Display device incorporating one-dimensional grating light-valve array

A display system for displaying a two-dimensional image, comprising:

• a light-valve array, said light-valve array including a row of elongated, individually-operable, spaced-apart modulator members aligned parallel to each other, each of said modulator members for causing diffraction of light to an extent determined by an operational state of said modulator member;
• illumination means for causing light to be incident on said light-valve array;
• means for separating a diffracted portion of light from said light-valve array from a non-diffracted portion of light from said light-valve array;
• electronic means for operating said operable elements of said light-valve array to correspond to image-elements to be displayed;
• magnifying lens means for providing a magnified image of said light-valve array, via said separated diffracted, spatially-modulated light portion, to a viewer;
• scanning means, cooperative with said electronic means, for scanning said magnified image through the field of view of the viewer to represent sequential lines of the two-dimensional image, thereby causing said magnified image to appear to the viewer as the two-dimensional image;
• and
• said magnifying lens means, said light-valve array, and said diffracted light separating means arranged as a telecentric system with said light-valve array and said diffracted light separating means located at about respectively a telecentric object position and an exit pupil of said magnifying lens means.

A display system for projecting a two-dimensional image, comprising:

• a light-valve array, said light-valve array including a row of elongated, individually-operable, spaced-apart modulator members aligned parallel to each other, each of said modulator members for causing diffraction of light to an extent determined by an operational state of said operable member;
• illumination means for causing light to be incident on said light-valve array;
• means for separating a diffracted portion of light from said light-valve array from a non-diffracted portion of light from said light valve array;
• electronic means for operating said operable elements of said light-valve array to correspond to image-elements to be displayed;
• projection lens means for projecting a magnified real image of said light-valve array, via said separated diffracted, light portion, onto a receiving surface, said projection lens means including first and second lens-element groups;
• scanning means, cooperative with said electronic means for scanning said magnified image, through the field of view of a viewer viewing the receiving surface, to represent sequential lines of the two-dimensional image, thereby causing said magnified real image to appear to the viewer as the two-dimensional image;
• and
• said first lens-element group, said light-valve array, and said diffracted light separating means arranged as a telecentric system with said light-valve array and said diffracted light separating means located at about respectively a telecentric object position and an exit pupil of said first element group, and said exit-pupil of said first element group located between said first element group and said second element group.

A display system for providing a two-dimensional image;

• comprising:
• a grating light-valve array including a row of spaced-apart, elongated, movable reflective-members aligned parallel to each other, each of said active reflective-members individually movable with respect to a corresponding passive reflective-member, through planes parallel to a plane in which said passive reflective-member is located, such that said corresponding active and passive reflective-members together cause diffraction and/or reflection of light incident thereon depending on the planar separation of said active and passive reflective-members;
• illumination means for causing light to be incident on said grating light-valve array;
• means for separating a diffracted portion of light from said grating light valve array from a reflected portion of light from said grating light-valve array;
• electronic means for moving said active reflective-members of said grating light-valve array to correspond to image elements to be displayed;
• magnifying lens means for providing a magnified virtual image of said grating light-valve array, via said separated, diffracted light portion to a viewer;
• scanning means, cooperative with said electronic means, for scanning said magnified virtual image through the field of view of a viewer, thereby causing said magnified virtual image to appear as the two-dimensional image;
• and
• said magnifying lens means, said light-valve array, and said diffracted light separating means arranged as a telecentric system with said light-valve array and said diffracted light separating means located respectively at about a telecentric object position and at about an exit pupil of said magnifying lens means.

A system for printing a two-dimensional image on a print medium;

• comprising:
• a grating light-valve array including a row of spaced-apart, elongated, active reflective-members aligned parallel to each other, each of said active reflective-members individually movable with respect to a corresponding passive reflective-member, through planes parallel to and separated from a plane in which said passive reflective-member is located, such that said corresponding active and passive reflective-members together cause diffraction and/or reflection of light incident thereon depending on the planar separation of said active and passive reflective-members;
• illumination means for causing light to be incident on said grating light-valve array;
• means for separating a diffracted portion of light from said grating light valve array from a reflected portion of light from said grating light-valve array;
• electronic means for moving said active reflective-members of said grating light-valve array to correspond to image elements to be displayed;
• magnifying lens means for projecting a magnified real image of said grating light-valve array, via said separated, diffracted light portion onto the print medium;
• scanning means, cooperative with said electronic means, for moving the print medium with respect to the said magnified real image such that said magnified real image defines sequential lines of the two-dimensional image at sequential positions on the print medium.

