Patent ID: 7268849
Filing Date: 2007-09-11
Classification: G02F

Abstract:
1. A spatial light modulator, comprising: a transmissive window having a transparent conductive film; a direct drive backplane having a plurality of voltage gradient pixels, each of the voltage gradient pixels having (a) resistive film, (b) resistive metal conductor frame on a boundary of the resistive film, and (c) conductive metal leads between a substrate of the direct drive backplane and the resistive metal frame, wherein differential voltages applied to the metal frame via the conductive metal leads generate a selective two-dimensional linear voltage gradient across the resistive film; and a layer of liquid crystal material disposed between the transmissive window and the voltage gradient pixels; the liquid crystal material of each voltage gradient pixel responsive to an electric field generated by the voltage gradient to two-dimensionally alter phase of a wavefront incident thereon.