Projection using liquid crystal polarization gratings to modulate light

A projector comprising:

• a beam homogenizer structurally configured to receive light from a light source and to create a substantially uniform illumination;
• a spatial light modulator comprising a number of grating stages configured to receive the substantially uniform illumination, each grating stage of the number comprising a plurality of pixels with corresponding pixels in each of the number of grating stages being aligned with one another, and where each grating stage of the number comprises:
• a first substrate and a second substrate, wherein the first substrate, the second substrate, or both is coated with a photo-alignment layer;
• a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first and second substrates and adjacent to the photo-alignment layer;
• and
• a transparent electrode coupled to the first substrate, the second substrate, or both, on a side that opposes the photo-alignment layer,
• wherein at least one pixel of the plurality of each grating stage of the number is switchable responsive to a voltage, with a grating period of the at least one pixel of the plurality selected such that, when the voltage is applied to the at least one pixel of the plurality and optical energy passes therethrough, optical energy in plus and minus first orders is deflected toward sides of the at least one pixel of the plurality and optical energy in a zero order is allowed to pass through the at least one pixel of the plurality, with a polarization state of the light maintained from an input of the optical energy through an output of the optical energy;
• and
• an aperture structurally configured to block optical energy in the plus and minus first orders that is deflected by the at least one pixel of the plurality.