Patent ID: 8651724

Claim:
A light valve device comprising: a light guide comprising a first surface, a second surface, and a third surface, wherein light enters through the first surface and propagates in the light guide by total internal reflection between the second surface and the third surface; contact elements adjacent respective portions of the second surface, each contact element comprising a contact portion that faces the second surface, each contact element configured such that a portion of the light that is incident thereon is transmitted therethrough when the contact portion is in physical contact with the second surface; a respective actuator coupled to each of the contact elements to selectively move the contact portion of the contact element into and out of physical contact with the second surface; and a respective reflector positioned to receive the light transmitted through each of the contact elements when the contact element is in physical contact with the second surface, the reflector configured such that the light is reflected back into the light guide and exits the light guide through the third surface; wherein the contact portions of the contact elements are small compared to the reflectors such that the contact elements function as quasi-point sources.