Patent ID: 7502157

Claim:
A multi-layer spatial light modulator device for amplitude and phase control, the device comprising: a substrate; lower layer deflectable planar areas positioned above the substrate; a lower layer support structure for the lower layer deflectable planar areas; upper layer deflectable planar areas positioned above the lower layer; and an upper layer support structure for the upper layer deflectable planar areas; wherein a first portion of incident light impinges on the upper layer of deflectable planar areas, and a second portion of the incident light impinges on the lower layer of deflectable planar areas, and wherein the lower layer support structure includes lower layer posts positioned underneath the upper layer deflectable planar areas, the lower layer posts include conductive vias coupled to an active circuit on the substrate, and the active circuit is used to control amplitude modulation by controlling a relative displacement between upper layer deflectable planar areas and adjacent lower layer deflectable planar areas.