Patent ID: 8052289

Claim:
A mirror array apparatus, comprising: a carrier configured to support a plurality of individually adjustable reflective elements; a capacitance sensor configured to measure an orientation and/or position of one or more reflective elements of the plurality of reflective elements; an actuator associated with each reflective element, the actuator being configured to adjust the orientation and/or position of the associated reflective element relative to the carrier in response to the measured orientation and/or position of the associated reflective element by the capacitance sensor; and a liquid in direct physical contact with a reflective side of a movable portion of the reflective elements, substantially all of the liquid having a dielectric constant of about 80 or more, and the liquid being in direct physical contact with and between the one or more reflective elements and the capacitance sensor, wherein the mirror array apparatus is configured to, during projection of a beam onto the reflective elements, circulate away the liquid in direct physical contact with the reflective side of the movable portion from the reflective elements, whether the reflective elements are stationary or moving, to a thermal control device to passively or actively dissipate heat from the liquid and to return the heat dissipated liquid to the reflective elements.