Patent ID: 6219015
Filing Date: 2001-04-17
Classification: B81B,B81C,G02B

Abstract:
Display apparatus for generating multi-colored optical images, comprising:housing means having an optical aperture through which light may be passed; light valve means disposed within said housing means and forming an array of discrete light-modulating pixel units, each including a plurality of subpixel components having elongated grating elements, the grating elements of at least two subpixel components of each pixel unit being oriented such that the grating elements of a first of said two subpixel components extend in a direction different from that of the grating elements of a second of said two subpixel components, each said subpixel component being adapted to selectively have a reflective state and a diffractive state;means for controlling each said subpixel component by moving selected ones of said grating elements to enable the controlled subpixel component to operate in a reflective state and a diffractive state; anda plurality of colored light sources respectively positioned to illuminate particular subpixel components of each pixel unit of said array such that no light reflected from any of said subpixel components in a reflective state passes through said aperture, but such that light diffracted from corresponding ones of said subpixel components of each said pixel unit in a diffractive state is directed through said aperture.