Patent ID: 6215579
Filing Date: 2001-04-10
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
An optical system for displaying an image comprising:a. a plurality of elongated elements, each element having an approximately flat reflective surface disposed between two ends, the elements arranged parallel to each other and suspended by their respective ends above a substrate, the elongated elements grouped according to a plurality of display elements arranged in a single linear array;b. means for deforming selected ones of the elongated elements toward the substrate thereby entering a deformed state wherein the approximately flat reflective surface of each selected element moves toward the substrate by a grating amplitude without the selected elongated elements contacting the substrate such that when the elongated elements corresponding to a display element are undeformed, an incident beam of light is reflected by the display element, and further such that when alternate ones of elongated elements corresponding to the display element are selectively deformed, the incident beam of light is diffracted by the display element, wherein a distance of movement of the selected ones of the elongated elements determines an intensity for the corresponding display element;c. an optical arrangement for forming the image according to a respective intensity formed by each display element; andd. a reflective element disposed over the two ends of each elongated element in a plane parallel to the reflective surfaces of undeformed elongated elements by distance equal to a whole number or zero multiplied by half the wavelength of the incident beam of light.