Method and apparatus for using an array of grating light valves to produce multicolor optical images
First Claim
1. Display apparatus for generating multi-colored optical images, comprising:
- housing means having an optical aperture through which light may be passed;
light valve means disposed within said housing means and forming an array of discrete light-modulating pixel units, each including a plurality of subpixel components having elongated grating elements, the grating elements of at least two subpixel components of each pixel unit being oriented such that the grating elements of a first of said two subpixel components extend in a direction different from that of the grating elements of a second of said two subpixel components, each said subpixel component being adapted to selectively have a reflective state and a diffractive state;
means for controlling each said subpixel component by moving selected ones of said grating elements to enable the controlled subpixel component to operate in a reflective state and a diffractive state; and
a plurality of colored light sources respectively positioned to illuminate particular subpixel components of each pixel unit of said array such that no light reflected from any of said subpixel components in a reflective state passes through said aperture, but such that light diffracted from corresponding ones of said subpixel components of each said pixel unit in a diffractive state is directed through said aperture.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multicolor optical image-generating device comprised of an array of grating light valves (GLVs) organized to form light-modulating pixel units for spatially modulating incident rays of light. The pixel units are comprised of three subpixel components each including a plurality of elongated, equally spaced apart reflective grating elements arranged parallel to each other with their light-reflective surfaces also parallel to each other. Each subpixel component includes means for supporting the grating elements in relation to one another, and means for moving alternate elements relative to the other elements and between a first configuration wherein the component acts to reflect incident rays of light as a plane mirror, and a second configuration wherein the component diffracts the incident rays of light as they are reflected from the grating elements. The three subpixel components of each pixel unit are designed such that when red, green and blue light sources are trained on the array, colored light diffracted by particular subpixel components operating in the second configuration will be directed through a viewing aperture, and light simply reflected from particular subpixel components operating in the first configuration will not be directed through the viewing aperture.
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Citations
56 Claims
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1. Display apparatus for generating multi-colored optical images, comprising:
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housing means having an optical aperture through which light may be passed;
light valve means disposed within said housing means and forming an array of discrete light-modulating pixel units, each including a plurality of subpixel components having elongated grating elements, the grating elements of at least two subpixel components of each pixel unit being oriented such that the grating elements of a first of said two subpixel components extend in a direction different from that of the grating elements of a second of said two subpixel components, each said subpixel component being adapted to selectively have a reflective state and a diffractive state;
means for controlling each said subpixel component by moving selected ones of said grating elements to enable the controlled subpixel component to operate in a reflective state and a diffractive state; and
a plurality of colored light sources respectively positioned to illuminate particular subpixel components of each pixel unit of said array such that no light reflected from any of said subpixel components in a reflective state passes through said aperture, but such that light diffracted from corresponding ones of said subpixel components of each said pixel unit in a diffractive state is directed through said aperture. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
means for supporting alternative ones of the grating elements in a fixed position; and
means for moving the remaining grating elements relative to the fixed grating elements and between a first configuration wherein all of the grating elements lie in the first plane and the subpixel component acts to reflect incident light as a plane mirror, and a second configuration wherein said remaining grating elements lie in a second plane parallel to the first plane and the subpixel component diffracts incident light as it is reflected from the planar surfaces of the grating elements.
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10. Display apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein said means for moving said remaining grating elements includes means for applying an electrostatic force to said remaining grating elements.
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11. Display apparatus as recited in claim 9 and further comprising electronic communication means for receiving transmitted data and for generating signals for causing certain ones of said subpixel components to assume a reflective state and other ones of said subpixel components to assume a diffractive state.
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12. Display apparatus for generating multi-colored optical images, comprising:
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housing means having an optical aperture through which light may be passed;
light valve means disposed within said housing means and forming an array of discrete light-modulating pixel units each including a plurality of subpixel components having elongated grating elements, the grating elements of at least two subpixel components of each pixel unit being oriented such that the grating elements of a first of said two subpixel components extend in a direction different from that of the grating elements of a second of said two subpixel components, each said subpixel component being adapted to selectively have a reflective state and a diffractive state;
means for controlling each said subpixel component by moving selected ones of said grating elements to enable the controlled subpixel component to operate in a reflective state and a diffractive state; and
a plurality of colored light sources respectively positioned to illuminate particular subpixel components of each pixel unit of said array such that no light diffracted from any of said subpixel components in a diffractive state passes through said aperture, but such that light reflected from corresponding ones of said subpixel components of each said pixel unit in a reflective state is directed through said aperture. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
means for supporting alternate ones of the grating elements in a fixed position; and
means for moving the remaining grating elements relative to the fixed grating elements and between a first configuration wherein all of the grating elements lie in the first plane and the subpixel component acts to reflect incident light as a plane mirror, and a second configuration wherein said remaining grating elements lie in a second plane parallel to the first plane and the subpixel component diffracts incident light as it is reflected from the planar surfaces of the grating elements.
