Abstract: A method includes forming a first optical structure with an inverse taper and a separate optical structure on a semiconductor chip. The illustrative method also includes applying a protective structure over the optical structures and patterning the protective structure to expose the separate optical structure. The method further includes removing a portion of the separate optical structure to form a separate trimmed taper separate from, but adjacent to, the first optical structure. The protective structure is then removed from the first optical structure. Apparatuses are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical fiber cleaner. The optical fiber cleaner comprises an optical fiber cleaning space section (S) which has a central axis extending in a first direction, one end wall of the optical fiber cleaning space section in the first direction being provided with an optical fiber inserting hole (12) into which an optical fiber to be cleaned is inserted, and an optical cleaning space of the optical fiber cleaning space section being defined by a receiving wall (13) surrounding the optical fiber cleaning space; a cleaning agent introducing passage (20) adapted to eject a cleaning agent into the optical fiber cleaning space to clean the optical fiber inserted into the optical fiber cleaning space; and a cleaning agent collecting passage (30) provided at a lower part of the optical fiber cleaning space for discharging the cleaning agent out of the optical fiber cleaning space.

Abstract: An optical coupling apparatus for coupling an optical fiber to a photonic chip is described. The apparatus includes a collimating microlens for collimating light from the optical fiber; a polarization splitting beam displacer for separating the light collimated by the collimating microlens into orthogonally polarized X and Y component beams; at least one focusing microlens for directing the X and Y component beams separately onto the photonic chip; and first and second surface grating couplers (SGCs) orthogonally disposed on the photonic chip and configured for operation in a same polarization state, for coupling the X and Y component beams, respectively, to the photonic chip.

Abstract: A SOI bent taper structure is used as a mode convertor. By tuning the widths of the bent taper and the bend angles, almost lossless mode conversion is realized between TE0 and TE1 in a silicon waveguide. The simulated loss is <0.05 dB across C-band. This bent taper can be combined with bi-layer TM0-TE1 rotator to reach very high efficient TM0-TE0 polarization rotator. An ultra-compact (9 ?m) bi-layer TM0-TE1 taper based on particle swarm optimization is demonstrated. The entire TM0-TE0 rotator has a loss <0.25 dB and polarization extinction ratio >25 dB, worst-case across the C-band.

Abstract: An optical phase diversity receiver may include: a diffraction grating including grating surfaces; a first input waveguide to which a first optical signal is inputted; a second input waveguide to which a second optical signal is inputted; and a slab waveguide including an input terminal optically coupled with the first and second input waveguides, and an output terminal provided at a position at which optical signals reflected by the diffraction grating reach the slab waveguide. Every determined number of grating surfaces are chirped in an identical manner. The slab waveguide is configured to guide the first and the second optical signals to the diffraction grating and guide the optical signals reflected by the diffraction grating to the output terminal. The grating surfaces are configured such that each of the optical signals reflected by the diffraction grating is divided into the predetermined number by optical power distribution.

Abstract: An optimized SOI 2×2 multimode interference (MMI) coupler is designed by use of the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm. Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) simulation shows that, within a footprint of 9.4×1.6 ?m2, <0.1 dB power unbalance and <1 degree phase error are achieved across the entire C-band. The excess loss of the device is <0.2 dB.

Abstract: A multimode interference (MMI) coupler with an MMI region of curved edges, and a method of design and manufacturing by using a computerized optimization algorithm to determine a favorable set of segment widths for the MMI region for a predefined set of coupler design parameters.

Abstract: Waveguide connectors include a ferrule having first alignment features. A polymer waveguide has one or more a topclad portions, each with a waveguide core, second alignment features fastened to the first alignment features, and underclad portion that is thicker than the one or more topclad portions. The polymer waveguide has a higher coefficient of thermal expansion than the ferrule and is fastened to the ferrule under tension.

