Group alignment of solar concentrator micro-mirrors

A method of aligning groups of an array of rotatable mini-mirrors in a light modulating apparatus comprising the steps of:

• a) selectively inducing an electric dipole in each of said rotatable mini-mirrors;
• b) producing a grid array of independently orientable electric fields for coupling to the induced electric dipoles by means of sets of orthogonally criss-crossing opposing rung electrodes;
• and
• c) selectively aligning at least one of said rotatable mini-mirrors by means of said electric fields.

Apparatus for focussing and directing reflected light comprising:

• a) an array of micro-mirrors rotatably disposed in a substrate;
• b) electric dipoles in said rotatable micro-mirrors;
• c) said apparatus having a plurality of addressable elements;
• d) two bus bars connected to opposite poles of a voltage source;
• e) at least two sets of orthogonally criss-crossing rung electrodes electrically connected to at least two of said bus bars for electric field group coupling to said electric dipoles;
• and
• f) microprocessor means for selectively addressing each pair of said bus bars;
• and
• g) means for selectively establishing independent voltage differences between each pair of said bus bars by means of said voltage source.