System for controlling light including a micromachined foucault shutter array and a method of manufacturing the same
US6214633A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 28, 1998 |
| Grant date | Apr 10, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 28, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B3/0006
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An apparatus for controlling light includes a non-transparent surface for blocking incident light, an array of first lenses for focusing the incident light upon the non-transparent surface, an array of shutters corresponding to the array of first lenses and positioned on the non-transparent surface for controlling passage of the incident light through the non-transparent surface, and an array of second lenses corresponding to the array of shutters for collimating the incident light passing through the shutters. The shutters are separated from the first lenses by a distance equal to a focal distance of the first lenses such that the incident light is focused by the first lenses onto the shutters. As such, the shutters may be opened and closed to control the intensity of the incident light passing therethrough. Electrostatic comb drives corresponding to the array of shutters may be used for actuating the shutters, where the electrostatic comb drivers each include two stationary stators that are separated by a distance at least as great as the largest shutter openings, and where the shutter includes two sliders that move relative to the stationary stators based on a magnitude of a vol…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.