Method and apparatus for using an array of grating light valves to produce multicolor optical images
US6219015A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 18, 1996 |
| Grant date | Apr 17, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 18, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB81C2201/115
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A multicolor optical image-generating device comprised of an array of grating light valves (GLVs) organized to form light-modulating pixel units for spatially modulating incident rays of light. The pixel units are comprised of three subpixel components each including a plurality of elongated, equally spaced apart reflective grating elements arranged parallel to each other with their light-reflective surfaces also parallel to each other. Each subpixel component includes means for supporting the grating elements in relation to one another, and means for moving alternate elements relative to the other elements and between a first configuration wherein the component acts to reflect incident rays of light as a plane mirror, and a second configuration wherein the component diffracts the incident rays of light as they are reflected from the grating elements. The three subpixel components of each pixel unit are designed such that when red, green and blue light sources are trained on the array, colored light diffracted by particular subpixel components operating in the second configuration will be directed through a viewing aperture, and light simply reflected from particular subpixel compo…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.