Patent ID: 6301000
Filing Date: 2001-10-09
Classification: G03F

Abstract:
A spatial light modulator comprising an array of radiation-modulating pixel elements, whereineach pixel comprises a flexible reflective surface supported over a substrate,the space between each pixel surface and the substrate is partitioned into two cells by means of cell walls that support the surface along two opposite sides of the pixel and along a center line between the two sides,the portion of the surface over each cell forms a flexure element that is electrostatically actuated to control its surface shape,illuminating radiation originating from an illumination source reflects off of the pixel array and is focused onto a focal plane conjugate to the source,a portion of the reflected radiation is filtered by a projection aperture proximate to the focal plane, andeach pixel's flexure elements control the reflected radiation's phase distribution across the pixel, thereby controlling the amount of radiation energy from that pixel that is filtered by the projection aperture.