Optically addressed spatial light modulator (OASLM) with dielectric mirror comprising layers of amorphous hydrogenated carbon

An optical display system incorporating an OASLM, the OASLM comprising:

• a first transparent substrate;
• a first transparent electrode formed on said first transparent substrate;
• a photoconductive layer formed on the first transparent electrode the photoconductive layer comprising hydrogenated amorphous silicon carbide;
• a light-blocking layer formed on said photoconductive layer;
• a dielectric mirror layer, itself having a multiple layer structure formed on said light-blocking layer;
• a second transparent substrate upon which is formed a second transparent electrode, and between said second electrode and the dielectric mirror a liquid crystal layer and orientation means therefore;
• wherein the light blocking layer consists of hydrogenated amorphous carbon and wherein the dielectric mirror is formed from alternate hydrogenated amorphous silicon carbide (a-Si:C:H) layers and hydrogenated amorphous carbon (a-C:H) layers to form layers of higher and lower refractive index respectively.

An optical signal processing system incorporating an OASLM, the OASLM comprising:

• a first transparent substrate;
• a first transparent electrode formed on said first transparent substrate;
• a photoconductive layer formed on first transparent electrode the photoconductive layer comprising hydrogenated amorphous silicon carbide;
• a light-blocking layer formed on said photoconductive layer the light-blocking layer comprising hydrogenated amorphous carbon;
• a dielectric mirror layer, itself having a multiple layer structure formed on said light-blocking layer;
• a second transparent substrate upon which is formed a second transparent electrode, and between said second electrode and the dielectric mirror a liquid crystal layer and orientation means therefore;
• wherein the light blocking layer consists of hydrogenated amorphous carbon and wherein the dielectric mirror is formed from alternate hydrogenated amorphous silicon carbide (a-Si:C:H) layers and hydrogenated amorphous carbon (a-C:H) layers to form layers of higher and lower refractive index respectively.

An optically addressed spatial light modulator (OASLM) comprising:

• a first transparent substrate;
• a first transparent electrode formed on said first transparent substrate;
• a photoconductive layer formed on the first transparent electrode, the photoconductive layer comprising hydrogenated amorphous silicon carbide;
• a light-blocking layer formed on said photoconductive layer, the light-blocking layer comprising hydrogenated amorphous carbon;
• a dielectric mirror layer, itself having a multiple layer structure of higher and lower refractive index material so formed as to be partially light blocking;
• and
• a second transparent substrate upon which is formed a second transparent electrode, and between said second electrode and the dielectric mirror a liquid crystal layer and orientation means therefore wherein the light-blocking layer includes hydrogenated amorphous carbon.