Patent ID: 6014257
Filing Date: 2000-01-11
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
A modulator for modulating an incident beam of light, comprising:a substrate comprising a cavity having a base and side walls surrounding said base;a plurality of equally spaced apart, deformable elements having opposing end edges integrally formed in said side walls of said substrate just above said cavity, wherein each one of said plurality of deformable elements comprises a base layer having a recess, a poled magnetic layer disposed in said recess, and a first light reflection layer deposited on said magnetic layer for reflecting said incident beam of light;at least one conductive element arranged substantially lengthwise in one of said side walls surrounding said cavity in an electromagnetic relationship to said magnetic layer of said plurality of equally spaced apart deformable elements;a plurality of second light reflection layers arranged on the base of said a cavity, a single one of said plurality of second light reflection layers being arranged between nearest adjacent spaced apart deformable elements; andmeans for applying a current through said conductive element, said current producing a magnetic field in the deformable element which causes said deformable elements to deflect towards said cavity such that light reflecting from said plurality of first light reflection layers destructively interferes with light reflected from said plurality of second light reflection layers thereby causing modulation of said incident light.