Color image intensification and projection using deformable mirror light valve

• US 3,912,386 A
• Filed: 06/14/1974
• Issued: 10/14/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Arthur Herbert Firester, Istvan Gorog
• Original Assignee: Arthur Herbert Firester, Istvan Gorog
• Inventors: Gorog, Istvan, Firester, Arthur Herbert
• Primary Examiner(s): Aegerter, Richard E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mirabito, A. Jason
• Application Number:
  US05/479,527
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• Field of Search: 353/120,122,25 350/162SF,162ZP,161
• US Class Current: 348/764
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0841 the reflecting element being moved or deformed by electrostatic means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/102 for generating a colour image from monochromatic image signal sources
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/1086 operating by diffraction only
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/4205 having a diffractive optical element [DOE] contributing to image formation, e.g. whereby modulation transfer function MTF or optical aberrations are relevant
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 33/00 Colour photography, other than mere exposure or projection of a colour film printing apparatus G03B27/00; stereoscopic colour photography G03B35/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3108 by using a single electronic spatial light modulator

Abstract

A color image intensifier and projector includes a reflective light valve lamination having, in order, a flexible conductive mirror, a deformable layer, a photoconductive layer, a transparent conductive layer, and a plurality of optical diffraction gratings each for a different color. An electric potential is applied across the flexible conductive mirror and the transparent conductive layer to bias the photoconductive layer. When an input colored image is projected through the gratings to the photoconductive layer, the resulting electric fields cause the deformable layer and flexible conductive mirror thereon to be deformed in accordance with the colored image as modified by the diffraction gratings. A Schlieren optical system is included to direct light from a source to the flexible conductive mirror, and to collect reflected light and direct it through a fourier transform plane to a utilization plane. A color-decoding spatial filter is located in the fourier transform plane to recreate the color image at the utilization plane.

Claims

1. A color image intensifier and projector, comprising a light valve including, in order, a flexible conductive mirror, a deformable layer, a photoconductive layer, a transparent conductive layer, and a plurality of optical diffraction gratings each for a different color, means to apply an electric potential across said flexible conductive mirror and said transparent conductive layer, means to project an input color image through said gratings to said photoconductive layer, whereby said deformable layer and flexible conductive mirror thereon can be deformed in accordance with the color image as modified by the diffraction gratings, a Schlieren optical system including means to direct light from a source to said flexible conductive mirror, and means to collect reflected light and direct it through a fourier transform plane to a utilization plane, and a spatial filter located in said fourier transform plane and having a pattern to recreate the color image at said utilization plane.

2. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein the optical gratings for the different colors comprise spaced lines of corresponding different colors oriented at different angles.

3. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein the optical gratings for the different colors comprise spaced lines of corresponding different colors and having different spacings.

4. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein the optical gratings for the different colors comprise different color lines at different angles and having different spacings.

5. The combination as defined in claim 2 wherein the gratings for the different colors overlap.

6. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein the grating elements for each color are non-overlapping in relation to grating elements for the other colors.

7. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said spatial filter consists of apertures positioned to pass diffracted light of predetermined different colors.

8. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said spatial filter consists of colored filters positioned to pass diffracted light of predetermined different colors, and also components of the predetermined different colors included in nearby-positioned light of mixed colors.