Abstract: A wavelength conversion module and a projection device are provided. The wavelength conversion module includes a rotating member and a light sensing element. The rotating member includes a shaft and a positioning structure. An excitation beam forms a first spot on the rotating member. The shaft is located at the center of the rotating member. The positioning structure is located on the rotating member. The light sensing element is disposed adjacent to the rotating member for emitting a sensing beam toward a first surface of the rotating member, wherein the sensing beam forms a second spot on the rotating member. A first connecting line is formed by connecting the first spot and the shaft, a second connecting line is formed by connecting the second spot and the shaft, and an angle between the first connecting line and the second connecting line is greater than 30 degrees.

Abstract: A light emitting device and a projection display apparatus. The light emitting device comprises: an excitation light source (11), used for emitting excitation light; a compensation light source (12), used for emitting compensation light having a spectral range different from that of the excitation light; and a wavelength conversion device (13), disposed in a transmission path of the excitation light and the compensation light and used for outputting sequential light under alternate irradiation of the excitation light source (11) and the compensation light source (12), the sequential light comprising at least one type of excited light and the compensation light. The compensation light has spectral overlap with at least one type of excited light in the at least one type of excited light, so as to greatly improve the brightness of the light emitting device and the utilization efficiency of light in the light emitting device.

Abstract: An illumination device includes: a plurality of light-emitting elements; a collimating optical system; a first multi-lens array including a plurality of first lenses; a second multi-lens array including a plurality of second lenses; and a superimposing lens. The plurality of second lenses are arranged respectively corresponding to the plurality of first lenses. The plurality of first lenses form a plurality of first lens columns. A width, in a first direction, of one second lens of the plurality of second lenses has a distribution in a second direction, where the first direction is a direction in which the plurality of first lens columns are arranged and the second direction is a direction orthogonal to the first direction.

Abstract: A lighting device includes: a first light source that supplies yellow fluorescent light; a second light source that supplies blue light; a light sensor that detects the light quantity of a blue component of combined light, in which the yellow fluorescent light and blue light have been combined, and the light quantity of a first color component that is contained in the yellow fluorescent light and that differs from the blue component; and a control unit that adjusts the luminance of the first and second light sources. The control unit acquires each of a first light quantity that is the light quantity of the first color component and a second light quantity that is the light quantity of the blue component in a first state in which the first light source is ON and the second light source is OFF, and acquires a third light quantity.

Abstract: An illumination system includes a coherent light source, a first light-combining element, an optical wavelength conversion module, and a first auxiliary light source. The coherent light source emits a coherent light beam. The first light-combining element is disposed on a transmission path of the coherent light beam. The light wavelength conversion module is disposed on a transmission path of the coherent light beam transmitted from the first light-combining element and converts the coherent light beam into a first converted light beam, and reflects the first converted light beam back to the first light-combining element. The first auxiliary light source emits a first auxiliary light beam which is transmitted to the first light-combining element along the transmission path of the coherent light beam. The first light-combining element combines the first auxiliary light beam and the first converted light beam. A projection apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: An actuator includes a frame, a driver portion having one end connected to an inside of the frame, a movable portion connected to another end of the driver portion, and an electrode provided at the movable portion. The driver portion vibrates the movable portion by being driven by a driving signal. The electrode receives a high-frequency signal higher than that of the driving signal. This actuator is driven at a high speed by a large deflection angle, and can prevent dust from adhering to the movable portion.

Abstract: A projection apparatus includes a time-sharing light emitting device, a display device, a projection optical system, an illuminance sensor and a lighting determination unit. The time-sharing light emitting device successively emits color lights one by one. The display device modulates the color lights to form an image. The projection optical system projects the image. The illuminance sensor converts illuminance of the color lights into an electric signal which is an output of the illuminance sensor. The lighting determination unit compares the output with a first threshold value, and operates the time-sharing light emitting device in response to the output being more than the first threshold value, and stops the time-sharing light emitting device in response to the output being equal to or less than the first threshold value.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an electric apparatus and operation method thereof. The electric apparatus includes: display unit to display the output content from said electric apparatus; operation unit used to operate said electric apparatus; the apparatus further includes: the primary indication unit, when the primary indication unit is started up, the operation unit is in visible status and otherwise the operation unit is in invisible status. The design of the present invention improves the front visual effect and the interactive performance of the electrical apparatus.

