Light modulation element, array-type light modulation element, and flat-panel display unit
First Claim
1. A light modulation element comprising:
- a transparent substrate transparent for modulated light;
a moving grid comprising a plurality of slits formed by arranging a plurality of grid plates each having a shield property and spaced from each other, said moving grid having at least a part having electrical conductivity;
elastic support members for placing said moving grid with a predetermined spacing on said transparent substrate and supporting said moving grid movably in an arrangement direction of the grid plates;
shield films formed at positions of said transparent substrate overlapping the slit positions of said moving grid; and
moving grid move means for moving said moving grid in the arrangement direction of the grid plates by an electrostatic force generated by applying predetermined drive voltages to fixed electrodes placed on said transparent substrate and said moving grid, characterized in that as the moving grid is moved, a transmission factor of light passing through the slits is changed for executing light modulation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A light modulation element which has a transparent substrate 111 transparent for modulated light, a moving grid 114 comprising a plurality of slits 113 formed by arranging a plurality of grid plates 112 each having a shield property and spaced from each other, the moving grid 114 having at least a part having electrical conductivity, elastic support members for placing the moving grid 114 with a predetermined spacing on the transparent substrate 111 and supporting the moving grid 114 movably in an arrangement direction of the grid plates 112, shield films 119 formed at the positions of the transparent substrate 111 overlapping the slit positions of the moving grid 114, and moving grid move means for moving the moving grid 114 in the arrangement direction of the grid plates 112 by an electrostatic force generated by applying predetermined drive voltages to fixed electrodes placed on the transparent substrate 111 and the moving grid 114.
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Citations
47 Claims
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1. A light modulation element comprising:
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a transparent substrate transparent for modulated light;
a moving grid comprising a plurality of slits formed by arranging a plurality of grid plates each having a shield property and spaced from each other, said moving grid having at least a part having electrical conductivity;
elastic support members for placing said moving grid with a predetermined spacing on said transparent substrate and supporting said moving grid movably in an arrangement direction of the grid plates;
shield films formed at positions of said transparent substrate overlapping the slit positions of said moving grid; and
moving grid move means for moving said moving grid in the arrangement direction of the grid plates by an electrostatic force generated by applying predetermined drive voltages to fixed electrodes placed on said transparent substrate and said moving grid, characterized in that as the moving grid is moved, a transmission factor of light passing through the slits is changed for executing light modulation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
an array-type light modulation element as claimed in claim 7;
a surface light source placed facing said array-type light modulation element; and
phosphors being placed on an opposite side to said surface light source with said array-type light modulation element between, characterized in that said phosphors are caused to emit light by applying light passing through said array-type light modulation element.
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9. The flat-panel display unit as claimed in claim 8 wherein said surface light source uses a transparent substrate of said array-type light modulation element as a light guide plate and light is introduced from a side end part of the transparent substrate.
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10. The flat-panel display unit as claimed in claim 8 wherein light emitted from said surface light source is ultraviolet light.
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11. A light modulation element comprising:
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a transparent substrate transparent for modulated light;
a fixed wall being placed upright on said transparent substrate and having electrical conductivity;
a shield film being placed with an opening as a light modulation area left outside the area where said fixed wall is placed upright on said transparent substrate;
a needle being supported movably in a roughly horizontal direction above the opening and having a shield property and electrical conductivity; and
needle move means for applying a voltage to a space between said fixed wall and said needle, thereby moving said needle by an electrostatic force for changing the shield area covering the opening, characterized in that as said needle is moved, a transmission factor of light passing through the light modulation area is changed for executing light modulation. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
an array-type light modulation element as claimed in claim 20;
a surface light source placed facing said array-type light modulation element; and
phosphors being placed on an opposite side to said surface light source with said array-type light modulation element between, characterized in that said phosphors are caused to emit light by applying light passing through said array-type light modulation element.
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22. The flat-panel display unit as claimed in claim 21 wherein said surface light source uses a transparent substrate of said array-type light modulation element as a light guide plate and light from said surface light source is introduced into the transparent substrate.
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23. The flat-panel display unit as claimed in claim 21 wherein light emitted from said surface light source is ultraviolet light.
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24. A light modulation element comprising:
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a transparent substrate transparent for modulated light;
a plurality of needles having electric conductivity being placed with a predetermined spacing on a plane opposed to said transparent substrate, parts of said needles being supported on said transparent substrate;
first shield portions each being provided for each of said needles;
second shield portions being placed with openings left in light modulation areas over-lapping said needles above said transparent substrate; and
needle move means for applying voltage to said needles, thereby attracting and moving said adjacent needles by an electrostatic force, characterized in that as said needles are moved, a transmission factor of light passing through the light modulation area is changed for executing light modulation. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 43)
an array-type light modulation element as claimed in claim 31;
a surface light source placed facing said array-type light modulation element; and
phosphors being placed on an opposite side to said surface light source with said array-type light modulation element between, characterized in that said phosphors are caused to emit light by applying light passing through said array-type light modulation element.
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33. The flat-panel display unit as claimed in claim 32 wherein light emitted from said surface light source is ultraviolet light.
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43. The light modulation element of claim 24, wherein each of said plurality of needles has a belt shape.
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34. A light modulation element comprising:
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a transparent substrate transparent for modulated light;
a plurality of needles having electric conductivity being placed with a predetermined spacing on a plane opposed to said transparent substrate, parts of said needles being supported on said transparent substrate;
first shield portions each being provided for each of said needles;
second shield portions having electric conductivity being placed with openings left in light modulation areas overlapping said needles above said transparent substrate; and
needle move means for applying voltage to said needles and said second shield portions, thereby moving said needles to positions overlapping said second shield portions roughly in parallel with said transparent substrate by an electrostatic force, characterized in that as said needles are moved, a transmission factor of light passing through the light modulation area is changed for executing light modulation. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 44)
an array-type light modulation element as claimed in claim 40;
a surface light source placed facing said array-type light modulation element; and
phosphors being placed on an opposite side to said surface light source with said array-type light modulation element between, characterized in that said phosphors are caused to emit light by applying light passing through said array-type light modulation element.
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42. The flat-panel display unit as claimed in claim 41 wherein light emitted from said surface light source is ultraviolet light.
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44. The light modulation element of claim 34, wherein each of said plurality of needles has a belt shape.
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45. A light modulation element comprising:
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a transparent substrate transparent for modulated light;
a moving grid comprising a plurality of slits formed by arranging a plurality of grid plates, each having a shield property and spaced from each other, said moving grid having at least a part having electrical conductivity;
support members that movably support said moving grid over said transparent substrate in an arrangement direction of said grid plates;
shield film strips formed on said transparent substrate;
electrodes electrically connected to said moving grid; and
an actuator that moves said moving grid in the arrangement direction of the grid plates by an electrostatic force generated by applying drive voltages to said electrodes; and
wherein as said moving grid is moved, a transmission factor of light passing through said slits is changed for executing light modulation.
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46. A light modulation element comprising:
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a transparent substrate transparent for modulated light;
a plurality of needles having electric conductivity arranged to be spaced apart from each other in a plane opposed to said transparent substrate, and movable in an arrangement direction of said needles;
first shield portions, one provided for each of said needles;
second shield portions arranged to be spaced apart from each other in a plane substantially parallel to the plane in which said needles are arranged; and
wherein a relative movement between said first shield portions and second shield portions in an arrangement direction of said needles changes a transmission factor of light passing through said light modulation element; and
an actuator that moves said needles in the arrangement direction of said needles by an electrostatic force generated by applying voltages to said needles. - View Dependent Claims (47)
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Specification