Patent ID: 7206118

Claim:
An open hole-based diffractive light modulator, comprising: (a) a base member; (b) a first ribbon-shaped reflective part supported by the base member, comprising: an intermediate portion spaced apart from the base member so as to define a space therebetween; a first surface facing away from said base member and functioning as a reflective surface to reflect incident light; at least one open hole extending through said first reflective part and formed so as to pass the incident light therethrough; (c) a second reflective part located between the first reflective part and the base member, said second reflective part: spaced apart from the first reflective part; and comprising a reflective surface facing the first reflective part to reflect the incident light passing through the at least one open hole; and (d) an actuating unit for moving the intermediate portion of the first reflective part relative to the second reflective part to change the intensity of diffracted light which is formed using light reflected from the first reflective part and the second reflective part, wherein the actuating unit comprises a piezoelectric layer which is positioned at a first location other than the location of the intermediate portion of the first reflective part, said piezoelectric layer operable to shrink and expand so as to provide an actuating force in a direction lateral to the first reflective part when voltage is applied to opposite sides of the piezoelectric layer.