Low-cost, substantially cross-talk free high spatial resolution 2-D bistable light modulator

A low cost substantially cross-talk free voltage driven high spatial resolution two-dimensional light modulator responsive to two-dimensional input signals of variable intensity, comprising:

• a first planar two-dimensional transparent substrate;
• a first planar two-dimensional transparent conductor disposed on one surface of said transparent substrate;
• a planar two-dimensional electroluminescent phosphor thin film layer having a predetermined thickness disposed on the exposed surface of said first transparent conductor, said predetermined thickness being selected to provide a predetermined capacitance and a predetermined resistance for said electroluminescent phosphor film;
• an opaque mask having a plurality of apertures disposed on said electroluminescent phosphor thin film layer, said plurality of apertures having predetermined dimensions and spacing to provide an array of pixels having an intended degree of cross-talk isolation for a given spatial resolution;
• an input planar two-dimensional photoconductor thin film layer having a predetermined thickness disposed on the exposed face of said opaque mask, said predetermined thickness being selected to provide a predetermined capacitance and a predetermined dark resistance for said photoconductor thin film layer and to tune said light modulator to a predetermined input signal intensity threshold level;
• a second planar transparent two-dimensional conductor disposed on said photoconductor thin film layer;
• and
• means coupled to said first and second conductors for biasing said first and second conductors with a predetermined voltage;
• and wherein
• said predetermined capacitance of said electroluminescen tphosphor thin film layer is substantially smaller than a predetermined capacitance of said photoconductor thin layer film and said predetermined dark resistance of said photoconductor thin film layer is greater than said predetermined resistance of said electroluminescent phosphor thin film layer wherein
• said light modulator is responsive to the two-dimensional input signals of variable intensity less than said predetermined input signal intensity threshold level to cause said electroluminescent phosphor thin film layer to produce output intensities proportional to the intensity of the two-dimensional input signals;
• and wherein
• said light modulator is responsive to the two-dimensional input signals of variable intensity of at least said predetermined input signal intensity threshold level to cause said electroluminescent phosphor thin film layer to produce a constant output intensity which is thereafter independent of the intensity of the two-dimensional input signals;
• and further wherein
• said constant output intensity of said electroluminescent thin layer film is greater than said predetermined input signal intensity threshold level of said photoconductor thin film layer to provide optical gain for said light modulator.