Abstract: A scanning mirror includes a mirror unit configured to reflect a laser beam, a supporter configured to cause the mirror unit to rotate and oscillate, and an oscillation sensor configured to output a monitor signal indicating oscillation of the mirror unit. A photodetector detects an intensity of the laser beam. When a value of the monitor signal falls out of a predetermined range of a normal operation and a value of the intensity detected by the photodetector fails to decrease, a breaking signal for causing the supporter to oscillate more than a breaking limit angle of the supporter is input. This scanning mirror and an image projection device using this scanning mirror can display an image at sufficient brightness safely.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide for a modular video projector system having a light engine module and an optical engine module. The light engine module can provide narrow-band laser light to the optical engine module which modulates the laser light according to video signals received from a video processing engine. Some embodiments provide for an optical engine module having a sub-pixel generator configured to display video or images at a resolution of at least four times greater than a resolution of modulating elements within the optical engine module. Systems and methods for reducing speckle are presented in conjunction with the modular video projector system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for increasing the effective contrast ratio and brightness yields for digital light valve image projectors using a variable luminance control mechanism (VLCM), associated with the projector optics, for modifying the light output and provide a correction thereto; and an adaptive luminance control module (ALCM) for receiving signals from the video input board, the adaptive luminance control module producing a signal on a VLCM bus connecting the variable luminance control mechanism and the adaptive luminance control module, the signal causing the variable luminance control mechanism to change the luminance of the light output and provide a corrected video signal for the projector.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a digital hologram display device in which the 0th diffraction component is removed for optimizing the reproduction and replay of three-dimensional hologram video data. The present disclosure suggests a digital hologram image display device including a pattern generator generating holography interference patterns; a spatial light modulator receiving the holography interference patterns from the pattern generator and representing the holography interference patterns; a light source positioning at one side of the spatial light modulator and illuminating a reference beam to the spatial light modulator; an optical device controlling the reference beam to be collimated onto the entire surface of the spatial light modulator; and a diffusion sheet disposed between the light source and the spatial light modulator.

Abstract: A driving device of a embodiment of the invention for driving a pixel array section includes a generation device (weighted average calculation section) for generating pixel values of driving signals of at least one color for pixels of the at least one color among driving signals of colors to be supplied sequentially to the pixel array section, the generation device being configured to generate the pixel values for each pixel of the at least one color on (i) a pixel value of the pixel in a current frame of the color of the pixel and (ii) a pixel value of the pixel in a previous of the same. This makes it possible to create a subframe appropriate in display position and luminance, thereby realizing an image display signal device, driving method, image display device, television receiver, and display monitor device, in which color breaking is effectively alleviated.

Abstract: A light source apparatus includes a red light emitting device to emit red light; a green light emitting device to emit green light; a blue light emitting device to emit blue light, each of the red light emitting device, the green light emitting device, and the blue light emitting device disposed separately from any other. Among the red light emitting device, the green light emitting device and the blue light emitting device, at least two light emitting devices each includes a first light source and a second light source, the first light source emitting light having a wavelength of a light of a primary color, and the second light source emitting light having a wavelength deviated from the wavelength of the light of the primary color.

Abstract: An image display system comprises red, green and blue laser light sources, a spatial light modulator that modulates the laser light of different colors in a time sharing manner and a controller that controls the operation of the laser light sources and the spatial light modulator. The green and red laser light sources are lit in this order in each frame. The green color is diminished due to the response delay of the spatial light modulator, but the green laser light produced by the green laser light source has a relatively large color phase shift from the standard green color so that the shortage of green color cancels the color phase shift of the generated green color so that the color phase shift of the displayed intermediate color can be minimized.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for increasing the effective contrast ratio and brightness yields for digital light valve image projectors using a variable luminance control mechanism (VLCM), associated with the projector optics, for modifying the light output and provide a correction thereto; and an adaptive luminance control module (ALCM) for receiving signals from the video input board, the adaptive luminance control module producing a signal on a VLCM bus connecting the variable luminance control mechanism and the adaptive luminance control module, the signal causing the variable luminance control mechanism to change the luminance of the light output and provide a corrected video signal for the projector.