A system for printing a two-dimensional image on a print medium;

• comprising:
• a grating light-valve array including a row of spaced-apart, elongated, active reflective-members aligned parallel to each other, each of said active reflective-members individually movable with respect to a corresponding passive reflective-member, through planes parallel to a plane in which said fixed reflective-member is located, such that said corresponding active and passive reflective-members together cause diffraction and/or reflection of light incident thereon depending on the planar separation of said active and passive reflective-members;
• illumination means for causing light to be incident on said grating light-valve array;
• means for separating a diffracted portion of light from said grating light valve array from a reflected portion of light from said grating light-valve array;
• electronic means for moving said active reflective-members of said grating light-valve array to correspond to image elements to be displayed;
• projection lens means for projecting a magnified real image of said grating light-valve array, via said separated, diffracted light portion onto the print medium;
• scanning means, cooperative with said electronic means, for moving the print medium with respect to the said magnified real image such that said magnified real image defines sequential lines of the two-dimensional image at sequential positions on the print medium;
• and
• said projection lens means including first and second element groups, said first element group forming a positive lens, and said positive lens, said light-valve array, and said diffracted light separating means arranged as a telecentric system with said light-valve array and said diffracted light separating means located between said first and second element groups at about an exit pupil of said positive lens.

A display system for displaying a two-dimensional image on a viewing screen comprising:

• a. a light source having a light output;
• b. a first optical arrangement for cylindrically focusing the light output in a focus line having a focus width;
• c. a grating light valve array being modulated by electronic means and having a plurality of diffractive light valves linearly arrayed approximately along the focus line such that the light output couples with the grating light valve array, the grating light valve array forming a combination of a diffracted state and a reflected state, the diffracted state forming a linear image;
• d. a magnifying optical arrangement coupled to the combination of the diffracted state and the reflected state;
• e. a separating optical arrangement for removing the reflected state from the combination of the diffracted state and the reflected state, the separating optical arrangement allowing a diffracted portion of the diffracted state to pass the separating optical arrangement;
• f. a projection optical arrangement for projecting the diffracted portion onto the viewing screen such that the linear image is formed on the viewing screen;
• and
• g. a scanning device coupled to the diffracted portion and being driven by the electronic means, the scanning device repeatedly scanning the linear image over the viewing screen in a direction perpendicular to the linear image on the viewing screen such that the linear image forms the two-dimensional image on the viewing screen.

A display system for displaying a two-dimensional virtual image to a viewer comprising:

• a. a light source having a light output;
• b. a first optical arrangement for cylindrically focusing the light output in a focus line having a focus width;
• c. a grating light valve array being modulated by electronic means and having a plurality of diffractive light valves linearly arrayed approximately along the focus line such that the light output couples with the grating light valve array, the grating light valve array forming a combination of a diffracted state and a reflected state, the diffracted state forming a linear image;
• d. a magnifying optical arrangement coupled to the combination of the diffracted state and the reflected state;
• e. a separating optical arrangement for removing the reflected state from the combination of the diffracted state and the reflected state, the separating optical arrangement allowing a diffracted portion of the diffracted state to pass the separating optical arrangement;
• and
• f. a scanning device being driven by the electronic means, the scanning device being coupled to the diffracted portion such that the scanning device scans the linear image to form the two-dimensional virtual image.

A display system for displaying a two-dimensional image on a viewing screen comprising:

• a. a light source having a light output;
• b. a first optical arrangement for cylindrically focusing the light output in a focus line having a focus width;
• c. a grating light valve array being modulated by electronic means and having a plurality of diffractive light valves linearly arrayed such that a portion of the light output couples with the grating light valve array, the grating light valve array forming a combination of a diffracted state and a reflected state, the diffracted state forming a linear image;
• d. a magnifying optical arrangement coupled to the combination of the diffracted state and the reflected state;
• e. a separating optical arrangement for removing the reflected state from the combination of the diffracted state and the reflected state, the separating optical arrangement allowing a diffracted portion of the diffracted state to pass the separating optical arrangement such that the diffracted portion is projected onto the viewing screen and further such that the linear image is formed on the viewing screen;
• and
• f. a scanning device coupled to the diffracted portion and being driven by the electronic means, the scanning device repeatedly scanning the linear image over the viewing screen in a direction perpendicular to the linear image on the viewing screen such that the linear image forms the two-dimensional image on the viewing screen.