Method and device for modulating a light beam and having an improved gamma response

Abstract

An apparatus having an improved, tunable gamma response is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a light modulator having a plurality of spaced-apart elements, composed of alternating active elements and passive elements lying in a single plane; a gamma controller; and a displacement controller. The gamma controller applies a gamma voltage to a substrate, displacing the plurality of spaced-apart elements to a bias plane, closer to the substrate. In a reflection mode, the plurality of spaced-apart elements function as a spectral mirror to an impinging light beam. In a diffraction mode, the displacement controller applies a displacement voltage to the active elements. The active elements are now moved to a second plane parallel to the bias plane so that the light beam impinging on the light modulator will be diffracted. The illumination intensity of a detected light signal is proportional to the displacement voltage raised to a power of between approximately 1.75 and 3.0, the gamma response.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.