Abstract: A projection type video display includes: a light source including light source parts, which are the LED arrays each including six LEDs, for every predetermined colors; a light source controller time-division driving each of the light source parts at a timing based on an input video signal to be input from the outside; and a video display device modulating light emitted from each of the light source parts based on the input video signal and projecting the modulated light onto a screen, wherein the light source controller controls only three LEDs among the six LEDs to turn on in each driving of the time-division driving of each of the light source parts.

Abstract: A dynamic iris controller includes: a diaphragm and video-image controller including a video-image analyzer analyzing a picture signal, an association setting unit setting a diaphragm stop of a diaphragm mechanism, a color balance correction value, and a lightness correction value according to analysis data analyzed in the video-image analyzer, and a black period controller setting a black period in the picture signal according to a predetermined black time length; a diaphragm driver outputting a drive signal to the diaphragm mechanism so as to set the diaphragm stop of the diaphragm mechanism to be fully closed for the black period set by the black period controller and to set the diaphragm stop to have a value set by the association setting unit for the other period; and a video-image processor correcting color balance and lightness of the picture signal using the correction data set in the association setting unit.

Abstract: A locally dimmed display has a spatial light modulator illuminated by a light source. The spatial light modulator is illuminated with a low resolution version of a desired image. The illumination may comprise a series of lighting elements that vary smoothly from one element to another at the spatial light modulator.

Abstract: A system (10) for multispectral imaging includes a first optical filter (24, 20) having at least two passbands disposed in different spatial positions on the first optical filter, a second optical filter (20, 24) having another at least two passbands, and processor (32) adapted to identify an intensity of light in the at least two passband of the second optical filter.

Abstract: A projection display device of the present invention comprises a light source, a DMD chip for modulating emitted light in response to an input signal, an illumination optical system for emitting light from the light source to the DMD chip, a projection lens for projecting light modulated by the DMD chip onto a screen, and a photosensor disposed on an optical path of branch light which is branched outside of a main optical path from the light source to the screen, in the vicinity of a position which is optically conjugate to a screen surface of the screen. With this constitution, it is possible to provide a projection display device which is capable of accurately detecting a luminance change and a hue change on a screen surface without interfering with any display video image.

Abstract: Display buttons and vehicle consoles include etched lenses operable to diffract light provided by a light source within a vehicle console such that the light emitted from the display button diverges from the first pathway within the button housing into a secondary pathway outside of the display button.

Abstract: An image display system comprises red, green and blue laser light source units (22 to 24), a spatial light modulator (25) that modulates the laser lights of different colors in a time sharing manner and a control unit (13) for controlling the operation of the laser light source units and the spatial light modulator. The green and red laser light source units are lighted in that order in each frame. The green color is diminished owing to the response delay of the spatial light modulator, but the green laser light produced by the green laser light source unit (23) has a relatively large color phase shift from the standard green color so that the shortage of green color cancels out with the color phase shift of the generated green color so that the color phase shift of the displayed intermediate color can be minimized.

Abstract: A video display apparatus includes a light source unit that includes a plurality of single-color light sources emitting light beams of different wavelengths and a control unit that controls actuation of the light source unit. The control unit sets a single-color light emission period in which at least two single-color light sources of the plurality of single-color light sources emit the light beams in a time division manner and a multiple-color light emission period in which at least two single-color light sources of the plurality of single-color light sources emit the light beams simultaneously, within one frame period, based on a result of analyzing the video signal for each image data on a frame basis. Further, the control unit changes a ratio between amounts of the light beams emitted from at least two single-color light sources in the multiple-color light emission period, in accordance with the image data.

Abstract: A color control algorithm compensates variations in the display system so as to maintain color consistency in the projected images on the screen by constructing a color mapping table of the display system to include effects due to the variations and during image display applications, generating inputs of the color mapping table to include the effects due to the variations in the display system.

