Methods and apparatus for spatial light modulation
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of forming an image, comprising:
- introducing light into a reflective optical cavity including a plurality of light-transmissive regions through which light can escape the reflective optical cavity;
allowing the introduced light to escape the reflective optical cavity through at least one of the light-transmissive regions;
providing a plurality of light modulators, each having at least first and second states, wherein, in the first state, a light modulator obstructs a corresponding light-transmissive region thereby preventing light introduced into the reflective optical cavity from illuminating an image pixel that corresponds to the light-transmissive region, and in the second state, the light modulator allows light escaping the reflective optical cavity through the corresponding light-transmissive region to illuminate the image pixel corresponding to the light-transmissive region; and
forming an image by selectively controlling the states of the plurality of light modulators.
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Abstract
Improved apparatus and methods for spatial light modulation are disclosed which utilize optical cavities having both front and rear reflective surfaces. Light-transmissive regions are formed in the front reflective surface for spatially modulating light.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method of forming an image, comprising:
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introducing light into a reflective optical cavity including a plurality of light-transmissive regions through which light can escape the reflective optical cavity; allowing the introduced light to escape the reflective optical cavity through at least one of the light-transmissive regions; providing a plurality of light modulators, each having at least first and second states, wherein, in the first state, a light modulator obstructs a corresponding light-transmissive region thereby preventing light introduced into the reflective optical cavity from illuminating an image pixel that corresponds to the light-transmissive region, and in the second state, the light modulator allows light escaping the reflective optical cavity through the corresponding light-transmissive region to illuminate the image pixel corresponding to the light-transmissive region; and forming an image by selectively controlling the states of the plurality of light modulators. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of forming an image, comprising:
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introducing light into a reflective optical cavity including a first reflective surface in which a plurality of apertures corresponding to respective display pixels in multiple rows and columns of the image are formed and a second reflective surface at least partially facing the first reflective surface; and forming an image by allowing the introduced light to escape the reflective optical cavity through at least one of the apertures to illuminate respective corresponding display pixels. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification