Patent ID: 7880953

Claim:
A spatial optical modulation array device, comprising a plurality of regularly tiled micro optical-electrical-mechanical pixels on a semiconductor substrate, wherein each of the micro optical-electrical-mechanical pixels comprises: an optically reflective and electrically conductive static bottom metal reflector deposited on top of the semiconductor substrate and electrically connected to a pixel circuitry in the semiconductor substrate; a vertically movable reflective rigid composite plate, suspended above the static bottom metal reflector and spaced in parallel apart in relation thereto, containing one or multiple apertures letting incident illumination through to the static bottom metal reflector underneath, wherein the reflective rigid composite plate further comprises a rigid base plate and a top metal reflector which is optical reflective, electrically conductive, and facing the incident illumination; a set of continuously bendable arms, mechanically connecting the reflective rigid composite plate to the semiconductor substrate and electrically wiring the top metal reflector to the pixel circuitry; wherein the reflective rigid composite plate electrically actuated by the pixel circuitry, moves vertically but relatively parallel to and results in change of spacing from the static bottom metal reflector.