Mems4 - 2

This paper reports a new flexible transparent image display based on the MEMS technology of plastic materials. A pair of thin PEN (polyethylene naphthalate) films with evaporated metal reflectors are laminated into a Fabry-Perot interferometer, and a transparent color is made by electrostatically tuning the gap. Thanks to the flexibility of the PEN films, the display could operate even when placed on a curved surface. INTRODUCTION Electrically rewritable electronic papers are expected to replace the vast amount of printed papers and to give low environmental impact to the forestry resources. Various kinds of electronic papers or thin image displays have been developed to meet the wide range of application requirements; for instance, the electrophoresis display developed by E Ink Co. delivers superior visibility which is almost equivalent to that of a printed paper [1], and organic electroluminescence is suitable for making flexible color displays for motion pictures [2]. Besides crucial requirements such as clear visibility, mechanical flexibility, and low power-consumption, electronic papers need to meet the demands for low-cost and the scalability to large printable area for practical use. In this paper, we present a new type of image display device that could be used as, for instance, over-sized rewritable color posters, by using a simple MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) fabrication technique on flexible plastic materials. Conventional MEMS displays include a projection type display of Digital Micromirror Device (DMD) developed by Texas Instruments Co. [3] and a face-up image display of iMoD developed by QUALCOMM Co. [4]. Different form these existing products, the proposed display mechanism has significance in the physical flexibility for rewritable poster applications.