Patent · US Expired

Enhancement electrode configuration for electrically controlled light modulators

US7375870B2 · kind B2 · utility

103Cited by
4References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJun 13, 2002
Grant dateMay 20, 2008
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 23, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03H2225/32
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An electrically controlled light modulator device comprises at least one cell, where two deformable dielectric layers meet at an interface, at least one of said layers consisting of viscoelastic relief forming gel. A first support electrode structure and a second signal electrode structures are arranged on separate sides of the dielectric layers in order to create an electric field passing through said layers and in order to create surface reliefs on the viscoelastic gel layer. According to the invention, a third enhancement electrode structure is arranged in the proximity of the first signal electrode structure. Applying enhancement signal voltage between the enhancement electrode structure and the signal electrode structure concentrates locally the electric field passing through the two deformable dielectric layers and therefore enhances the amplitude of the deformation of the viscoelastic gel layer.

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