Abstract: Waveguide connectors and methods of forming the same include heating a polymer waveguide having one or more waveguide cores and alignment features to a first temperature. A ferrule having alignment features is heated to the first temperature, the ferrule having a different coefficient of thermal expansion from the polymer waveguide. The alignment features of the polymer waveguide align with the alignment features of the ferrule when the polymer waveguide and the ferrule are heated to the first temperature. The polymer waveguide is positioned on the ferrule without a waveguide backfilm. The alignment features of the polymer waveguide are bonded to the corresponding alignment features of the ferrule.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an alignment system for calibrating a position of an optical fiber (30) in a bore of a ferrule (20), comprising: an outer cylinder alignment element (100) for calibrating a center position of an outer cylinder of the ferrule (20), so that the center of the outer cylinder of the ferrule (20) is aligned with a center of the outer cylinder alignment element (100); a fiber core alignment element (300) comprising a fiber core (302) having a center aligned with the center of the outer cylinder alignment element (100); an optical vision system (411, 412, 421, 422) for identifying a center position of a fiber core (32) of the optical fiber (30) and the center position of the fiber core (302) of the fiber core alignment element (300); and a controlling and moving system for actively adjusting the position of the optical fiber (30) in the bore of the ferrule (20) under the guide of the optical vision system (411, 412, 421, 422), so that the center of the fiber core (32) of the optical fi

Abstract: In accordance with the following description, an optical communication connector includes a ferrule having retractable alignment pins that are actuable between an extended position and a retracted position. For example, the connector may include an inner housing assembly having optical fibers and an outer housing positioned over the inner housing assembly. The outer housing is shaped to be removable from the inner housing assembly, which has a movable pin clamp mechanically coupled to alignment pins for aligning the connector with another connector. The pin clamp may be slid from a first position (corresponding to a male gender) to a second position (corresponding to a female gender). Separately or in combination with changing gender, the polarity of a communication connector may be changed due to its inclusion of an asymmetric polarity-changing feature that is actuable by an installer to change a polarity of the communication connector.

Abstract: An optical transmission module includes an optical element including a light-emitting section configured to output light of an optical signal, a hollow cylindrical body joined perpendicularly to a light output surface of the optical element, a wiring board, on a first principal surface of which the optical element is mounted and through a hole of which the hollow cylindrical body is inserted, and an optical fiber configured to transmit the optical signal, a distal end portion of which is inserted into the hollow cylindrical body.

Abstract: To couple light between an optical fiber and a grating coupler of a photonic integrated circuits, a mirror is provided to turn light to/from the optical fiber to allow the axis of the optical fiber to be oriented at small angles or parallel to the surface of the PIC, and lowered close to the surface of the PIC. The mirror is further configured to reshape light from a flat polished optical fiber to produce a mode field resembling the mode field of an angled polished optical fiber, to match the design angle of existing grating couplers that are designed to work with angled polished optical fibers. The mirror and optical fiber alignment structure in the optical connector are integrally/simultaneous formed by precision stamping.

Abstract: The temperature at different locations along a multiplexed laser array may be monitored by sensing temperature at two locations within a transmitter optical subassembly (TOSA) package housing the laser array. The temperature at the two locations is used to determine a temperature tilt across the laser array. Estimated temperatures may then be determined at one or more other locations along the laser array from the temperature tilt. The estimated temperature(s) may then be used to adjust the temperature proximate the other locations, for example, for purposes of tuning lasers at those locations along the laser array to emit a desired channel wavelength. The TOSA package may be used in an optical transceiver in a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) optical system, for example, in an optical line terminal (OLT) in a WDM passive optical network (PON).

Abstract: An optical module includes a high-thermal-expansion ceramic substrate on which is mounted a planar lightwave circuit as well as at least one device component. The high-thermal-expansion ceramic substrate may be used in conjunction with a high-thermal-expansion metal in order to reduce thermal stress produced from the mismatch of thermal properties within the optical module. The high-thermal-expansion ceramic substrate may also be part of an optical module package which includes a die attach area, on which at least one device can be mounted, and a circuit pattern which electrically connects the at least one device to other at least one device components. A high-thermal-expansion metal may also be used with the high-thermal-expansion ceramic substrate in order to reduce the thermal stress that would otherwise exist in the optical module package.

Abstract: A fiber optic cable includes a jacket forming a cavity therein, the jacket having an indentation on the exterior thereof that forms a ridge extending into the cavity along the length of the jacket; and a stack of fiber optic ribbons located in the cavity, each ribbon having a plurality of optical fibers arranged side-by-side with one another and coupled to one another in a common matrix, wherein corners of the ribbon stack pass by the ridge at intermittent locations along the length of the jacket, and wherein interaction between the ridge and the ribbon stack facilitates coupling of the ribbon stack to the jacket.

Abstract: A fiber optic cable includes a core and a jacket surrounding the core. The jacket includes a base layer, a surface layer defining an exterior surface of the fiber optic cable, and an interface between the surface and base layers. The base layer is formed from a first composition that includes polyethylene. The surface layer has a thickness of at least 300 micrometers and is formed from a second composition that differs from the first composition. The second composition includes polyethylene as well as one or more additives, including paracrystalline carbon. The interface cohesively bonds the surface and base layers to one another at least in part due to molecular chain entanglement of the polyethylene of the first and second compositions.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a length of flexible tape defined between a first end of the tape and a second end of the tape, the flexible tape including an adhesive surface that extends lengthwise between the first and second ends of the tape; and a fiber optic strand embedded within a volume of the flexible tape and extending between the first and second ends of the tape.

Abstract: A lens module includes a lens barrel comprising a hollow portion; a first lens comprising a lens coupling groove formed in one surface thereof, and an outer peripheral surface contacting an inner peripheral surface of the lens barrel; and a second lens comprising a protrusion portion corresponding to the lens coupling groove, wherein the second lens is stacked on the one surface of the first lens and the protrusion portion inserted into the lens coupling groove.

Abstract: The optical lens 10 includes: an optical function portion 12 having optical functions; and a flange portion 14 formed around the optical function portion 12. The flange portion 14 has, on a side surface thereof, a cut section 42 which is formed by cutting a gate portion 16. In a case where the following are viewed from the optical axis direction of the optical lens 10, a thinnest portion 18 in a region 44 surrounded by lines L1 and L2, which respectively connect both ends 42a and 42b of the cut section 42 to the optical axis center O of the optical lens 10, and a line L3, which connects both ends 42a and 42b, is present in the optical function portion 12. The flange portion 14 has a concave portion 40 outside the region 44.

Abstract: A drive control apparatus includes a movable member; a driver configured to drive the movable member; a transmission device configured to transmit a driving force of the driver to the movable member; a first detector provided on the movable member side of the transmission device configured to detect a driving state of the movable member; a second detector provided on the driver side of the transmission device configured to detect a driving state of the driver; and a controller configured to control driving of the driver. The controller is configured to select, as information to be fed back, first drive information obtained from the first detector, or second drive information obtained from the second detector, based on the first drive information and the second drive information; and control the driving of the driver based on the selected one of the first drive information and the second drive information.

Abstract: An auto-focus system employing a tunable liquid crystal lens is provided that collects images at different optical power values as the liquid crystal molecules are excited between a ground state and a maximum optical power state tracking image focus scores. An image is acquired at a desired optical power value less than maximum optical power established with the liquid crystal molecules closer a fully excited state than the maximum optical power state having the same image focus score. This drive signal employed during image acquisition uses more power than was used to achieve the same optical power value during the auto-focus scan, while actively driving the liquid crystal molecules is fast. A pause due to image transfer/processing delays after acquisition is employed to allow slow relaxation of the liquid crystal molecules back to the ground state in preparation for a subsequent focus search.

Abstract: An optical image capturing system includes, along the optical axis in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens, a second lens, a third lens, a fourth lens, and a fifth lens. At least one lens among the first to the fifth lenses has positive refractive force. The fifth lens can have negative refractive force, wherein both surfaces thereof are aspheric, and at least one surface thereof has an inflection point. The lenses in the optical image capturing system which have refractive power include the first to the fifth lenses. The optical image capturing system can increase aperture value and improve the imagining quality for use in compact cameras.

Abstract: An optical image capturing system includes, along the optical axis in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens, a second lens, a third lens, a fourth lens, and a fifth lens. At least one lens among the first to the fifth lenses has positive refractive force. The fifth lens can have negative refractive force, wherein both surfaces thereof are aspheric, and at least one surface thereof has an inflection point. The lenses in the optical image capturing system which have refractive power include the first to the fifth lenses. The optical image capturing system can increase aperture value and improve the imagining quality for use in compact cameras.

Abstract: An optical image capturing system includes, along the optical axis in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens, a second lens, a third lens, a fourth lens, and a fifth lens, wherein at least one lens among the first to the fifth lenses has positive refractive force, the fifth lens can have negative refractive force, wherein both surfaces thereof are aspheric, and at least one surface thereof has an inflection point, and wherein the lenses in the optical image capturing system which have refractive power include the first to the fifth lenses whereby the optical image capturing system can increase aperture value and improve the imaging quality for use in compact cameras.

Abstract: An optical image capturing system includes, along the optical axis in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens, a second lens, a third lens, a fourth lens, and a fifth lens, wherein at least one lens among the first to the fifth lenses has positive refractive force, the fifth lens can have negative refractive force, wherein both surfaces thereof are aspheric, and at least one surface thereof has an inflection point, and wherein the lenses in the optical image capturing system which have refractive power include the first to the fifth lens, whereby the optical image capturing system can increase aperture value and improve the imaging quality for use in compact cameras.

Abstract: An optical image capturing system includes, along the optical axis in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens, a second lens, a third lens, a fourth lens, and a fifth lens. At least one lens among the first to the fifth lenses has positive refractive force. The fifth lens can have negative refractive force, wherein both surfaces thereof are aspheric, and at least one surface thereof has an inflection point. The lenses in the optical image capturing system which have refractive power include the first to the fifth lenses. The optical image capturing system can increase aperture value and improve the imaging quality for use in compact cameras.

Abstract: An optical image capturing system includes, along the optical axis in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens, a second lens, a third lens, a fourth lens, and a fifth lens, wherein at least one lens among the first to the fifth lenses has positive refractive force, the fifth lens can have negative refractive force, wherein both surfaces thereof are aspheric, and at least one surface thereof has an inflection point, and wherein the lenses in the optical image capturing system which have refractive power include the first to the fifth lenses whereby the optical image capturing system can increase aperture value and improve the imaging quality for use in compact cameras.

Abstract: An optical image capturing system includes, along the optical axis in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens, a second lens, a third lens, a fourth lens, and a fifth lens. At least one lens among the first to the fifth lenses has positive refractive force. The fifth lens can have negative refractive force, wherein both surfaces thereof are aspheric, and at least one surface thereof has an inflection point. The lenses in the optical image capturing system which have refractive power include the first to the fifth lenses. The optical image capturing system can increase aperture value and improve the imagining quality for use in compact cameras.

Abstract: An optical image capturing system includes, along the optical axis in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens, a second lens, a third lens, a fourth lens, and a fifth lens. At least one lens among the first to the fifth lenses has positive refractive force. The fifth lens can have negative refractive force, wherein both surfaces thereof are aspheric, and at least one surface thereof has an inflection point. The lenses in the optical image capturing system which have refractive power include the first to the fifth lenses. The optical image capturing system can increase aperture value and improve the imagining quality for use in compact cameras.

Abstract: An optical lens includes seven lenses. An first lens has a negative refractive power: an second lens, an third lens, an fifth lens, an sixth lens and an seventh lens have refractive powers respectively, and the fourth lens has a positive refractive power. One of the second lens and the third lens has a positive refractive power, and the other has a negative refractive power. One of the fifth lens and the sixth lens has a positive refractive power and the other has a negative refractive power. An object-side surface of the first lens has a refractive rate R1, an image-side surface of the first lens has a refractive rate R2, and |R2/R1|?0.

Abstract: An optical lens assembly includes a first lens, a second lens, a third lens, a fourth lens, a fifth lens and a sixth lens, all of which are arranged in sequence from an object side to an image side along an optical axis. The first lens is with positive refractive power and includes a convex surface facing the object side. The second lens is with refractive power. The third lens is with refractive power. The fourth lens is a meniscus lens with refractive power. The fifth lens is with positive refractive power. The sixth lens is with positive refractive power. The optical lens assembly satisfies: ?1.8?f4/f??1.3 wherein f4 is an effective focal length of the fourth lens and f is an effective focal length of the optical lens assembly.

Abstract: An imaging lens includes a first lens group having positive refractive power; a second lens group having positive refractive power; and a third lens group having negative refractive power, arranged in this order from an object side to an image plane side. The first lens group includes a first lens having positive refractive power, a second lens having positive refractive power, and a third lens having negative refractive power. The second lens group includes a fourth lens and a fifth lens. The third lens group includes a sixth lens having negative refractive power and a seventh lens having negative refractive power. The first lens, the second lens, the third lens, and the seventh lens have specific Abbe's numbers. The first lens and the second lens have specific focal lengths.