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21. Display apparatus as recited in claim 20 wherein said means for moving said remaining grating elements includes means for applying an electrostatic force to said remaining grating elements.
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22. Display apparatus as recited in claim 20 and further comprising electronic communication means for receiving transmitted data and for generating signals for causing certain ones of said subpixel components to assume a reflective state and other ones of said subpixel components to assume a diffractive state.
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23. Apparatus for generative a multi-colored optical image, comprising:
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means forming an optical aperture through which light may be passed;
means forming an array of discrete light-modulating pixel units, each including a plurality of subpixel components having elongated grating elements, the grating elements of at least two subpixel components of each said pixel unit being oriented such that the grating elements of a first of said two subpixel components extend in a direction different from that of the grating elements of a second of said two subpixel components, each said subpixel component having a fixed configuration, wherein said component either completely reflects incident light, completely diffracts incident light, or partially diffracts and partially reflects incident light; and
a plurality of colored light sources respectively positioned to simultaneously illuminate at least one pixel unit of said array such that no light reflected from any illuminated subpixel component of said one pixel unit in a reflective state passes through said aperture, but such that light diffracted from any illuminated subpixel component of said one pixel unit in a diffractive state is directed through said aperture. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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24. Apparatus for generating a multi-colored optical image, comprising:
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means forming an optical aperture through which light may be passed;
means forming an array of discrete light-modulating pixel units, each including a plurality of subpixel components having elongated grating elements, the grating elements of at least two subpixel components of each said pixel unit being oriented such that the grating elements of a first of said two subpixel components extend in a direction different from that of the grating elements of a second of said two subpixel components, each said subpixel component having a fixed configuration in either a reflective state or a refractive state, wherein said subpixel component either completely reflects incident light, completely diffracts incident light, or partially diffracts and partially reflects incident light; and
a plurality of colored light sources respectively positioned to simultaneously illuminate at least one pixel unit of said array such that no light diffracted from any illuminated subpixel component of said one pixel unit in a diffractive state passes through said aperture, but such that light reflected from any illuminated subpixel component of said one pixel unit in a reflective state is directed through said aperture.
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32. A method of generating multi-colored optical images, comprising the steps of:
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providing an optical aperture through which light may be passed;
forming an array of discrete light-modulating pixel units, each including a plurality of subpixel components having elongated grating elements, the grating elements of at least two subpixel components of each pixel unit being oriented such that the grating elements of a first of said two subpixel components extend in a direction different from that of the grating elements of a second of said two subpixel components, each said subpixel component being adapted to selectively have a reflective state and a diffractive state, and including means for controlling each said subpixel component by moving selected ones of said grating elements to enable the controlled subpixel component to operate in a reflective state and a diffractive state;
causing each said subpixel component to assume either said reflective state or said diffractive state; and
positioning a plurality of colored light sources to respectively illuminate particular subpixel components of each pixel unit of said array such that no light reflected from any of said subpixel components in a reflective state passes through said aperture, but such that light diffracted from subpixel components in a diffractive state is directed through said aperture, whereby an optical image corresponding to the states of said pixel units is viewable through said optical aperture. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 41)
supporting alternate ones of the grating elements in a fixed position, and moving the remaining grating elements relative to the fixed grating elements and between a first configuration wherein all of the grating elements lie in the first plane and the subpixel component acts to reflect incident light as a plane mirror, and a second configuration wherein said remaining grating elements lie in a second plane parallel to the first plane and the subpixel component diffracts incident light as it is reflected from the planar surfaces of the grating elements.
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40. A method for generating multi-colored optical images, comprising the steps of:
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providing a housing means having an optical aperture through which light may be passed;
providing a light valve means disposed within said housing means and forming an array of discrete light-modulating pixel units, each including a plurality of subpixel components having elongated grating elements, the grating elements of at least two subpixel components of each pixel unit being oriented such that the grating elements of a first of said two subpixel components extend in a direction different from that of the grating elements of a second of said two subpixel components, each said subpixel component being adapted to selectively have a reflective state and a diffractive state, and including means for controlling each said subpixel component by moving selected ones of said grating elements to enable the controlled subpixel component to operate in a reflective state and a diffractive state; and
positioning a plurality of colored light sources to respectively illuminate particular subpixel components of each pixel unit of said array such that no light reflected from any of said subpixel components in a reflective state passes through said aperture, but such that light diffracted from corresponding ones of said subpixel components of each said pixel unit in a diffractive state is directed through said aperture.
