Patent · US Expired

Imaging apparatus which includes a light-valve array having electrostatically deflectable elements

US4805038A · kind A · utility

56Cited by
12References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJul 30, 1987
Grant dateFeb 14, 1989
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 30, 2007

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B6/357
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Imaging apparatus is disclosed for exposing a recording medium to produce an image in accordance with information contained in an electrical signal. The apparatus comprises a light source, optical means for imaging light onto the recording medium, and a light-valve array to control the light reaching selected areas of the recording medium. In order to provide an improved means for controlling the light, the light-valve array is comprised of a plurality of electrostatically deflectable elements each of which contains a transmitter waveguide for transmitting light from the source to a receptor waveguide. The elements can be deflected from a first position in which the transmitter and receptor waveguides are axially aligned for transmitting light therethrough to a second position in which no light can be transmitted from the transmitter waveguides to the receptor waveguides; each of the elements is selectively deflectable in response to an information signal. Light from the receptor waveguides is imaged onto the recording medium.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.