Abstract: Disclosed are a bifocal lens having two focal distances to enable near image capturing and far image capturing and capable of being manufactured to have a thin profile, and an imaging device including same. A bifocal lens according to disclosed embodiments may include: a refractive optical system having at least one refractive lens element and having a first focal distance; and a reflective optical system having multiple reflective surfaces and having a second focal distance that is different from the first focal distance. Because the refractive optical system and the reflective optical system have mutually different focal distances, the bifocal lens according to an embodiment may be capable of both near image capturing and far image capturing.

Abstract: A system for displaying an anamorphic image on a viewing surface comprises a screen having a viewing surface and an image source configured to display the anamorphic image on the viewing surface such that an image viewed on the viewing surface appears undistorted from a viewing point. In addition, the system may also include a reflective lens having a convex exterior surface and a refractive lens having a plurality of surfaces to redirect light toward an image capture device. Further, the system may include an image conversion module for converting a non-anamorphic image into the anamorphic image suitable for displaying on the viewing surface and a selected portion of the anamorphic image into at least one non-anamorphic image.

Abstract: An optical lens system includes, in order from a magnified side to a minified side, a first lens group and a second lens group. The first lens group of negative refractive power has at least one aspheric surface, and the second lens group of positive refractive power has at least one aspheric surface. Each of the lenses in the optical lens system is a singlet lens, and the condition: TE(?=365)>70% is satisfied, where TE(?=365) denotes an overall transmittance of all of the lenses in the optical lens system measured at a wavelength of 365 nm.

Abstract: A method for making a gradient index infrared transmitting optic by thermally treating a preform, where the preform comprises two or more infrared transmitting glasses having different compositions and optical properties, where there is an interface between adjacent glasses, where during the thermal treatment one or more chemical elements from the glasses diffuses through one or more interface resulting in a diffused gradient index optical element comprising a gradient in the chemical element concentration, and where the optical element has a gradient in refractive index and dispersion. Also disclosed is the related infrared transmitting optical element made by this method.

Abstract: A projection lens system includes, in order from a magnified side to a reduced side, a first lens group of positive refractive power and a second lens group of positive refractive power. The second lens group includes at least one cemented lens and at least one aspheric surface. During focusing, the first lens group remains stationary, and the second lens group is movable in a direction of an optical axis.

Abstract: A zoom lens has a four-group zoom configuration, in order from the object side to the image side, consisting of negative, positive, positive, and positive refractive power. The zoom lens carries out zooming from the wide-angle end to the telephoto end mainly by changing the distance between the third lens group and the fourth lens group. Also, the distance between the second lens group and the third lens group may be decreased in the zooming. Focusing is carried out mainly by moving the second lens group along the optical axis. Such a zoom lens is thin and small in size, and has a great imaging performance.

Abstract: In some embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) light source is provided. The EUV light source comprises: a droplet nozzle array droplet nozzle array comprising multiple nozzles arranged in a ring, the nozzles are configured for sequentially ejecting droplets towards an annular radiation position; a laser source for generating a laser beam, wherein the laser beam is controlled to rotate and sequentially bombard the droplets that reach the annular radiation position; and an integrated rotary structure located between the droplet nozzle array and the laser source, the integrated rotary structure includes: a condenser mirror comprising a first surface and a second surface opposing to the first surface, and a motor driving shaft that is integrally connected with the condenser mirror.

Abstract: A processor extracts a reference signal of a scanner included in an adaptive optics SLO apparatus output while the scanner performs reciprocating scanning on a region of an eye to be inspected, generates sampling data strings of reciprocating scanning for individual imaging units included in the adaptive optics SLO apparatus using the reference signal as a sampling reference position, and compares, among the sampling data strings of the reciprocating scanning, a sampling data string of forward scanning with a sampling data string of backward scanning so as to evaluate the correlation between the sampling data strings, compares evaluation results obtained for the individual imaging units so as to evaluate reliability, and compensates a sampling reference position based on the evaluation results. An image construction unit assembles image data to construct an image of the region of the eye based on the compensated sampling reference position for each imaging unit.

