Method and apparatus for modulating a light beam
First Claim
1. A light modulator configured for receiving a beam of multi-frequency light and for diffracting light having a composite of a subset of frequencies of the multi-frequency light in a predetermined direction, the modulator comprising at least two spatially separate sets of gratings each having a different grating period such that a first grating diffracts light of a first frequency of light from the multi-frequency light in the predetermined direction and the second grating diffracts light of a second frequency in the predetermined direction wherein the light diffracted by each set of gratings in the predetermined direction allows perception of a color which is intermediate to colors corresponding with the first and second frequencies.
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Abstract
A modulator for modulating incident rays of light, the modulator having a plurality of equally spaced apart elements, each of which includes a light reflective planar surface. The elements are arranged parallel to each other with their light reflective surfaces parallel to each other. The modulator includes means for supporting elements in relation to one another and means for moving particular ones of the elements relative to others so that the moved elements transit between a first configuration wherein the modulator acts to reflect the incident rays of light as a plane mirror, and a second configuration wherein the modulator diffracts the light reflected therefrom. In operation, the light reflective surfaces of the elements remain parallel to each other in both the first and the second configurations. The perpendicular spacing between the reflective surfaces of respective elements is equal to m/4 times the wavelength of the incident rays of light, wherein m=an even whole number or zero when the elements are in the first configuration and m=an odd whole number when the elements are in the second configuration.
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Citations
22 Claims
- 1. A light modulator configured for receiving a beam of multi-frequency light and for diffracting light having a composite of a subset of frequencies of the multi-frequency light in a predetermined direction, the modulator comprising at least two spatially separate sets of gratings each having a different grating period such that a first grating diffracts light of a first frequency of light from the multi-frequency light in the predetermined direction and the second grating diffracts light of a second frequency in the predetermined direction wherein the light diffracted by each set of gratings in the predetermined direction allows perception of a color which is intermediate to colors corresponding with the first and second frequencies.
- 4. A light modulator configured for receiving a beam of multi-frequency light and for diffracting light having a composite of a subset of frequencies of the multi-frequency light in a predetermined direction, the modulator comprising at least two spatially separate sets of gratings each having a different grating period such that a first grating diffracts light of a first frequency of light from the multi-frequency light in the predetermined direction and the second grating diffracts light of a second frequency in the predetermined direction wherein the light diffracted by each set of gratings is directed to the predetermined direction thereby allowing perception of a color which is intermediate to colors corresponding with the first and second frequencies.
- 7. A light modulator configured for receiving a beam of multi-frequency light and for diffracting light having a composite of a subset of frequencies of the multi-frequency light in a predetermined direction, the modulator comprising at least two spatially separate sets of gratings each having a different grating period such that a first grating diffracts light of a first frequency of light from the multi-frequency light in the predetermined direction and the second grating diffracts light of a second frequency in the predetermined direction and a diffraction control apparatus configured to control each of the sets of gratings to selectively diffract light wherein the light diffracted by each set of gratings in the predetermined direction allows perception of a color which is intermediate to colors corresponding with the first and second frequencies.
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9. A color display system comprising:
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a. a multi-frequency light source for forming a multi-frequency light beam; b. a plurality of optical devices, each mounted to receive the light beam wherein each of the optical devices is selectably configurable to diffract a particular frequency of the light beam in a same predetermined direction for forming a plurality of diffracted beams; and c. an optical collection system mounted to receive the diffracted beams for forming an image. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. At least two modulators for modulating an incident beam of light, each comprising:
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a. a plurality of elongated elements, each including a light reflective planar surface, the elements being arranged parallel to each other and with the light reflective surfaces of the elements lying in at least one parallel plane; b. means for supporting the elements in a relation to one another such that the elements in each modulator are spaced at a predetermined grating period; and c. means for moving a first set of the elements in a direction normal to said planes and relative to a second set of the elements, and between a first modulator configuration wherein said first and second sets act to reflect the incident beam of light as a plane mirror, and a second modulator configuration wherein said first and second sets diffract the incident beam of light as it is reflected from the surfaces of the elements wherein each modulator has a different grating period such that a first modulator diffracts a first frequency of light from the incident beam of light in a predetermined direction and a second modulator diffracts a second frequency of light from the incident light in the predetermined direction for allowing perception of a color which is intermediate to colors corresponding with the first and second frequencies.
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13. A color display system comprising:
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a. a multi-frequency light source for forming a multi-frequency light beam; and b. at least two modulators for modulating an incident beam of light, each comprising; (1) a plurality of elongated elements, each including a light reflective planar surface, the elements being arranged parallel to each other and with the light reflective surfaces of the elements lying in at least one parallel plane; (2) means for supporting the elements in a relation to one another such that the elements in each modulator are spaced at a predetermined grating period; and (3) means for moving a first set of the elements in a direction normal to said planes and relative to a second set of the elements, and between a first modulator configuration wherein said first and second sets act to reflect the incident beam of light as a plane mirror, and a second modulator configuration wherein said first and second sets diffract the incident beam of light as it is reflected from the surfaces of the elements wherein each modulator has a different grating period such that a first modulator diffracts a first frequency of light from the incident beam of light in a predetermined direction and a second modulator diffracts a second frequency of light from the incident beam of light in the predetermined direction for allowing perception of a color which is intermediate to colors corresponding with the first and the second frequencies.
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14. A device for modulating an incident beam of light for forming color, the incident beam including a plurality of frequencies, the device comprising:
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a. a plurality of diffraction gratings; and b. means for selectively configuring each grating to diffract the incident beam of light; wherein each diffraction grating is configured to diffract a predetermined frequency of light in a same predetermined direction for spatially directing each predetermined frequency of light diffracted by each diffraction grating for allowing perception of color which is intermediate to colors of a frequency of light from each of the diffraction gratings. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A device for modulating an incident beam of light, the incident beam including a plurality of frequencies, the device comprising:
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a. a first diffraction grating for diffracting light corresponding to a first frequency in a predetermined direction; and b. a second diffraction grating for diffracting light corresponding to a second frequency in the predetermined direction, wherein the first frequency corresponds to a first color and the second frequency corresponds to a second color, further wherein the first and second frequencies are spatially directed to allow perception of a third color. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification