Abstract: An image-forming system with enhanced gray levels, including: a primary beam of light having a primary intensity value, a secondary beam of light having a secondary intensity value significantly less than the primary intensity value; a first modulator array of discrete devices receiving the primary beam of light and producing an output with coarse gray levels, a second modulator array of discrete devices receiving the secondary beam of light and producing an output with fine gray levels; a controller for synchronously controlling the first and the second modulator array; and optics that combine the output with fine gray levels and the output with coarse gray levels to form an image with the enhanced gray levels.

Abstract: An image-forming system with enhanced gray levels, including: a primary beam of light having a primary intensity value; a secondary beam of light having a secondary intensity value significantly less than the primary intensity value; a first modulator array of discrete devices receiving the primary beam of light and producing an output with coarse gray levels; a second modulator array of discrete devices receiving the secondary beam of light and producing an output with fine gray levels; a controller for synchronously controlling the first and the second modulator array; and optics that combine the output with fine gray levels and the output with coarse gray levels to form an image with the enhanced gray levels.

Abstract: A display system, including: a light source providing illumination; a linear array of electromechanical grating devices of at least two individually operable devices receiving the illumination wherein a grating period is oriented at a predetermined angle with respect to an axis of the linear array wherein the angle is large enough to separate diffracted light beams prior to a projection lens system for projecting light onto a screen; a polarization sensitive element that passes diffracted light beams according to their polarization state; a segmented waveplate for altering the polarization state of a discrete number of selected diffracted light beams wherein the segmented waveplate is located between the linear array and the polarization sensitive element, a scanning element for moving the selectively passed diffracted light beams on the screen; and a controller for providing a data stream to the individually operable devices.

Abstract: A method for producing optically planar surfaces for micro-electromechanical system devices (MEMS), comprising the steps of: depositing a first layer over a substrate; forming a channel in the first layer wherein the channel has a depth defined by a thickness of the first layer and a width greater than 10 microns; depositing a second layer over the first layer wherein the second layer has a thickness greater than the depth of the channel and is composed of a different material than the first layer; removing the second layer from outside the channel leaving an overlap at the edge of the channel; and polishing the second layer that fills the channel to obtain an optically planar surface for the MEMS device.

Abstract: A display system, that includes a light source for providing illumination; a linear array of electromechanical grating devices of at least two individually operable devices receiving the illumination wherein a grating period is oriented at a predetermined angle with respect to an axis of the linear array wherein the angle is large enough to separate diffracted light beams prior to a lens system for projecting light onto a screen; an obstructing element for blocking a discrete number of diffracted light beams from reaching the screen; a scanning element for moving non-obstructed diffracted light beams on the screen; and a controller for providing a data stream to the individually operable devices.

Abstract: A method for producing co-planar surface areas is disclosed. At first a first layer with at least one recess is provided. Onto the first layer a second layer is deposited over the entire area of the first layer wherein the second layer has a thickness greater than the depth of the recess. The second layer is composed of material different to the material of the first layer. The next step removes the second layer completely beyond the area of at least one recess. The remaining portion of the second layer is removed until the second layer is coplanar with the first layer.

Abstract: A method for damping electro-mechanical ribbon elements over a channel defining a bottom surface and having a bottom conductive layer formed below the bottom surface includes the steps of: providing at least one constant amplitude voltage pulse to at least one ribbon element wherein the actuation pulse causes the ribbon element to contact the bottom surface of the channel; and providing at least one braking pulse to the ribbon elements wherein the braking pulse is separated by a narrow temporal gap from the constant amplitude voltage pulse. Furthermore, the method can also provide a sophisticated damping for ribbon elements which are actuated so that they do not contact the bottom of the channel.

Abstract: A mechanical grating device for diffracting an incident light beam has a base which defines a surface. A spacer layer is provided above the base, said spacer layer defining an upper surface of said spacer layer. A longitudinal channel is formed in said spacer layer, said channel having a first and second opposing side walls and a bottom. The side walls are substantially vertically disposed with respect to the bottom, and said channel having a constant cross section along the entire length of the mechanical grating device. A plurality of spaced apart deformable ribbon elements are disposed parallel to each other and span the channel. The deformable ribbon elements are fixed to the upper surface of the spacer layer on each side of the channel.

Abstract: A electro-mechanical grating device for diffracting an incident light beam has a base which defines a surface. A spacer layer is provided above the base, said spacer layer defining an upper surface of said spacer layer. A longitudinal channel is formed in said spacer layer, said channel having a first and second opposing side walls and a bottom. The side walls are substantially vertically disposed with respect to the bottom, and said channel having a constant cross section along the entire length of the mechanical grating device. A plurality of spaced apart deformable ribbon elements are disposed parallel to each other and span the channel. The deformable ribbon elements are fixed to the upper surface of the spacer layer on each side of the channel. A bottom conductive layer is provided within said base and said bottom conductive layer is limited essentially to the cross-section of the channel.

Abstract: An electro-mechanical grating device for diffracting an incident light beam has a base which defines a surface. A spacer layer is provided above the base, said spacer layer defining an upper surface of said spacer layer. A longitudinal channel is formed in said spacer layer. A plurality of spaced apart deformable ribbon elements are disposed parallel to each other and span the channel. The deformable ribbon elements define a ribbon structure which comprises at least one layer of a single material. The ribbon elements and the electro-mechanical grating device are formed so that charge build-up in layers of the electro-mechanical grating device can be avoided during operation of the device.

Abstract: A mechanical grating device for enhancing the reflective properties is presented. A mechanical grating has a plurality of parallel ribbon elements which are suspended above a channel. An incident light beam is modulated by the actuation of selected ribbon elements. The actuation of the ribbon elements, which changes the height of the ribbon elements relative to the substrate, is a result of an applied voltage that produces an electrostatic force. On the top surface of the ribbon elements is a coating of reflective metal upon which is an optical coating is provided. The optical coating is a stack of at least two different materials with different refractive indices. The thickness and the composition of the sequential layers in the stack are chosen to produce certain desired reflective properties. Embodiments are presented for reducing the mechanical effects of the dielectric optical coating.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for actuating electromechanical ribbon elements which are suspended over a channel. The channel defines a bottom surface having a bottom conductive layer formed below said bottom surface. A data generator provides a data stream. The data generator is connected to a modulator for generating from said data stream a modulated bipolar voltage signal whose time average is equal to the time average of a bias voltage applied to the bottom conductive layer. The data generator and the modulator are necessary to carry out the method. The method comprises the steps of: providing a data stream; generating from said data stream a modulated bipolar voltage signal whose time average is equal to the time average of a bias voltage applied to the bottom conductive layer; and applying said modulated bipolar voltage signal to the ribbon elements.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for actuating electro-mechanical ribbon elements which are suspended over a channel. The channel defines a bottom surface and having a bottom conductive layer formed below said bottom surface. A data generator provides a data stream. The data generator is connected to a modulator. Additionally, an actuation voltage generator, connected to the modulator, produces a periodic high frequency voltage signal that has a frequency close to mechanical resonant frequency .function..sub.R of the ribbon elements. The signal from the modulator is applied to the ribbon elements 31 of the electro-mechanical grating device.

Abstract: In an optical system including a multi-element grating beam splitter which includes four separate elements and an optical source with an effective aperture for generating a radiation beam to be applied to a data track of an optical storage medium, optics are disposed between the grating beam splitter and the data track of an optical storage medium which defines an optical axis along which light is projected to the data track and causes the displacement of the return beam to cause it to be substantially outside the effective aperture of the optical source to reduce optical feedback into the optical source.

Abstract: In an optical system for generating a radiation beam to be applied to a data track of an optical storage medium is disclosed. The system includes first and second optical light sources producing light at different wavelengths and optics for receiving light from the first and second sources and including a selective beam splitter for selectively applying light from each optical light source to the data track of the optical storage medium and defining an optical axis for each optical light source along which light is projected to the data track.

Abstract: In an optical system including an optical source with an effective aperture for generating a radiation beam to be applied to a data track of an optical storage medium, including optics disposed between the optical source and the data track of the optical storage medium which defines an optical axis along which light is projected to the data track and displacing the optical axis of the return beam to cause it to be substantially outside the effective aperture of the optical source to reduce feedback into the optical source, and a constructive interference beam splitter disposed between the optics and the optical source for producing a beam of light projected along the optical axis and defraction beams and including at least one coating of transparent material selected of a predetermined thickness to cause an increase in the amount of light projected along the optical axis and a desired defraction beam by decreasing light in the non-desired defraction beams.

Abstract: An optical system for recording or reading out information from an optical disk is disclosed which includes focus detector and data and tracking detectors. An element is disposed in the optical system and responsive to a beam of light projected off of the optical disk and having a transparent substrate and a waveguide with gratings formed on the top and bottom surfaces. The waveguide-gratings have a predetermined grating period, with the periods being different and selected so that a separate focus error signal beam is projected onto the focus detector, and a separate transmitted beam is provided through the waveguide and substrate and projected onto the data and tracking detectors.

Abstract: A multi-element grating beam splitter with a reflection grating for use in providing a front facet detector signal in an optical system. The multi-element grating beam splitter includes first, second, third, and fourth grating elements for separating a return beam reflected and diffracted from a data track on an optical storage medium into first, second, third and fourth portions, respectively. The grating beam splitter also includes a fifth grating element, which is preferably a reflection grating, for directing a portion of an incident radiation beam onto a front facet detector. The front facet detector signal may be subtracted from a data signal resulting from detection of the first, second, third and fourth portions of the return beam in order to limit the effect of optical source noise on the data signal.

Abstract: A device for achromatic input coupling of an optical beam into a waveguide is disclosed. The device includes a waveguide formed of a material having an effective index of refraction and having first and second surfaces, such waveguide defining a guided mode of propagation. A first grating is provided at the interface at the first surface of the waveguide, such first grating being selected so as to diffract an optical beam at an appropriate angle selected so that the beam is coupled into the guided mode of the waveguide. A second waveguide is provided at the interface at the second surface of the waveguide, such second grating selected so as to diffract a beam to provide an appropriate angle of incidence onto the first grating at the first surface waveguide. An important aspect of the present invention is the use of linear dispersion of the gratings to cancel the linear portion of the sum of the intrinsic waveguide dispersion and the material dispersions of the waveguide and the prism.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for amplitude modulation of laser light by means of an electro-optic waveguide having a grating coupler, the length of the grating being short relative to the coupling length and to the waist of the incident laser beam.