Patent ID: 7359105

Claim:
A spatial light modulator comprising: a first substrate; a second substrate; a layer of electrooptic material disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate; a first electrode arrangement disposed over the first substrate; and a second electrode arrangement disposed over the second substrate; wherein the first electrode arrangement comprises first and second electrode layers disposed over the first substrate, the spacing between the first electrode layer and the first substrate being different to the spacing between the second electrode layer and the first substrate; the first electrode layer and the second electrode arrangement are configured so as to co-operate, in use, to define a plurality of first addressable regions in the electrooptic material; the second electrode layer and the second electrode arrangement are configured so as to co-operate, in use, to define a plurality of second addressable regions in the electrooptic material; the first electrode layer comprises a set of first electrodes and a set of second electrodes, the set of first electrodes being addressable independently of the set of second electrodes; and the first electrodes are interdigitated with the second electrodes.