Patent ID: 7528933

Claim:
An array of individually controllable elements, configured to modulate a beam of radiation, the individually controllable elements comprising: a reflector configured to be movably mounted and to be biased towards a first position; an actuator configured to exert a force on the reflector to displace the reflector away from a second position towards the first position; first and second hinges, each of the first and second hinges configured to form a fingered structure that extends from a central portion of the reflector to first and second edges of the reflector, respectively, and which deform when the actuator exerts the force, wherein the deformation of the first and second hinges provides, based on a coupling between each of the first and second hinges and their respective ones of the first and second edges of the reflector, at least a component of the force exerted on the reflector to bias the reflector away from the first position towards the second position; and an interceptor configured not to interfere with the reflector for a first portion of a displacement of the reflector away from the second position towards the first position, and to exert an additional force on the reflector for at least a second portion of the displacement of the reflector away from the second position towards the first position.