Reduced initial delay in projecting high quality images from a fluid light valve

In an optical projection system wherein an electron beam impinges on a light-modulating fluid medium, said electron beam being deflected over the surface of said medium in raster fashion in accordance with a signal so as to control light energy directed upon said medium, apparatus for quieting turbulence of said medium so as to render said surface uniformly calm and smooth, comprising:

• electron beam generating means for generating said beam with controllable intensity;
• and
• means coupled to said electron beam generating means for decreasing electron beam current at a controlled time rate from an initial higher intensity level to a predetermined operating level.

In an optical projection system wherein an electron beam impinges on a light-modulating fluid medium, said electron beam being deflected over the surface of said medium in accordance with a signal so as to control light energy directed upon said medium, apparatus for quieting turbulence of said medium so as to render said surface uniformly calm and smooth, comprising:

• electron beam deflection means for sweeping said beam over said medium in a raster of size controllable between a predetermined operating size and an initial size smaller than said predetermined operating size;
• and
• means coupled to said electron beam deflection means for expanding said raster from said initial size at a controlled time rate by enlarging the sweep of said beam at said controlled time rate until said raster has increased to said predetermined operating size.

In an optical projection system wherein an electron beam is deflected to impinge in a raster over the surface of a light-modulating fluid medium, a method for sweeping out excess fluid from said raster area with minimum delay during an initial start-up period, comprising:

• establishing a control signal varying at a predetermined rate, and
• altering flow of said electron beam toward said medium under control of said control signal to adjust the charge density throughout said raster until said medium reaches operating condition.

In an optical projection system wherein an electron beam is deflected in accordance with a signal to impinge in a raster over the surface of a light-modulating fluid medium, apparatus for controlling the charge deposited by said electron beam on said medium during an initial start-up period, comprising:

• electron beam generating and deflecting means, and
• means coupled to said electron beam generating and deflecting means for altering electron beam flow toward said medium to control the charge density throughout said raster, thereby sweeping out excess fluid from the raster area until said medium reaches operating condition.