Reflective microelectrical mechanical structure (MEMS) optical modulator and optical display system

A microelectrical mechanical optical display engine, comprising:

• a microlens array having an array of plural lenslets for receiving and directing illumination light;
• an aperture plate through which plural pixel apertures extend, the plural pixel apertures being aligned with and to receive illumination light from the plural lenslets of the microlens array;
• and
• a microelectrical mechanical reflector array positioned opposite the aperture plate from the microlens array, the microelectrical mechanical reflector array including plural microelectrical mechanical actuators that support reflectors in alignment with the plural pixel apertures to receive and reflect the illumination light, the plural microelectrical mechanical actuators orienting the reflectors selectively to direct the illumination light back through the pixel apertures or against the aperture plate.

A microelectrical mechanical optical display engine, comprising:

• a microlens array having an array of plural lenslets for receiving and directing illumination light;
• an aperture plate through which plural pixel apertures extend, the plural pixel apertures being aligned with and to receive illumination light from the plural lenslets of the microlens array;
• and
• a microelectrical mechanical reflector array positioned opposite the aperture plate from the microlens array, the microelectrical mechanical reflector array including plural microelectrical mechanical actuators that support reflectors in alignment with the plural pixel apertures to receive and reflect the illumination light, the plural microelectrical mechanical actuators orienting the reflectors selectively to direct the illumination light back through the pixel apertures or against the aperture plate,
• whereby the microelectrical mechanical reflector array is formed on a planar substrate and the plural microelectrical mechanical actuators support the reflectors on actuator arms that in one state are co-planar with the substrate and the reflectors.