Abstract: Interferometric modulators having a separable modulator architecture are disclosed having a reflective layer suspended from a flexible layer over a cavity. The interferometric modulators have one or more anti-tilt members that inhibit undesirable movement of the reflective layer, such as curling and/or tilting. The stabilization of the reflective layer by the anti-tilt members can improve the quality of the optical output of the interferometric modulators, as well as displays comprising such interferometric modulators.

Abstract: Cooling chambers (R1, R2) for accommodating therein a cooling fluid for cooling a liquid crystal panel (441) are formed inside a pair of frame members (4405, 4406) constituting an optical modulator holder (4402). There are provided, in the pair of frame members (4405, 4406), inlet ports (4405D, 4406D) for inletting a cooling fluid into the cooling chambers (R1, R2), outlet ports (4405E, 4406E) for discharging the cooling fluid inside the cooling chambers (R1, R2) to the outside, and a buffer section (Bf1) for temporally accumulating the cooling fluid flowing therein via the inlet ports (4405D, 4406D) and rectifying a flow direction of the cooling fluid to a direction parallel to an optical modulation face and/or to a direction perpendicular to the optical modulation face.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method for controlling positioning of an optical dithering element includes repeatedly driving the optical dithering element approximately between a plurality of desired positions by a generally periodic drive waveform. During a particular period of the drive waveform, the actual position of the optical dithering element is determined at a plurality of sample times. For each of the determined actual positions of the optical dithering element, a position error indicator is determined based upon whether the magnitude of the actual position is greater than, less than, or the same as a desired setpoint for the position of the optical dithering element. The method also includes generating an error signature for the particular period based on the determined error indicators and modifying the drive waveform in response to the error signature.

Abstract: A display member for use at a temperature greater than at least about 40° C. The display member includes an arrangement of a plurality of optically anisotropic rotatable elements comprising a purified polymer. The plurality of rotatable elements have a surface in contact with an enabling fluid, the rotatable elements being electrically dipolar in the presence of the enabling fluid and being subject to rotation upon application of an electric field.

Abstract: A light deflector comprises a first movable plate having a reflective surface, fixing portions, a pair of second movable plates located between the first movable plate and the fixing portions, a pair of first elastic members supporting the first movable plate so as to allow it to oscillate with respect to the second movable plates, a pair of second elastic members supporting the second movable plates so as to allow them to oscillate with respect to the fixing portions, and an actuator to oscillate the first movable plate. Oscillation axis of the first elastic members and oscillation axis of the second elastic members are located on the same axis. Stiffness of the second elastic members against oscillation is lower than stiffness of the first elastic members against oscillation.

Abstract: A process for producing a display device includes (a) a providing an area having affinity for a partition wall precursor higher than a surrounding area at an outermost surface of a first substrate, (b) providing an area having affinity for a partition wall precursor corresponding to the area of the first substrate at an outermost surface of a second substrate, (c) disposing the first substrate and the second substrate opposite to each other with a spacing and filling the spacing with a liquid containing the partition wall precursor, (d) collecting the partition wall precursor in a spacing between the areas of the first and second substrates, and (e) fixing the collected partition wall precursor. Such a partition wall has a high adhesiveness and prevents charged particles from entering an adjacent pixel even if contained in a liquid.

Abstract: A modulator arrangement for modulating an optical signal using a quadrature phase shift key for use in an optical wavelength division multiplex (WDM) optical communications system comprising a laser (2) for producing an optical signal of a selected wavelength, which signal is split by a splitter (4), each part of said split signal being applied to a respective phase modulator (6, 8) each for which phase modulators is adapted to modulate the phase of the signal in dependence on a respective drive voltages. The phase of the output of at least one modulator (6) is shiftable at least in part by a phase shifter (10), the split signals being recombined by an optical recombiner (12) to form an optical phase shift key output, wherein the output power is monitored by a detector (20), the detector signal then being used to drive a feedback arrangement to control electrodes of the phase modulators (6, 8) and/or phase shifter (10).

Abstract: The micromirror device of the present invention comprises a reflective deflectable mirror plate and an addressing electrode provided for deflecting the mirror plate, wherein the addressing electrode is displaced along a direction perpendicular to the length of the hinge such that a portion of the addressing electrode is extended beyond the mirror plate.

Abstract: An electrophoretic display device uses a liquid-phase electrophoretic material not confined in a shell. An electrophoresis chamber with the electrophoretic material hermetically sealing therein is mounted in a substrate. Also, a display section, a data communication section, a driver section, and a power reception section are mounted on the substrate. The data communication section is communicable with an external device to receive data to be displayed in the display section. The driver section is provided for driving the display section. To supply power to various sections of the display device, the power reception section is provided for wirelessly being supplied with power from an external station. A panel is mated with the substrate to cover the data communication section, the driver section, and the power reception section while exposing a transparent cover plate of the display section.

Abstract: The spatial light modulator of the present invention comprises an array of micromirrors, each of which has a reflective deflectable mirror plate. A set of posts are provided for holding the mirror plates on a substrate, but not all micromirrors of the micromirror array have posts.

Abstract: An acousto-optical tunable filter, comprising planar optical waveguide (2) for propagation of light beam (14), and arranged sequentially along the path of the light radiation: a means for forming a light beam, transducer (16) of acoustic waves suited to generate acoustic wave (15) that is capable of interacting with the beam light waves and cause their diffraction within a predetermined wavelength range, and a means for selecting the diffracted portion of the light beam.

Abstract: A lens holder portion 3 for holding an objective lens 5 is supported on an end side of each of four suspension wires 2 so that it is capable of moving in a focusing direction and in a tracking direction. Minute uneven faces 2a are formed in the surface of each suspension wire 2. Adhesive agent 11 which fixes each suspension wire 2 on the lens holder 3 and fixing member 4 invades into dented portions in this uneven face 2a and hardens, thereby producing an anchor effect to improve bonding strength. Consequently, in an objective lens drive unit 1 in which the lens holder 3 is supported by a plurality of suspension wires 2, bonding strength to the suspension wire 2 can be improved.

Abstract: Provided is an automatic focusing method used by a digital image processing apparatus including a zoom lens moving in a moving range of a first guide bar and a focus lens moving in a moving range of a second guide bar disposed on an extension of the first guide bar. The method includes performing focusing while moving the zoom lens in a range from a zooming limit position in the first guide bar to a set zoom limit position, if a current photographing mode is a close-range photographing mode and a current position of the zoom lens is the zooming limit position.

Abstract: An optical device (44) includes fluid circulating member link sections (446) that can link a plurality of fluid circulating members (448). The fluid circulating member link sections (446) are arranged respectively between a main tank (445) and an optical device main body (440) and between a radiator (447) and the optical device main body (440) to allow the optical device main body (440) to be fitted to and removed from the main tank (445) and the radiator (447).

Abstract: An optical switching device contains an active stage coupled to a passive stage. The index of refraction in the active stage is variable to change the entry direction of a light beam into the passive stage, which has a fixed index of refraction. Because the light beam can enter the passive stage at different angles, the exit direction of the light beam from the passive stage can be changed. The resulting optical switch allows switching without any mechanical components.

Abstract: One embodiment of an optical modulator includes a substrate, a reflective structure, and at least three thermally actuated supports that movably support said reflective structure on said substrate.

Abstract: An image pick-up apparatus includes an object lens, an image transmission device, and an image-sensing device. The object lens projects an image of an object to be picked-up. The image transmission device has an image-receiving side disposed to receive the image projected by the object lens, an image output side, and an image-transmitting portion coupled optically with the image-receiving side and the image output side. The image-receiving side has a curvature corresponding to curvature-of-field characteristics of the object lens so as to enable correction of aberrations introduced by the object lens into the image projected by the object lens. The image-sensing device is coupled optically with the image output side of the image transmission device for sensing a corrected image of the object to be picked-up that is provided by the image transmission device at the image output side.

Abstract: A projector includes: a spatial light modulator, which receives pattern data, representing a pattern to be formed on a projection plane, and which spatially modulates incoming light in accordance with the pattern data; and a projection optical system for projecting the light, which has been reflected from the spatial light modulator, onto the projection plane in a reduced size. The spatial light modulator includes: an array of micromirrors to be driven in accordance with the pattern data; a substrate to support the array of micromirrors thereon; and a driving section, which is able to change the tilt of each micromirror with respect to the substrate and the displacement of the micromirror perpendicularly to the substrate on a micromirror-by-micromirror basis.

Abstract: A MEMS device includes at least one movable member and an active device having at least one property affected by the location of the movable member with respect to the active device. A control circuit is used to limit movement of the movable member based on observation of the property affected by the active device.

Abstract: A special record format used for commanding light pattern shapes and addressable light pattern shape generator. The command format includes a first part which commands a specified gobo and second parts which command the characteristics of that gobo. The gobo is formed by making a default gobo based on the type and modifying that default gobo to fit the characteristics.