Abstract: A projection-type video display apparatus has a polarizing beam splitter for matching light, which is outputted by a light source unit, to one of S polarizing light and P polarizing light, an optical characteristics switching element for electrically and periodically switching a wavelength band of light outputted by the polarizing beam splitter, a video display element, as a light valve element, for forming an optical image from light outputted by the light source unit, in accordance with a video signal, and a radiating unit for radiating a plurality of color light, which are sequentially outputted by the optical characteristics switching element, to the video display element, wherein light outputted by the video display element is incident on a projecting lens, and a light path from the light source unit to the projecting lens is U-shaped. Consequently, the projection-type video display apparatus becomes compact and has improved contrast.

Abstract: A light source device includes: a first light source configured to emit a first source light in a first wavelength range; a source light generator configured to generate, from the first light, a color-varying source light having time varying color; a second light source configured to emit a second source light in a second wavelength range that is different from the first wavelength range; and a light source controller configured to control driving timing for turning on and off each of the first light source and the second light source so as to cyclically select one of the color-varying source light and the second source light to be output as an output source light.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention can provide a display device, a display method, and a projection type display device that allow a characteristic of a display image such as brightness to be continuously changed. The display device can include a light source capable of emitting a plurality of different color lights and a white light, and an optical modulation device for modulating light corresponding to the lights emitted from the light source. The ratio of the period of emitting the white light relative to the total of the periods of emitting the lights from the light source can be variable.

Abstract: Provided are an illumination system, a projection TV employing the illumination system, and a projection method. The illumination system includes: a laser light source which emits a plurality of laser beams including beamlets along different optical axes; and a diffractive optical element which spatially averages the laser beamlets by superimposing the laser beamlets to remove speckles of the laser beamlets and which shapes each of the laser beamlets.

Abstract: An optical projecting system includes a light-splitting unit for splitting composite source light into a plurality of composite light beam components, and a reflective color wheel rotatable about a rotation axis and including a plurality of multi-layer light-reflecting sections for further splitting each of the composite light beam components into a plurality of colored light beam components for subsequent modulation and projection. Each of the multi-layer light-reflecting sections includes a plurality of light-filtering layers stacked along the rotation axis, and each being capable of reflecting light within a predefined distinct wavelength range, and permitting transmission of light outside the predefined distinct wavelength range therethrough. Sequences of the light-filtering layers of an adjacent pair of the multi-layer light-reflecting sections are different from each other.

Abstract: An optical system attaining a nearly double resolving power in spite of one projector and also eliminating a convergence device is provided. The system includes an 1:1 relay lens 35 in place of a projector lens of a RGB split-combine projection system 102, and a quarter-wave plate 51 for P-S polarization separation. In operation, once-modulated RGB composite light is divided into a P-polarized light and a S-polarized light by a PS separation wire grid 52. The S-polarized light is modulated by a luminance signal Y1 at a Y1 device 63. The P-polarized light is modulated by a luminance signal Y2 at a Y2 device 58. The lights modulated by the Y1/Y2 devices 63, 58 are combined with each other at a PS composite wire grid 66 to project a synthetic light on a screen.

Abstract: A projection type display apparatus is provided that is safe even when a person looks directly into a laser beam. A laser operation control unit sets the output power of at least one laser source so that intensity A (mW/mm2) of the laser beam on at least one spatial light modulation element satisfies relationship of A<686×B2 when numerical aperture B on image side of an illumination optics system is set.

Abstract: An image display apparatus for displaying an image on a panel having pixels each including a plurality of subpixels of different colors includes an interpolation operator interpolating consecutive sampling values of pieces of input color data to correct phases of the pieces of input color data on the basis of positions of the subpixels in each pixel and output pieces of output color data; an area detector detecting a specific area from the image displayed on the panel by processing the input color data or the output color data; and a correction unit computing and outputting weighted averages of the pieces of input color data and the pieces of output color data on the basis of a detection result obtained by the area detector. The specific area is an edge portion, a portion where a luminance level gradually changes, or a repeated-pattern portion where a spatial frequency is high.

