Patent · US Expired

Spatial light modulator with improved aperture ratio

US5083854A · kind A · utility

42Cited by
11References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 15, 1990
Grant dateJan 28, 1992
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 15, 2010

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02F1/135
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A spatial light modulator is disclosed with a first lens array disposed adjacent to a matrix of light modulators, and in proximity to a liquid crystal light valve containing a photoconductive element. Low intensity light is collimated by a lens element to illuminate an optical aperture which has geometric configuration similar to that of the matrix element. The first lens array focuses light from the illuminated aperture into the pupil of a matrix addressed spatial light modulator element. The second lens array collects light emitting from the light modulator element, and focuses the image of the aperture onto the photoconductive element of the liquid crystal light valve so as to preserve the geometrical and positional configuration of the optical aperture, and magnify the size of the illuminated region on the photoconductor. The design of the optics is such that when adjacent apertures are imaged onto the photoconductor, the proximate boundaries of the illuminated regions are contiguous.

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