Patent ID: 7808697

Claim:
A light valve device comprising: an array of light valves, at least one of the light valves including: a light bending mechanism having an index of refraction greater than an index of refraction of an area adjacent to the light bending mechanism, so that light projected onto a first surface of the light bending mechanism is reflected off a second surface of the light bending mechanism; a switch element including at least one serrated reflecting surface; and a moving mechanism to move the at least one serrated reflecting surface of the switch element relative to the second surface of the light bending mechanism, wherein when the switch element is in a first position, light passing through the first surface of the light bending mechanism reflects off of the second surface of the light bending mechanism and passes through an output surface of the light bending mechanism, and when the switch element is in a second position, the at least one serrated reflecting surface is moved to a position touching or in close proximity to the second surface of the light bending mechanism, so that light passing through the first surface of the light bending mechanism is not reflected off the second surface, but rather continues on to the at least one serrated reflecting surface of the switch element, the at least one serrated reflecting surface reflecting the light.