Abstract: A color temperature conversion method, medium, and apparatus converting an image from one of a plurality of basic color temperatures provided by an image display device to another color temperature other than the plurality of basic color temperatures. Also, the conversion method and apparatus enable pixels of the image with different brightnesses to have different color temperatures according to a user' preference. The color temperature conversion method includes: calculating variables for determining a conversion range; determining whether based on the calculated variables the input pixel is to be color-temperature-converted by determining whether the input pixel is within the conversion range; and converting the color temperature of the input pixel by moving in the same direction as the reference point to the target point in amount proportional to the reference point displacement so that the input pixel can be automatically moved along with the reference point of the conversion range.

Abstract: A color display apparatus includes a color changeover unit for changing over colors of an illumination light or a projection light, and a control circuit for applying a video signal for generating a control signal for controlling a spatial light modulator, wherein the control circuit further applying the video signal for generating a control signal during a transition period when the illumination and/or the projection light are projected with a first color coexisting with a second color as the color changeover unit changing over the colors of the illumination light or projection light from the first color to the second color.

Abstract: A video display system includes a plurality of primary color light sources; and a spatial light modulator (SLM) for modulating an illumination light emitted from at least one of the plurality of primary light sources. The video display system further includes a display controller for controlling a process to display a sequence of video images within a period of one frame comprising each of a plurality of primary colors and each of a plurality of complementary colors to minimize a number of emissions of each of the plurality of primary color light sources and also displaying the video images of the colors of the plurality of primary colors and the plurality of complementary colors in sequence.

Abstract: A field-sequential-type image forming device which includes: a light valve element which divides one field of a color image to sectors corresponding to primary colors different from each other and forms images corresponding to the primary colors during periods of the respective sectors; a light emission control unit which controls light emission quantities of the light sources; and an image control signal outputting unit which outputs control signals to the light valve element. In such an image forming device, the image control signal outputting unit outputs signals for forming the image by controlling light quantities of lights emitted from the primary color sources during the primary color light emission period and light quantity correction signals for controlling light quantity of the image corresponding to the positions of the pixels which form the image during the high-brightness light emission period.

Abstract: A video display apparatus is provided, comprising: a light source(s) controllable for emitting a plurality of reference colors; a color conversion circuit received an input video signal for generating the color data of at least one correction color for correcting a reference color emitted from a light source; an image processing unit receives the input video signal for generating an output video signal comprising a plurality of sub-frame signals; and a control circuit applies the color data generated by the color conversion circuit for controlling a light source to display color images.

Abstract: An image display apparatus includes: a first spatial light modulator (SLM) and a second modulator for modulating a first and a second illumination lights for displaying images; an SLM control unit for generating first control data and second control data for controlling the first and second SLMs respectively in accordance with the first and second control data, wherein each of the first control data and second control data is generated for each of a plurality of sub-frame periods divided from one frame period for displaying the images, and the start timing of one sub-frame period of the first control data is different from the start timing of one sub-frame period of the second control data.

Abstract: The illumination device includes a plurality of light source units and a plurality of optical concentrators facing the plurality of light source units and each having an entry surface, lateral surfaces, and an output surface. A color synthesizing unit synthesizes light emitted by the plurality of optical concentrators and includes two intersecting dichroic filters. A relay optical system transmits light synthesized by the color synthesizing unit to an illuminated surface.

Abstract: A projection-type video display apparatus has a polarizing beam splitter for matching light, which is outputted by a light source unit, to one of S polarizing light and P polarizing light, an optical characteristics switching element for electrically and periodically switching a wavelength band of light outputted by the polarizing beam splitter, a video display element, as a light valve element, for forming an optical image from light outputted by the light source unit, in accordance with a video signal, and a radiating unit for radiating a plurality of color light, which are sequentially outputted by the optical characteristics switching element, to the video display element, wherein light outputted by the video display element is incident on a projecting lens, and a light path from the light source unit to the projecting lens is U-shaped. Consequently, the projection-type video display apparatus becomes compact and has improved contrast.

