US 6,219,015 B1 · Method and apparatus for using an array of grating light valves to produce multicolor optical images

Abstract

A multicolor optical image-generating device comprised of an array of grating light valves (GLVs) organized to form light-modulating pixel units for spatially modulating incident rays of light. The pixel units are comprised of three subpixel components each including a plurality of elongated, equally spaced apart reflective grating elements arranged parallel to each other with their light-reflective surfaces also parallel to each other. Each subpixel component includes means for supporting the grating elements in relation to one another, and means for moving alternate elements relative to the other elements and between a first configuration wherein the component acts to reflect incident rays of light as a plane mirror, and a second configuration wherein the component diffracts the incident rays of light as they are reflected from the grating elements. The three subpixel components of each pixel unit are designed such that when red, green and blue light sources are trained on the array, colored light diffracted by particular subpixel components operating in the second configuration will be directed through a viewing aperture, and light simply reflected from particular subpixel components operating in the first configuration will not be directed through the viewing aperture.

Claims56

Dependent claims

Display apparatus for generating multi-colored optical images, comprising:

housing means having an optical aperture through which light may be passed;
light valve means disposed within said housing means and forming an array of discrete light-modulating pixel units, each including a plurality of subpixel components having elongated grating elements, the grating elements of at least two subpixel components of each pixel unit being oriented such that the grating elements of a first of said two subpixel components extend in a direction different from that of the grating elements of a second of said two subpixel components, each said subpixel component being adapted to selectively have a reflective state and a diffractive state;
means for controlling each said subpixel component by moving selected ones of said grating elements to enable the controlled subpixel component to operate in a reflective state and a diffractive state;
and
a plurality of colored light sources respectively positioned to illuminate particular subpixel components of each pixel unit of said array such that no light reflected from any of said subpixel components in a reflective state passes through said aperture, but such that light diffracted from corresponding ones of said subpixel components of each said pixel unit in a diffractive state is directed through said aperture.

2 more elements

Display apparatus for generating multi-colored optical images, comprising:

housing means having an optical aperture through which light may be passed;
light valve means disposed within said housing means and forming an array of discrete light-modulating pixel units each including a plurality of subpixel components having elongated grating elements, the grating elements of at least two subpixel components of each pixel unit being oriented such that the grating elements of a first of said two subpixel components extend in a direction different from that of the grating elements of a second of said two subpixel components, each said subpixel component being adapted to selectively have a reflective state and a diffractive state;
means for controlling each said subpixel component by moving selected ones of said grating elements to enable the controlled subpixel component to operate in a reflective state and a diffractive state;
and
a plurality of colored light sources respectively positioned to illuminate particular subpixel components of each pixel unit of said array such that no light diffracted from any of said subpixel components in a diffractive state passes through said aperture, but such that light reflected from corresponding ones of said subpixel components of each said pixel unit in a reflective state is directed through said aperture.

2 more elements

Apparatus for generative a multi-colored optical image, comprising:

means forming an optical aperture through which light may be passed;
means forming an array of discrete light-modulating pixel units, each including a plurality of subpixel components having elongated grating elements, the grating elements of at least two subpixel components of each said pixel unit being oriented such that the grating elements of a first of said two subpixel components extend in a direction different from that of the grating elements of a second of said two subpixel components, each said subpixel component having a fixed configuration, wherein said component either completely reflects incident light, completely diffracts incident light, or partially diffracts and partially reflects incident light;
and
a plurality of colored light sources respectively positioned to simultaneously illuminate at least one pixel unit of said array such that no light reflected from any illuminated subpixel component of said one pixel unit in a reflective state passes through said aperture, but such that light diffracted from any illuminated subpixel component of said one pixel unit in a diffractive state is directed through said aperture.

1 more element

Apparatus for generating a multi-colored optical image, comprising:

means forming an optical aperture through which light may be passed;
means forming an array of discrete light-modulating pixel units, each including a plurality of subpixel components having elongated grating elements, the grating elements of at least two subpixel components of each said pixel unit being oriented such that the grating elements of a first of said two subpixel components extend in a direction different from that of the grating elements of a second of said two subpixel components, each said subpixel component having a fixed configuration in either a reflective state or a refractive state, wherein said subpixel component either completely reflects incident light, completely diffracts incident light, or partially diffracts and partially reflects incident light;
and
a plurality of colored light sources respectively positioned to simultaneously illuminate at least one pixel unit of said array such that no light diffracted from any illuminated subpixel component of said one pixel unit in a diffractive state passes through said aperture, but such that light reflected from any illuminated subpixel component of said one pixel unit in a reflective state is directed through said aperture.

