Oversized micro-mechanical light modulator with redundant elements, device and method
US8861066B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 16, 2010 |
| Grant date | Oct 14, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 5, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B26/0833
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present invention relates to a reconfigurable micro-mechanical light modulator including a two-dimensional array of modulating elements with redundant rows of modulating elements. In particular, it relates to extending the life of the modulator by shifting the set of elements used, without physically replacing the micro-mechanical light modulator. The modulating elements are adapted to modulate light impinging on the micro-mechanical light modulator. The array of modulating elements comprises a first and a second set of modulating elements. The second set is a redundant set of modulating elements that can be selected to substitute for the first set of modulating elements in modulating light impinging on the micro-mechanical light modulator, without physically replacing the micro-mechanical light modulator. Devices and methods are described.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.