wherein one or more characteristics of the second gain fiber are different than corresponding characteristics of the first gain fiber;
means for coupling a seed signal having the second wavelength to a second end of the second gain fiber such that the seed signal and the pump light counter-propagate in the second gain fiber; and
means for amplifying the seed signal in the second gain fiber using power from the pump light.