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42. A method of generating multi-colored optical images, comprising the steps of:
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providing an optical aperture through which light may be passed;
forming an array of discrete light-modulating pixel units, each including a plurality of subpixel components having elongated grating elements, the grating elements of at least two subpixel components of each pixel unit being oriented such that the grating elements of a first of said two subpixel components extend in a direction different from that of the grating elements of a second of said two subpixel components, each said subpixel component being adapted to selectively have a reflective area and a diffractive state, and including means for controlling each said subpixel component by moving selected ones of said grating elements to enable the controlled subpixel component to operate in a reflective state and a diffractive state;
causing each said subpixel component to assume either said reflective state or said diffractive state; and
positioning a plurality of colored light sources to respectively illuminate particular subpixel components of each pixel unit of said array such that no light diffracted from any of said subpixel components in a diffractive state passes through said aperture, but such that light reflected from subpixel components in a reflective state is directed through said aperture, whereby an optical image corresponding to the states of said pixel units is viewable through said optical aperture. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 51)
supporting alternate ones of the grating elements in a fixed position, and moving the remaining grating elements relative to the fixed grating elements and between a first configuration wherein all of the grating elements lie in a first plane and the subpixel component acts to reflect incident light as a plane mirror, and a second configuration wherein said remaining grating elements lie in a second plane parallel to the first plane and the subpixel component diffracts incident light as it is reflected from the planar surfaces of the grating elements.
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50. A method for generating multi-colored optical images, comprising the steps of:
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providing a housing means having an optical aperture through which light may be passed;
disposing a light valve means within said housing means and forming an array of discrete light-modulating pixel units, each including a plurality of subpixel components having elongated grating elements, the grating elements of at least two subpixel components of each pixel unit being oriented such that the grating elements, the grating elements of a first of said two subpixel components extend in a direction different from that of the grating elements of a second of said two subpixel components, each said subpixel component being adapted to selectively have a reflective state and a diffractive state, and including means for controlling each said subpixel component by moving selected ones of said grating elements to enable the controlled subpixel component to operate in a reflective state and a diffractive state; and
positioning a plurality of colored light sources to respectively illuminate particular subpixel components of each pixel unit of said array such that no light diffracted from any of said subpixel components in a diffractive state passes through said aperture, but such that light reflected from corresponding ones of said subpixel components of each said pixel unit in a reflective state is directed through said aperture.
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52. Display apparatus for generating multi-colored optical images, comprising:
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means forming an optical aperture through which light may be passed;
light valve means disposed with a predetermined relationship to said aperture and consisting of an array of discrete light-modulating pixel units, each including at least two subpixel components having elongated grating elements, each said subpixel component being adapted to selectively have a reflective state and a diffractive state;
means for controlling each said subpixel component by moving selected ones of said grating elements to enable the controlled subpixel component to operate in a reflective state and a diffractive state; and
at least two different colored light sources positions to illuminate the pixel units of said array, the apparatus being characterized in that the grating elements of each subpixel component of each pixel unit selectively cause light from a particular source to be diffracted and directed through said aperture when in said diffractive state or to be reflected away from said aperture when in said reflective state. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56)
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53. Display apparatus for generating multi-colored optical images, comprising:
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means forming an optical aperture through which light may be passed;
light valve means disposed with a predetermined relationship to said aperture and consisting of an array of discrete light-modulating pixel units, each including at least two subpixel components having elongated grating elements, each said subpixel component being adapted to selectively have a reflective state and a diffractive state;
means for controlling each said subpixel component by moving selected ones of said grating elements to enable the controlled subpixel component to operate in a reflective state and a diffractive state; and
at least two different colored light sources positioned to illuminate the pixel units of said array, the apparatus being characterized in that the grating elements of each subpixel component of each pixel unit selectively cause light from a particular source to be reflected through said aperture when in said reflective state or to be diffracted and directed away from said aperture when in said diffractive state.
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54. Display apparatus for generating multi-colored optical images, comprising:
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means forming an optical aperture through which light may be passed;
light valve means disposed with a predetermined relationship to said aperture and consisting of an array of discrete light-modulating pixel units, each including at least two subpixel components having elongated grating elements, each said subpixel component being configured to have either a reflective state or a diffractive state;
means for controlling each said subpixel component by moving selected ones of said grating elements to enable the controlled subpixel component to operate in a reflective state and a diffractive state; and
at least two different colored light sources positioned to illuminate the pixel units of said array, the apparatus being characterized in that the grating elements of each subpixel component of each pixel unit having said diffractive state cause light from a particular source to be diffracted and directed through said aperture and subpixel components having said reflective state cause light from the particular source to be reflected away from said aperture.
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Specification