Optical modulation device with deformable cells

• US 5,652,672 A
• Filed: 05/02/1994
• Issued: 07/29/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomson - Csf
• Original Assignee: Thomson-CSF (Thales SA)
• Inventors: Huignard, Jean-Pierre, Loiseaux, Brigitte, Puech, Claude
• Primary Examiner(s): Epps, Georgia Y.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Robbins, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US08/211,947
• Time in Patent Office: 1,184 Days
• Field of Search: 359/294, 359/290, 359/291, 359/292
• US Class Current: 359/292
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/06 for controlling the phase of light G02B26/08 takes precedence , measuring optical phase difference G01J9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0816 by means of one or more reflecting elements

Abstract

Modulation mirrors including the deformable cells (CD1 to CDn) locally modified the planarity of a reflecting surface 18. The deformable cells deform under the effect of a voltage and the control of these deformable cells is such that a control voltage V_c is applied between a first and a second electrode 17, 26. A photoconductor element P1 to Pn is inserted between the second electrode 26 and the deformable cell (CD1 to CDn). A light beam (MF1 to MFn) illuminates the photoconductor element in order to obtain an elongation of the deformable cell.

Claims

1. A light modulation device comprising a modulation mirror reflecting light to be modulated from a reflecting surface, the modulation mirror including cells of the cell type which are deformable under the effect of an electrical control voltage, each deformable cell being capable of exhibiting a variation (Δ

L) of its length (L) as a function of the value of the control voltage providing a local deformation of the reflecting surface, the control voltage being applied between two opposite faces of each deformable cell, one of the faces being a fixed face and the other face being a moveable face, the control voltage being applied to each deformable cell through a respective photoconductor element, the modulation device further including;

means for adjusting resistivity exhibited by each photoconductor element as a function of the variation (Δ

L) desired for the corresponding deformable cell wherein the means for adjusting the resistivity of the photoconductor elements comprise a liquid-crystal screen including a plurality of liquid-crystal cells illuminated by a source of light and producing, in response, a plurality of microbeams of light, each photoconductor element being illuminated by at least one microbeam, and

a wavefront sensor system, said sensor system delivering information relating to a phase correction to be performed on a light wave reflected by the modulation mirror, the said information being applied to the means for adjusting the resistivity of the photoconductor elements.

2. Modulation device according to claim 1, wherein the deformable cells are arranged in a matrix arrangement, and in that it further includes an addressing control circuit of matrix type serving to control the deformable cells by way of the liquid-crystal screen.

3. Modulation device according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein each deformable cell is arranged between a photoconductor element with which it is in contact via its fixed face, and a first electrode common to all the deformable cells.

4. Modulation device according to any one claims 1 or 2, wherein the photoconductor elements are arranged between the fixed face of the deformable cells and a second transparent electrode common to all the photoconductor elements.

5. Modulation device according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the photoconductor elements are contained in the same plate of a photoconductor material, and are individualized by an illumination of the means for adjusting the resistivity of the photoconductor elements.

6. Modulation device according to claim 5, wherein a flexible layer is interposed between the first common electrode and the movable faces of the deformable cells.

7. Modulation device according to claim 6, wherein the first electrode common to all the movable faces constitutes the reflecting surface.

8. Modulation device according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the photoconductor elements are individualized and separated from one another.

9. Modulation device according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the control voltage of the deformable cells is applied between two electrodes, one of which is common to all the movable faces of the deformable cells and the other of which is common to the photoconductor elements, the voltage applied between these two common electrodes having a value equal to or greater than the maximum value to be applied between the two faces of the deformable cell.

10. Modulation device according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the deformable cells are of a piezoelectric material.

11. Modulation device according to claim 10, wherein at least one deformable cell is formed by at least two piezoelectric elements mounted end-to-end.

12. Modulation device according to claim 10, wherein the piezoelectric material is a PZT ceramic.

13. Modulation device according to claim 10, wherein the piezoelectric material is a piezoelectric polymer.

14. Modulation device according to claim 13, wherein the deformable cells consist of a sheet (80) of a polymer of a PVF2 type.

15. Modulation device according to claim 13, wherein the movable faces of the deformable cells are in contact with a first electrode common to all the movable faces and in that this common electrode constitutes the reflecting surface.

16. Modulation device according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the deformable cells consist of a sheet of elastomer.

17. A light modulation device comprising a modulation mirror reflecting light to be modulated from a reflecting surface, the modulation mirror including cells of the cell type which are deformable under the effect of an electrical control voltage, each deformable cell being capable of exhibiting a variation (Δ

L) of its length (L) as a function of the value of the control voltage providing a local deformation of the reflecting surface, the control voltage being applied between two opposite faces of each deformable cell, one of the faces being a fixed face and the other face being a moveable face, the control voltage being applied to each deformable cell through a respective photoconductor element, the modulation device further including;

means for adjusting resistivity exhibited by each photoconductor element as a function of the variation (Δ

L) desired for the corresponding deformable cell wherein the means for adjusting the resistivity of the photoconductor elements comprise a liquid-crystal screen including a plurality of liquid-crystal cells illuminated by a source of light and producing, in response, a plurality of microbeams of light, each photoconductor element being illuminated by at least one microbeam; and

a light source and an entry mask interposed between the latter and the reflecting surface, and an optical device of the "Schlieren optics" type, and an exit mask, interposed successively between the reflecting surface and a projection screen, the light source producing light intended to be reflected and modulated by the reflecting surface so as to produce images on the projection screen, video-type information relating to the images to be produced being applied to the means for adjusting the resistivity of the photoconductor elements.

18. Modulation device according to claim 17, further including means whereby light reflected by the reflecting surface is in the form of spectral lines.