1 more element

A method of generating multi-colored optical images, comprising the steps of:

providing an optical aperture through which light may be passed;
forming an array of discrete light-modulating pixel units, each including a plurality of subpixel components having elongated grating elements, the grating elements of at least two subpixel components of each pixel unit being oriented such that the grating elements of a first of said two subpixel components extend in a direction different from that of the grating elements of a second of said two subpixel components, each said subpixel component being adapted to selectively have a reflective state and a diffractive state, and including means for controlling each said subpixel component by moving selected ones of said grating elements to enable the controlled subpixel component to operate in a reflective state and a diffractive state;
causing each said subpixel component to assume either said reflective state or said diffractive state;
and
positioning a plurality of colored light sources to respectively illuminate particular subpixel components of each pixel unit of said array such that no light reflected from any of said subpixel components in a reflective state passes through said aperture, but such that light diffracted from subpixel components in a diffractive state is directed through said aperture, whereby an optical image corresponding to the states of said pixel units is viewable through said optical aperture.

2 more elements

A method for generating multi-colored optical images, comprising the steps of:

providing a housing means having an optical aperture through which light may be passed;
providing a light valve means disposed within said housing means and forming an array of discrete light-modulating pixel units, each including a plurality of subpixel components having elongated grating elements, the grating elements of at least two subpixel components of each pixel unit being oriented such that the grating elements of a first of said two subpixel components extend in a direction different from that of the grating elements of a second of said two subpixel components, each said subpixel component being adapted to selectively have a reflective state and a diffractive state, and including means for controlling each said subpixel component by moving selected ones of said grating elements to enable the controlled subpixel component to operate in a reflective state and a diffractive state;
and
positioning a plurality of colored light sources to respectively illuminate particular subpixel components of each pixel unit of said array such that no light reflected from any of said subpixel components in a reflective state passes through said aperture, but such that light diffracted from corresponding ones of said subpixel components of each said pixel unit in a diffractive state is directed through said aperture.

1 more element

A method of generating multi-colored optical images, comprising the steps of:

providing an optical aperture through which light may be passed;
forming an array of discrete light-modulating pixel units, each including a plurality of subpixel components having elongated grating elements, the grating elements of at least two subpixel components of each pixel unit being oriented such that the grating elements of a first of said two subpixel components extend in a direction different from that of the grating elements of a second of said two subpixel components, each said subpixel component being adapted to selectively have a reflective area and a diffractive state, and including means for controlling each said subpixel component by moving selected ones of said grating elements to enable the controlled subpixel component to operate in a reflective state and a diffractive state;
causing each said subpixel component to assume either said reflective state or said diffractive state;
and
positioning a plurality of colored light sources to respectively illuminate particular subpixel components of each pixel unit of said array such that no light diffracted from any of said subpixel components in a diffractive state passes through said aperture, but such that light reflected from subpixel components in a reflective state is directed through said aperture, whereby an optical image corresponding to the states of said pixel units is viewable through said optical aperture.

2 more elements

A method for generating multi-colored optical images, comprising the steps of:

providing a housing means having an optical aperture through which light may be passed;
disposing a light valve means within said housing means and forming an array of discrete light-modulating pixel units, each including a plurality of subpixel components having elongated grating elements, the grating elements of at least two subpixel components of each pixel unit being oriented such that the grating elements, the grating elements of a first of said two subpixel components extend in a direction different from that of the grating elements of a second of said two subpixel components, each said subpixel component being adapted to selectively have a reflective state and a diffractive state, and including means for controlling each said subpixel component by moving selected ones of said grating elements to enable the controlled subpixel component to operate in a reflective state and a diffractive state;
and
positioning a plurality of colored light sources to respectively illuminate particular subpixel components of each pixel unit of said array such that no light diffracted from any of said subpixel components in a diffractive state passes through said aperture, but such that light reflected from corresponding ones of said subpixel components of each said pixel unit in a reflective state is directed through said aperture.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for using an array of grating light valves to produce multicolor optical images

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for using an array of grating light valves to produce multicolor optical images

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims56