An IMOD-based reflective flat panel display includes hundreds of thousands of individual IMOD elements each a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS)-based device.
Unlike conventional back-lit liquid crystal displays, it is clearly visible in bright ambient light such as sunlight.
A pixel in an IMOD-based display consists of one or more subpixels that are individual microscopic interferometric cavities similar in operation to Fabry–Pérot interferometers (etalons).
While a simple etalon consists of two half-silvered mirrors, an IMOD comprises a reflective membrane which can move in relation to a semi-transparent thin film stack.
[5] With an air gap defined within this cavity, the IMOD behaves like an optically resonant structure whose reflected color is determined by the size of the airgap.
Application of a voltage to the IMOD creates electrostatic forces which bring the membrane into contact with the thin film stack.
[6] The IMOD technology was invented by Mark W. Miles,[2][7] a MEMS researcher and founder of Etalon, Inc., and (co-founder) of Iridigm Display Corporation.
QMT's displays, using IMOD technology, are found in the Acoustic Research ARWH1 Stereo Bluetooth headset device, the Showcare Monitoring system (Korea), the Hisense C108,[12] and MP3 applications from Freestyle Audio and Skullcandy.