Patent ID: 7411717

Claim:
A spatial light modulator comprising an array of micromirror devices, each micromirror device comprising: a substrate; a deformable hinge held on the substrate; a micromirror plate attached to the deformable hinge such that the micromirror plate is configured to move on the substrate between an ON state and an OFF state, wherein the OFF state corresponds to a position wherein the micromirror plate has a non-zero OFF state angle to the substrate; an ON state stopper disposed so as to abut against and stop a rotation of the micromirror plate at the ON state; wherein an OFF state stopper is absent from the micromirror device such that the micromirror plate at the OFF state does not abut against a stopper, and such that there is a gap between outside edges of the micromirror plate and any adjacent structures; and an electrode associated with the micromirror plate for deflecting the micromirror plate.