Abstract: Scanning fluorescence microscopes with an observation beam path from a measurement volume to an image plane. A beam combiner is provided for coupling an illumination system and a diaphragm arranged in the image plane for slow composition of the image because of the sequential scanning and subject the sample to loading as a result of inefficient use of the excitation light. The microscope simultaneously detects fluorescence from different focal planes in each case quasi-confocally. The observation beam path between the beam combiner and the image plane has a first diffractive optics for splitting light beams into beam bundles along different orders of diffraction, imparting to the light beams a spherical phase that is different from the other orders of diffraction. A second diffractive optics is provided for the compensation of chromatic aberrations of the split beam bundles, and a collecting optics is provided for focusing split beam bundles into the image plane.

Abstract: An illumination device for a microscope includes: a lamp house configured to emit illumination light; and a turret having a first mirror unit for polarization observation and a second mirror unit for another observation method, the turret being configured to rotate the first and second mirror units on a plane perpendicular to an optical axis of an observation optical system of the microscope to position one of the first and second mirror units on the optical axis. The first mirror unit includes a polarizer and a mirror. The turret includes an analyzer arranged on an optical axis of the first mirror unit. The turret rotates the analyzer and the first mirror unit on the plane perpendicular to the optical axis of the observation optical system of the microscope while maintaining a positional relation between the analyzer and the first mirror unit.

Abstract: An imaging device for a microscope (20) is disclosed that comprises a plurality of individual light sources (40) and a detector (15). The plurality of the individual light sources (40) is mounted on a translation stage (110). The imaging device further includes moveable optics arranged to direct a light path (45) onto a stationary sample (60) and collect reflected or fluoresced radiation from the sample (60).

Abstract: A visual target acquisition scope system including an adjustable connection between a zero magnification scope viewed by a first eye of a user and a power scope viewed by a second eye of the user. The system includes first and second movable sections connected and controlled by an adjustment locking mechanism. Using the system, while the user looks at an object through the zero magnification power scope with the first eye and looks at the object through the high power scope with the second eye, the target visible to the first eye is simultaneously visible to the second eye, so as to provide immediate acquisition and viewing of the object through the high power scope with the second eye.

Abstract: An optical coupler for mounting at a distal end of an optical imaging device includes a visualization section and an attachment section. At least one surface of the visualization section has a roughness that does not interfere with a video capture system of an optical imaging device.

Abstract: An objective optical system of an observation unit of the endoscope has a zoom function, and the movable lens for changing a zoom magnification of the objective optical system is controlled to be capable of moving to only a plurality of step positions SP1 to SP4 where specific zoom magnifications are obtained. A control circuit, which controls the movable lens, considers the number N of repetitions and the duration of an on-operation of a zoom switch that instructs the movable lens to move. For example, the movable lens is moved by a step corresponding to the number N of repetitions of the on-operation, and is moved to a step position, which is provided at an end, in a case in which the duration of the on-operation is long.

Abstract: An optical scanning observation apparatus includes: a light source selectively emitting a plurality of illumination lights of different colors; a light emission timing controller controlling light emission timing, based on a predetermined ratio of number of light emissions of each color of the illumination light emitted from the light source; a fiber guiding the illumination light from the light source; an actuator vibratory driving the tip part of the fiber; an optical system for irradiating the illumination light emitted from the fiber; an optical detector; and a signal processor.

Abstract: This optical fiber scanner has an elongated optical fiber, a vibration transmission member which has a column-like shape and has a penetrating hole through which the optical fiber penetrates, and a piezoelectric element provided on an outer surface of the vibration transmission member, wherein the penetrating hole is a fitted hole which is formed from a proximal end of the vibration transmission member to a middle of the vibration transmission member and the optical fiber is fitted, and the penetrating hole is an accommodation hole which is formed from the middle to a distal end of the vibration transmission member, which has a large inner diameter than an outer diameter of the optical fiber, and which accommodates a distal end portion of the optical fiber with a gap between the optical fiber and the accommodation hole.

Abstract: A spatial light modulator is provided by positioning and repositioning micromirrors of a microelectromechanical system. The micromirrors are positioned by an actuator linked to the micromirrors by a frame. The actuator responds to a control signal having voltages that create electrical fields. The electrical fields provide forces that change the positions of the micromirrors in such a way that a light beam striking the micromirrors reflects as a modulated light beam.