Patent ID: 7869116
Filing Date: 2011-01-11
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
1. A light valve unit comprising: a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer disposed on opposite sides of each other with respect to a plurality of cells disposed therebetween, at least some of the cells including a first material and a second material, the first material having a lower light transmissivity property than the second material, a position of the first material within a corresponding cell being changeable responsive to application of an electric field between the first and second conductive layers, wherein the second conductive layer includes at least two electrodes and a gap defined between the two electrodes, and wherein a portion of the light valve unit adjacent to the gap and not overlapping with cells adjacent to either of the two electrodes is configured to have a transmissivity that is substantially less than transmissivity of a portion of the light valve unit adjacent to cells across which the electric field is applied, but greater than or equal to transmissivity of a portion of the light valve unit adjacent to cells across which the electric field is not applied.