Blazed grating light valve
US6829092B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 15, 2001 |
| Grant date | Dec 7, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 15, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B26/0808
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A light modulator includes elongated elements arranged parallel to each other. In a first diffraction mode, the light modulator operates to diffract an incident light into at least two diffraction orders. In a second diffraction mode, the light modulator operates to diffract the incident light into a single diffraction order. Each of the elongated elements comprises a blaze profile, which preferably comprises a reflective stepped profile across a width of each of the elongated elements and which produces an effective blaze at a blaze angle. Alternatively, the blaze profile comprises a reflective surface angled at the blaze angle. Each of selected ones of the elongated elements comprise a first conductive element. The elongated elements produce the first diffraction when a first electrical bias is applied between the first conductive elements and a substrate. A relative height of the blazed portions are adjusted to produce the second diffraction when a second electrical bias is applied between the first conductive elements and the substrate. In an alternative embodiment, each of the elongated elements includes the first conductive element and multiple elongated elements are arranged…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.