Patent ID: 8395843

Claim:
A light valve device, comprising: an array of light valves, at least one of the light valves comprising: a light bending structure comprising a first surface, a second surface, and a third surface arranged such that light incident on the first surface of the light bending mechanism is internally reflected at the second surface of the light bending mechanism; a switch element comprising a first surface, and a serrated second surface opposite the first surface; and a moving mechanism to move the switch element relative to the second surface of the light bending structure, wherein, when the switch element is in a first position, light incident on the first surface of the light bending structure internally reflects at the second surface of the light bending structure and passes through the third surface of the light bending structure, and when the switch element is in a second position, the first surface of the switch element is in a position touching or in close proximity to the second surface of the light bending structure, so that light incident on the first surface of the light bending structure is not internally reflected at the second surface of the light bending structure, but rather continues on to the serrated second surface of the switch element, the serrated second surface directing the light in a direction different from a direction in which the light is reflected at the second surface of the light bending structure when the switch element is in the first position.