Patent ID: RE42124

Claim:
An optical micromechanical system for controlling reflectivity of a single light beam from an optical source, the optical micromechanical system including a macropixel comprising a plurality of individual micromirrors which are closely spaced with respect to the wavelength of the light beam and arranged such that the light beam impinges substantially concurrently on the plurality of micromirrors , each of the micromirrors being electronically controllable to effect a mechanical movement, the macropixel being operable in a first mode for concurrently maintaining an alignment of the micromirrors at a common displacement for maximizing reflection of the single light beam in a selected path, and the macropixel being operable in a second mode for aligning some of the micromirrors in into a different displacement for deflecting portions of the light beam impinging on the aligned micromirrors out of the selected path so as to effectively attenuate the reflected light beam.