US5062689A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrostatically actuatable light modulating device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1990-08-21
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Granted: 1991-11-05
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Expires: 2010-08-21
Abstract
Abstract The electrostatically actuatable light modulator utilizes an opaque substrate plate patterned with an array of aperture cells, the cells comprised of physically positionable dielectric shutters and electrostatic actuators. With incorporation of a light source and a viewing screen, a projection display system is effected. Inclusion of a color filter array aligned with the aperture cells accomplishes a color display. The system is realized in terms of a silicon based manufacturing technology allowing fabrication of a high resolution capability in a physically small device which with the utilization of included magnification optics allows both large and small projection displays.
Inventors
- 👤 Dale R. Koehler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 06:36
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N9/00; H04N9/12; H04N9/31; H04N9/3102; H04N9/3105; H04N9/3108; G; G02; G02B; G02B26/00; G02B26/02; G02B5/00; G02B5/005; G09; G09F; G09F9/00; G09F9/30; G09F9/37; G09F9/372
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
An electrostatically actuatable light modulating device comprising: a substrate plate patterned with an array of light passing apertures; and, a co-located array of shuttering cells to spatially control light transmission through the aperture array, each of the cells comprising: a mechanically positionable shutter means; an electrostatic field actuator means to forcibly move the shutter means; a position dependent mechanical restoring force means acting on said shutter means and in opposition to said electrostatic field actuator means; and, an electrical switch element means which is uniquely addressable within the array, to provide electrical energy to said electrostatic field actuator means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
99 words
An electrostatically actuatable light modulating device comprising: a substrate plate patterned with an array of light passing apertures; and, a co-located array of shuttering cells to spatially control light transmission through the aperture array, each of the cells comprising: a mechanically positionable shutter means; an electrostatic field actuator means to forcibly move the shutter means; a position dependent mechanical restoring force means acting on said shutter means and in opposition to said electrostatic field actuator means; and, an electrical switch element means which is uniquely addressable within the array, to provide electrical energy to said electrostatic field actuator means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device according to claim 1 wherein the shutter means is a mechanically positionable opaque dielectric.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device according to claim 1 wherein the shutter means is a slotted shutter physically aligned to a slotted aperture array.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device according to claim 1 wherein the shutter means is a wedged Fabry-Perot interferometer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device according to claim 1 wherein the electrical switch element means is a diode.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device according to claim 1 wherein the electrical switch element means is a transistor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device according to claim 1 wherein the electrostatic field actuator means is a charge-based drive circuit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device according to claim 1 wherein the electrostatic field actuator means is a voltage-based drive circuit and a storage capacitor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device according to claim 1 wherein the position-dependent restoring force means is a mechanical spring element.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device according to claim 1 wherein the position-dependent restoring force means is an electrostatic force element.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
The device specified in claim 1, in combination with a light source, an optical system for concentrating light onto the modulating device and a viewing screen for displaying spatial images transmitted by the modulating device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The combination specified in claim 11, in combination with a tristimulus color filter positionally aligned to the light modulator to produce color images.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The combination specified in claim 12, in combination with a second optical system for projecting magnified color images.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The combination specified in claim 13, in combination with an infrared filter or mirror interposed between light source and modulator to reduce heating of the modulator array.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The combination specified in claim 11, in combination with a second optical system for projecting magnified images.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The combination specified in claim 15, in combination with an infrared filter or mirror interposed between light source and modulator to reduce heating of the modulator array.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-11-04 | 1995-05-06 | 1995-11-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-11-04 | 1999-05-06 | 1999-11-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-11-04 | 2003-05-06 | 2003-11-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |