Field emission array (FEA) addressed deformable light valve modulator
US6346776B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 10, 2000 |
| Grant date | Feb 12, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 10, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG09G3/3433
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A compact, high resolution, bright and long life modulator for projection displays, mates a field emission array (FEA) with a deformable light valve modulator (DLVM) of reflective operation in a thin vacuum package. The DLVM includes a continuous film mirror layer formed on or between one or more deformable layers on a transparent substrate. The field emitters (at least one per pixel) are driven to deliver primary electrons that strike and deposit a charge that produces electrostatic forces that locally deform the continuous film mirror layer. Because the mirror layer is a continuous film, i.e. not pixelated, the modulator resolution is limited only by the addressing resolution of the FEA. Mating the FEA and DLVM technologies also reduces the drive voltage requirements associated with typical FEA driven phosphor displays and scanned beam DLVMs thus improving their performance and extending the lifetime of each.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.