MEMS-actuated color light modulator and methods
First Claim
1. A light modulator for modulating light from a source, said light modulator comprising:
- at least one grating disposed to be illuminated by said light from said source, said at least one grating being adapted to be movable among a set of discrete positions, and a MEMS actuator adapted for moving said at least one grating to a selected position among said set of discrete positions, to direct light of a selected wavelength diffracted by said grating into a selected direction.
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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.
59 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A light modulator for modulating light from a source, said light modulator comprising:
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at least one grating disposed to be illuminated by said light from said source, said at least one grating being adapted to be movable among a set of discrete positions, and a MEMS actuator adapted for moving said at least one grating to a selected position among said set of discrete positions, to direct light of a selected wavelength diffracted by said grating into a selected direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A light modulator for modulating light from a source, said light modulator comprising:
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a blazed grating disposed to be illuminated by said light from said source, and a MEMS thermal actuator adapted for tilting said grating continuously through a range of angles relative to said light from said source, to direct light of a selected wavelength diffracted by said grating into a selected direction. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A light modulator for modulating light from a source, said light modulator comprising:
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at least one means for diffracting said light from said source, said at least one means for diffracting being disposed to be illuminated by said light from said source and being adapted to be movable among a set of positions, and microelectromechanical means for actuating, adapted for moving said at least one means for diffracting to a selected position, to direct light of a selected wavelength into a selected direction.
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Specification