Light shutter array

• US 5,416,631 A
• Filed: 12/30/1992
• Issued: 05/16/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Yagi, Tsukasa
• Primary Examiner(s): Moskowitz, Nelson
• Application Number:
  US07/998,723
• Time in Patent Office: 867 Days
• Field of Search: 359/245, 359/254, 359/276, 359/894, 369/118, 369/119, 372/12
• US Class Current: 359/254
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/0551 Constructional details

Abstract

A light shutter array to be employed in an optical head for a color display, a color printer or the like. The light shutter array has at least three lines of shutter elements which are made of a material having an electrooptic effect. In tile lines, shutter elements which have conductor-filmed windows and shutter elements which have bare windows are staggered. The shutter elements with bare windows function as light shutters, and the shutter elements with conductor-filmed windows function as electrodes. The shutter elements with bare windows in each line are driven in accordance with red, green or blue image data.

Claims

1. A light shutter array including a plurality of light shutter elements made of a material having an electro-optic effect, said light shutter array comprising:

a first line of light shutter elements;

a second line of light shutter elements provided in parallel with said first line, said second line including light shutter elements with conductor-filmed windows and light shutter elements with bare windows, each of said light shutter elements with conductor-filmed windows being disposed between said light shutter elements with bare windows;

a third line of light shutter elements provided between said first line and said second line in parallel therewith, said third line including light shutter elements with conductor-filmed windows and light shutter elements with bare windows, each of said light shutter elements with bare windows in said third line being adjacent to one of said light shutter elements with conductor-filmed windows in said second line;

a common electrode provided between said first line and said third line, said common electrode being directly connected with the light shutter elements in said first line and in said third line and being connected with the light shutter elements with bare windows in said second line via the light shutter elements with conductor-filmed windows in said third line;

first individual electrodes provided at an opposite side of said first line to said third line, said first individual electrodes being connected with the light shutter elements in said first line individually; and

second individual electrodes provided at a side of said second line that is opposite to said third line, said second individual electrodes including electrodes which are directly connected individually with the light shutter elements with bare windows in said second line and electrodes which are connected individually with the light shutter elements with bare windows in said third line via the light shutter elements with conductor-filmed windows in said second line.

2. The light shutter array as claimed in claim 1, wherein said light shutter elements with conductor-filmed windows and said light shutter elements with bare windows are staggered.

3. The light shutter array as claimed in claim 1, wherein said light shutter elements are made of PLZT.

4. A light shutter array including a plurality of light shutter elements made of a material having an electro-optic effect, said light shutter array comprising:

a first line of light shutter elements;

a second line of light shutter elements provided in parallel with said first line, said second line including light shutter elements with conductor-filmed windows and light shutter elements with bare windows, each of said light shutter elements with conductor-filmed windows being disposed between said light shutter elements with bare windows;

a third line of light shutter elements provided between said first line and said second line in parallel therewith, said third line including light shutter elements with conductor-filmed windows and light shutter elements with bare windows, each of said light shutter elements with bare windows in said third line being adjacent to one of said light shutter elements with conductor-filmed windows in said second line;

a plurality of first electrodes provided on a side of said second line that is opposite to said third line, which are directly connected individually with the light shutter elements with bare windows in said second line; and

a plurality of second electrodes provided on the side of said second line opposite to said third line, which are connected individually with the light shutter elements with bare windows in said third line via the light shutter elements with conductor-filmed windows in said second line.

5. The light shutter array as claimed in claim 4, wherein said light shutter elements with conductor-filmed windows and said light shutter elements with bare windows are staggered.

6. The light shutter array as claimed in claim 4, wherein said light shutter elements are made of PLZT.

7. A light shutter array including a plurality of light shutter elements made of a material having an electro-optic effect, said light shutter array comprising:

a first line of light shutter elements;

a second line of light shutter elements provided in parallel with said first line, said second line including light shutter elements with conductor-filmed windows and light shutter elements with bare windows which are arranged alternately;

a third line of light shutter elements provided between said first line and said second line in parallel therewith, said third line including light shutter elements with conductor-filmed windows and light shutter elements with bare windows which are arranged alternately, said light shutter elements with bare windows in said third line being adjacent to said light shutter elements with conductor-filmed windows in said second line;

a common electrode provided between said first line and said third line, said common electrode being directly connected with the light shutter elements in said first line and in said third line and being connected with the light shutter elements with bare windows in said second line via the light shutter elements with conductor-filmed windows in said third line;

first individual electrodes provided at a side of said first line that is opposite to said third line, said first individual electrodes being individually connected with the light shutter elements in said first line; and

second individual electrodes provided at a side of said second line that is opposite to said third line, said second individual electrodes including electrodes which are directly connected individually with the light shutter elements with bare windows in said second line and electrodes which are connected individually with the light shutter elements with bare windows in said third line via the light shutter elements with conductor-filmed windows in said second line.

8. The light shutter array as claimed in claim 7, wherein said light shutter elements are staggered.

9. The light shutter array as claimed in claim 7, wherein said light shutter elements are made of PLZT.