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Linear electrostatic modulator

  • US 5,661,593 A
  • Filed: 09/01/1995
  • Issued: 08/26/1997
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/01/1992
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An electrostatic spatial light modulator comprising:

  • an insulating substrate,a capacitive pixel element comprising;

    first electrode means affixed to said substrate,reflective conductor means affixed to said substrate overlapping and separated from said first electrode means,an electronic switch,said electronic switch comprises a first terminal, a second terminal and a third terminal,said first terminal to said electronic switch is electrically connected to said pixel element,said electronic switch comprises a device selected from the group consisting of a) thin film transistors formed on said substrate and b) threshold device pairs affixed to said substrate coupled together at said first terminal of said electronic switch in non-opposing series relation, said threshold devices being of the type which provides a low impedance to current flow when forward biased into an on condition,potential control means for applying to said pixel element a potential difference comprising;

    means operatively associated with said control means electrically connected to said second terminal of said electronic switch to enable said potential difference to be dependent on a potential applied to said third terminal of said electronic switch,whereby varying said potential difference varies separation between said reflective conductor means and said first electrode means of said pixel element thereby modulating a wavefront incident on said reflective conductor means.

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