Abstract: A high angular deflection micro-mirror system including a substrate, a spacer structure extending from the substrate, a deformable membrane supported by the spacer structure, one or more supports located off center on the deformable membrane, and one or more mirrors on the support cantilevered therefrom to achieve a high angular deflection of the mirrors as the deformable membranes deform.

Abstract: A high angular deflection micro-mirror system including a substrate, a spacer structure extending from the substrate, a deformable membrane supported by the spacer structure, one or more supports located off center on the deformable membrane, and one or more mirrors on the support cantilevered therefrom to achieve a high angular deflection of the mirrors as the deformable membranes deform.

Abstract: A tunable optical filter including at least one deformable membrane actuator. The actuator may include an array of a thousand or millions of individual actuator cells for strength and mechanical robustness. The deformable membrane actuator including a first primary substrate having a first optical portion, an electrically conductive and deformable membrane, an electrically conductive primary substrate electrode and a membrane support structure. The substrate electrode and the membrane support structure are disposed on or adjacent to the first primary substrate, the deformable membrane being supported by the membrane support structure, and a second substrate having a second optical portion. The second substrate is supported by a load support structure disposed on one surface of the deformable membrane and is located a distance from the first substrate.

Abstract: A tunable optical filter including at least one deformable membrane actuator. The actuator may comprise an array of a thousand or millions of individual actuator cells for strength and mechanical robustness. The deformable membrane actuator including a first primary substrate having a first optical portion, an electrically conductive and deformable membrane, an electrically conductive primary substrate electrode and a membrane support structure. The substrate electrode and the membrane support structure are disposed on or adjacent to the first primary substrate, the deformable membrane being supported by the membrane support structure, and a second substrate having a second optical portion. The second substrate is supported by a load support structure disposed on one surface of the deformable membrane and is located a distance from the first substrate.

Abstract: A membrane light modulator comprising a charge transfer plate, and having a multiplicity of conductors extending from the rear surface to the front surface of the plate. The conductors are supported in an insulating matrix. The front side of the transfer plate has a plurality of potential wells defined by insulating walls, each potential well constituting a pixel. A plurality of conductors is provided for each pixel. A deformable reflecting membrane comprising a metal layer spans the potential wells. An electric potential is provided on the metal layer, and a source of electrons is provided for impacting the rear surface of the charge transfer plate.

Abstract: A membrane light modulator comprising a charge transfer plate, and having a multiplicity of conductors extending from the rear surface to the front surface of the plate. The conductors are supported in an insulating matrix. The front side of the transfer plate has a plurality of potential wells defined by insulating walls, each potential well constituting a pixel. A plurality of conductors is provided for each pixel. A deformable reflecting membrane comprising a metal layer spans the potential wells. An electric potential is provided on the metal layer, and a source of electrons is provided for impacting the rear surface of the charge transfer plate.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for creating discrete phase optical elements. An arbitrary phase structure is represented by color encoding to produce a color encoded mask. Thereafter, a photo-sensitive substrate is exposed to broad spectrum light transmitted through or reflected from the mask to create the discrete phase structure in the substrate. In preferred embodiments, the exposed substrate is developed and bleached (if necessary) to remove pigmentation to produce highly efficient multiple level phase structures for optical applications. The color encoded mask is produced by a computer-driven color printer resulting in very fast turnaround times.

Abstract: The disclosed optical signal processor includes a matrix-addressable field emitter array for supplying a controlled electron emission to a two-dimensional signal processor element that may be either a processor of electrical or two-dimensional optical signals.

Abstract: The disclosed charge transfer signal processor includes a vacuum housing having an input face and an output face, a 2-D electromagnetic input means cooperative with said input face for providing a 2-D input electronic charge signal within the vacuum housing, transfer means for imaging the 2-D input electronic charge signal in a region of the vacuum housing proximate the vacuum housing output face, and charge feedthrough means coupled to the vacuum housing output face for transferring the imaged 2-D electronic charge signal externally to the vacuum housing. In one embodiment, the charge transfer signal processor is operable as Gen-1 charge transfer amplifier. In another embodiment, a microchannel plate assembly is disposed in the vacuum housing intermediate the input and output faces, and the charge transfer signal processor is operable as a high-gain charge transfer signal amplifier.

Abstract: In one voltage-driven embodiment, a high spatial resolution two-dimensional array of bistable completely cross-talk free light modulation elements is constituted as a lamination of an input two-dimensional photoconductor thin film layer and an output two-dimensional electroluminescent phosphor thin film layer disposed in etched wells individually defined in corresponding cores of the optical fibers of a fiber optic face plate. In another voltage-driven embodiment, a very low cost high spatial resolution 2-D array of bistable substantially cross-talk free light modulation elements is constituted as a lamination of a photoconductor thin film layer, a selectively dimensioned and apertured opaque masking thin film layer, and an electroluminescent phosphor thin film layer.

Abstract: In one voltage-driven embodiment, a high spatial resolution two-dimensional array of bistable completely cross-talk free light modulation elements is constituted as a lamination of an input two-dimensional photoconductor thin film layer and an output two-dimensional electroluminescent phosphor thin film layer disposed in etched wells individually defined in corresponding cores of the optical fibers of a fiber optic face plate. In another voltage-driven embodiment, a very low cost high spatial resolution 2-D array of bistable substantially cross-talk free light modulation elements is constituted as a lamination of a photoconductor thin film layer, a selectively dimensioned and apertured opaque masking thin film layer, and an electroluminescent phosphor thin film layer.

Abstract: In one voltage-driven embodiment, a high spatial resolution two-dimensional array of bistable completely cross-talk free light modulation elements is constituted as a lamination of an input two-dimensional photoconductor thin film layer and an output two-dimensional electroluminescent phosphor thin film layer disposed in etched wells individually defined in corresponding cores of the optical fibers of a fiber optic face plate. In another voltage-driven embodiment, a very low cost high spatial resolution 2-D array of bistable substantially cross-talk free light modulation elements is constituted as a lamination of a photoconductor thin film layer, a selectively dimensioned and apertured opaque masking thin film layer, and an electroluminescent phosphor thin film layer.

Abstract: The disclosed charge transfer signal processor includes a vacuum housing having an input face and a output face, a 2-D electromagnetic input means cooperative with said input face for providing a 2-D input electronic charge signal within the vacuum housing, transfer means for imaging the 2-D input electronic charge signal in a region of the vacuum housing proximate the vacuum housing output face, and charge feedthrough means coupled to the vacuum housing output face for transferring the imaged 2-D electronic charge signal externally to the vacuum housing. In one embodiment, the charge transfer signal processor is operable as a Gen-I charge transfer amplifier. In another embodiment, a microchannel plate assembly is dThis invention was made with Government support under Contract F19628-84-C-0048 awarded by the Department of the Air Force. The government has certain rights in the invention.

Abstract: A microchannel spatial light modulator that has a photocathode to receive incident light and to provide a spatial distribution of photoelectrons (herein called an electron image) whose spatial number density is proportional to the spatial intensity of the incident light. A microchannel plate is provided to receive the photoelectrons and to amplify the electron image. An electro-optic plate is provided to receive the amplified electron image; there is a dielectric mirror coating and an insulating light-blocking layer at one major surface thereof to receive the electron image and a transparent electrode at the other major surface thereof for biasing purposes. All of the foregoing elements are contained within a vacuum housing; suitable electrical potentials are applied to effect the necessary results. The modulator is capable of real-time phase or intensity modulation.