MEMS-actuated color light modulator and methods
First Claim
1. A light modulator for modulating light from a source, said light modulator comprising:
- one or more blazed gratings disposed to be illuminated by said light from said source, said one or more blazed gratings being disposed substantially parallel to a first plane, at least one aperture movably disposed in a second plane, and at least one MEMS actuator adapted to move said at least one aperture substantially parallel to said second plane to selectively direct light diffracted by said one or more blazed gratings through said at least one aperture.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A light modulator has one or more gratings and one or more MEMS actuators operable to move the gratings for selectively modulating light from an input light source. Certain embodiments have a plurality of blazed gratings arranged parallel to a plane and movable linearly parallel to the plane by MEMS actuators. Each of the gratings is individually blazed for light of a selected color such as red, green or blue. Associated with the gratings may be portions providing black and/or white outputs. An aperture spaced apart from the plane allows color(s) selected from an input white-light source to be directed to an output. An array of MEMS-actuated modulation devices provides a color spatial light modulator. Other embodiments have a grating adapted to be tilted by a MEMS actuator, either continuously through a range of angles or to a selected angle of a set of predetermined discrete angles, to direct selected wavelengths diffracted by the grating toward collection optics for a modulated light output. Methods specially adapted for making and using such light modulators are disclosed.
289 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A light modulator for modulating light from a source, said light modulator comprising:
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one or more blazed gratings disposed to be illuminated by said light from said source, said one or more blazed gratings being disposed substantially parallel to a first plane, at least one aperture movably disposed in a second plane, and at least one MEMS actuator adapted to move said at least one aperture substantially parallel to said second plane to selectively direct light diffracted by said one or more blazed gratings through said at least one aperture. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for fabricating a light modulator for modulating light from a source, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a substrate;
forming at least one diffraction grating on said substrate by forming a multiplicity of parallel grooves, said parallel grooves being spaced with a suitable pitch, while blazing said multiplicity of parallel grooves to diffract light of a selected diffraction order; and
forming a MEMS actuator disposed and adapted for establishing a desired spatial relationship between said diffraction grating and an output aperture spaced apart from said substrate, whereby light of at least one selected wavelength may be selectively directed though said output aperture. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A method for modulating the color of light from a source, said method comprising the steps of:
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disposing a blazed grating to be illuminated by said light from said source and to diffract said light;
disposing a MEMS actuator for varying the spatial relationship between said blazed grating and an output aperture, said MEMS actuator being adapted to vary said spatial relationship in response to electrical signals; and
controlling said electrical signals to direct a selected wavelength of said diffracted light of a selected diffracted order through said output aperture. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification