Solid-state optical modulator

1. A method of displaying an image, comprising:

providing a spatial light modulator that comprises an array of individually addressable pixels, wherein each pixel comprises:

a solid-state chiral material that is disposed between first and second electrodes such that an electrical field can be established across the solid-state chiral material;

directing a beam of polarized light to the pixels of the spatial light modulator;

modulating the pixels of the spatial light modulator based on the image to be displayed by adjusting the electrical fields applied to the solid-state chiral materials of the pixels;

passing the light from the pixels of the spatial light modulator through a polarizer; and

directing the light after the polarizer onto a display target.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the polarized light is incident to the solid-state chiral materials such that the incident polarized light is substantially not-parallel to a primary axis of the solid-state chiral material of the pixels.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of directing the beam of polarized light to the pixels of the spatial light modulator further comprises:

directing the beam of polarized light to the pixels of the spatial light modulator through another polarizer, wherein said another polarizer has a polarization direction is substantially perpendicular to a polarization direction of said polarizer that is disposed after the spatial light modulator.

4. A display system, comprising:

a light source providing a light;

a spatial light modulator comprising an array of pixels, each pixel comprising:

a solid-state chiral material that is disposed between first and second electrodes such that an electrical field can be established across the solid-state chiral material;

a first polarizer having a first polarization direction; and a second polarizer having a second polarization direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first polarization direction; and

a set of optical elements for directing the light toward the spatial light modulator and for directing the light from the spatial light modulator onto a display target.

5. The system of claim 4 , further comprising:

a half-wave plate disposed between the light source and the spatial light modulator.

6. The system of claim 4 , wherein the first polarizer is disposed between the half-wave plate and the spatial light modulator; and the second polarizer is disposed between the spatial light modulator and the display target.

7. The system of claim 4 , wherein the first electrode is transmissive to the visible light; and wherein the second electrode is reflective to the visible light.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the first electrode comprises an indium-titanate-oxide layer; and wherein the solid-state chiral material comprises an inorganic material or an organic material.