Membrane light modulating systems
First Claim
1. A system for modulating incident light by impinging said light on a membrane mirror which can be deformed in accordance with an electric charge on individual pixel portions of the membrane mirror;
- the improvement wherein the membrane is supported on a plurality of insulating walls which are formed on an electrode-containing surface to define potential wells, each said potential well constituting a pixel so that the bottom of each of said wells has said electrode surface thereon and a charge difference can be created between the electrode and the portion of the membrane overlying each pixel, and means for creating an image defining charge difference across said membrane by addressing said membrane by impinging upon one side of said membrane with an image modified electron stream, each of said plurality of insulating walls including two transparent insulators and a mirror surface interposed between said two insulators, said insulating walls being mounted on a transparent electrode, said incident light to be modulated impinging upon the side of said membrane opposite to said one side.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A membrane light modulator comprising a charge transfer plate, and having a multiplicity of conductors extending from the rear surface to the front surface of the plate. The conductors are supported in an insulating matrix. The front side of the transfer plate has a plurality of potential wells defined by insulating walls, each potential well constituting a pixel. A plurality of conductors is provided for each pixel. A deformable reflecting membrane comprising a metal layer spans the potential wells. An electric potential is provided on the metal layer, and a source of electrons is provided for impacting the rear surface of the charge transfer plate.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. A system for modulating incident light by impinging said light on a membrane mirror which can be deformed in accordance with an electric charge on individual pixel portions of the membrane mirror;
the improvement wherein the membrane is supported on a plurality of insulating walls which are formed on an electrode-containing surface to define potential wells, each said potential well constituting a pixel so that the bottom of each of said wells has said electrode surface thereon and a charge difference can be created between the electrode and the portion of the membrane overlying each pixel, and means for creating an image defining charge difference across said membrane by addressing said membrane by impinging upon one side of said membrane with an image modified electron stream, each of said plurality of insulating walls including two transparent insulators and a mirror surface interposed between said two insulators, said insulating walls being mounted on a transparent electrode, said incident light to be modulated impinging upon the side of said membrane opposite to said one side. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
Specification