Spatial light modulator and method
First Claim
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1. A spatial light modulator, comprising:
- (a) a plurality of pixels, each of said pixels including a deflectable beam, an address electrode adjacent said beam, and a landing electrode adjacent said beam;
(b) wherein a voltage applied between said beam and said address electrode deflects said beam toward said address electrode, and said landing electrode is located to contact said beam deflected toward said address electrode and prevent said deflected beam from contacting said address electrode.
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Abstract
An electrostatically deflectable beam spatial light modulator with the beams (30), address electrodes (42, 46), and landing electrodes (40, 41) to provide soft-landing of the beams on the landing electrodes (40, 41) which gives uniform large-angle deflection plus high reliability.
1057 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A spatial light modulator, comprising:
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(a) a plurality of pixels, each of said pixels including a deflectable beam, an address electrode adjacent said beam, and a landing electrode adjacent said beam; (b) wherein a voltage applied between said beam and said address electrode deflects said beam toward said address electrode, and said landing electrode is located to contact said beam deflected toward said address electrode and prevent said deflected beam from contacting said address electrode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A spatial light modulator, comprising:
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(a) a plurality of pixels formed in a layered structure; (b) said layered structure including an insulated substrate, a spacer layer on said substrate, a conductive reflecting layer on said spacer layer, and a plurality of addressing and landing electrodes; (c) each of said pixels including i. a deflectable element formed in said reflecting layer and connected to the remainder of said reflecting layer by at least one hinge formed from said reflecting layer, ii. a well formed in said spacer layer and extending from said deflectable element to said substrate, iii. a first addressing electrode on said substrate at the bottom of said well and located to deflect said deflectable element by electrostatic attraction, and iv. a first landing electrode on said substrate at the bottom of said well, said first landing electrode located both to contact said deflectable element when said deflectable element is deflected by attraction by said first addressing electrode to said substrate and to prevent said deflectable element from contacting said addressing electrode. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A spatial light modulator, comprising:
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(a) a plurality of pixels formed in a layered structure; (b) said layered structure including a bottom layer, a plurality of electrodes on said bottom layer, a planarizing spacer layer on said electrodes and bottom layer, and a conductive reflecting layer on said spacer layer; (c) each of said pixels including; i. a deflectable element formed in said reflecting layer; ii. first and second of said electrodes, said first and second electrodes both extending beneath said deflectable element, said first electrode an addressing electrode and said second electrode a landing electrode; and iii. a well formed in said spacer layer, said well extending from said deflectable element to said first and second electrodes and of width greater than the width of said deflectable element. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A deflectable beam light modulator, comprising:
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(a) an air gap capacitor with a first capacitor plate being a light-reflecting deflectable and conductive beam and a second capacitor plate being an addressing electrode; and (b) a conductive landing electrode of a selected potential different from the potential of said addressing electrode located to stop the deflection of said beam at a predetermined position away from maid addressing electrode. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. A deflectable beam light modulator, comprising:
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(a) an air gap capacitor with a first capacitor plate being a light reflecting deflectable beam and a second capacitor plate being an addressing electrode; and (b) an insulated landing electrode located to stop the deflection of said beam at a predetermined position away from said addressing electrode.
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25. A deflectable beam light modulator, comprising:
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(a) an air gap capacitor with a first capacitor plate being a light-reflecting deflectable beam having a deflection axis and a second capacitor plate being an addressing electrode; and (b) a deflection stop located outwardly of said deflection axis and said addressing electrode, said deflection stop to stop the deflection of said beam when said beam comes in contact with said deflection stop at a predetermined position away from said addressing electrode. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
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Specification