IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,019,887
Granted Patent B1
US 7,019,887 · App. 11/101,820 · Granted Mar 28, 2006

Light modulator device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,019,887
App. No.
11/101,820
Granted
Mar 28, 2006
Kind
B1
Abstract

A light modulator device includes a charge plate; a reflective plate and post, the post supporting the reflective plate parallel relative to the charge plate such that a gap is formed between the charge plate and the reflective plate, the gap being relatively smaller on a first side than on a second side when the reflective plate is parallel to the charge plate.

Claims (39)

1. A light modulator device, comprising:

a charge plate;

a reflective plate and post, said post supporting said reflective plate parallel relative to said charge plate such that a gap is formed between said charge plate and said reflective plate, said gap being relatively smaller on a first side than on a second side when said reflective plate is parallel to said charge plate.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein said reflective plate is configured to have a negative charge selectively established thereon.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein said reflective plate is configured to have a positive charge selectively established thereon.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein said charge plate is relatively thicker on a first side than on a second side.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein said reflective plate is formed directly on said post.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein said reflective plate comprises a reflective surface formed on an outer portion thereof.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein said reflective plate comprises a reflective surface formed on an inner portion thereof.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein said light modulator device comprises a reflective type device.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein said charge plate comprises a transparent material.

10. The device of claim 1 , and further comprising a current drain coupled to said post, said current drain being configured to selectively remove charge from said reflective plate.

11. A display system, comprising:

a light modulator device including a charge plate, a reflective plate and post, said post supporting said reflective plate parallel relative to said charge plate such that a gap is formed between said charge plate and said reflective plate, said gap being relatively smaller on a first side than on a second side;

an electron source configured to selectively establish a charge differential between said charge plate and said reflective plate to thereby cause said reflective plate to tilt relative to said charge plate;

a light source module optically coupled to said light modulator device; and

display optics optically coupled to said light modulator device.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein said light modulator device is a reflective type device.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein said charge plate comprises a transparent conductor.

14. The system of clam 13 , wherein said transparent conductor comprises indium tin oxide.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein said light source is optically coupled to a charge plate side of said system.

16. The system of claim 13 , wherein said light source is optically coupled to a reflective plate side of said system.

17. The system of claim 11 , wherein said electron source comprises an electron gun.

18. The system of claim 11 , wherein said electron source is configured to establish a negative charge on said reflective plate.

19. The system of claim 11 , wherein said electron source is configured to establish a positive charge on said reflective plate.

20. A method of modulating light, comprising:

selectively directing light to a reflective plate, said reflective plate being separated from a charge plate on a center post by a mechanically-biased capacitance gap being larger on one side of the center post than on an other side; and

selectively directing electrons to establish a charge differential between said reflective plate and said charge plate said charge causing said reflective plate to tilt relative to said charge plate in response to an electrostatic force across said capacitance gap.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein directing electrons to said reflective plate establishes a negative charge on said reflective plate.

22. The method of claim 20 , wherein directing electrons to said reflective plate establishes a positive charge on said reflective plate.

23. The method of claim 20 , wherein selectively directing said light to said reflective plate includes directing light to an outer portion of said reflective plate.

24. The method of claim 20 , wherein selectively directing said light to said reflective plate includes directing light to an inner portion of said reflective plate.

25. A light modulator device, comprising:

a charge plate;

a reflective plate and post, said post supporting said reflective plate parallel and said reflective plate, said gap being relatively smaller on a first side than on a second side when said reflective plate is parallel to said charge plate; and

means for establishing a charge differential between said charge plate and said reflective plate.

26. The device of claim 25 , and further comprising means for selectively removing a charge from said reflective plate.

27. The device of claim 25 , and further comprising means for reflecting light from a reflective plate side of said device.

28. The device of claim 25 , and further comprising means for reflecting light from a charge plate side of said device.