Abstract: The invention relates to a color display device for display a color image and a method of operating such display. The color display device is provided with a plurality of picture elements, two selectable light sources having different predetermined radiance spectra, color selection means which in combination with the selectable light sources is able to produce respective first and second primary colors on the display panel and control means arranged to select alternately one of the selectable light sources and to provide a portion of the picture elements with image information corresponding to the respective primary colors obtainable with the selected light source. The primary colors of the display device can be selected in a time sequential and space sequential way which enable a reduction of a color break-up.

Abstract: A color display device, a drive circuit for a color display device, a method, a signal and a computer-readable medium for reducing electro-optical cross talk that occurs in a display that is operated in Spectrum Sequential mode is disclosed. The invention eliminates annoying visible artefacts, such as contouring, noise, or color deviation, which normally are introduced by this cross talk by compensating for the cross talk. According to embodiments of the invention, a drive signal (R?,G?,B?) to drive picture elements of the display is altered in video processing circuitry (MPC, XTC, SC) and/or software, in dependence on one or more properties of different spectra from a light source (23, 24) in the display. The invention is implemented with little extra effort and cost in known LCD displays.

Abstract: A display is operable to simultaneously display, on a single screen, a first image in a direction of a driver's seat based on a first image source, and a second image in a direction of a passenger's seat based on one of the first image source and a second image source. A sound controller is operable to localize a sound image corresponding to at least one of the first image and the second image. The sound controller localizes the sound image corresponding to the second image based on a type of the second image source in a case where the second image is displayed based on the second image source.

Abstract: A display system is configured to produce a color image formed of a plurality of differently colored images and may include at least one light source that directs light along an optical path, and at least one filter having a given optical filter characteristic. The display system may be selectively operable in a first state in which the optical path does not pass through a first filter during production of the plurality of differently colored images to form a color image having a first optical characteristic, and in a second state in which the optical path passes through the first filter during production of the plurality of differently colored images to form a color image having a second optical characteristic different than the first optical characteristic.

Abstract: A field sequential pulse width modulated display system comprises a digital micromirror device having a plurality of micromirrors that each selectively pivot to reflect light onto a screen to illuminate a corresponding pixel. A driver circuit controls the DMD responsive to sequences of pulse width segments formed by a processor. The processor alters the actuation state of at least one pulse in a first pulse width segment for a given color to alter the pixel brightness with a range lying between first and second pixel brightness boundaries. Further, the processor alters the actuation state of at least one pulse within at least one additional pulse width segment to alter the pixel brightness above the second brightness boundary to make nearly equal the total width of pulses becoming actuated within a segment to the total pulse width becoming de-actuated within the same segment to achieve an incremental change in brightness.

Abstract: A full color video projector system using a light source and a single light valve. The output of the light source passes through a condenser lens. The lens is directed toward a splayed array of red, green, and blue dichroic reflector color filters. The reflected three primary color beams first pass through a lenticular lens array, comprised of a plurality of elongated cylinder lenses, arranged in parallel, co-planar relation. The lenticular array produces color stripe illumination pattern, which is redirected and focused by a relay optic upon a reflective micro-mirror light valve. The light valve includes three sub-pixels for every full-color screen pixel. The pixels are arranged in parallel stripes which correspond to the size and configuration of the color strip illumination pattern outputted by the lenticular array. Light valve address circuitry actuates appropriate sub-pixels to reflect incident light energy, in accordance with corresponding video image information.

Abstract: There is provided a single panel type video display capable of increasing the luminance of image. A color separator separates light from a light source into light beams in three colors in a band shape to emit the light beams and introduces the band-shaped light beams in the three colors so as to be overlapped with one another in a predetermined region. A lens array wheel has a plurality of functional units each composed of a convex lens of a size corresponding to the predetermined region, circularly passes the plurality of functional units each composed of the convex lens through the predetermined region, and scrolls the band-shaped light beams in the three colors in a state where they are divided among regions on a single liquid crystal display panel. A video signal is fed to the liquid crystal display panel in synchronization with the movement of the plurality of functional units each composed of the convex lens.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a color projection system includes a lamp; at least one prism configured to diffract light from the lamp into a diffracted beam; and an LC microdisplay panel or MEMS panel configured to receive the diffracted beam from the at least one prism, wherein by moving the at least one prism with respect to the light from the lamp, the diffracted beam received by the LC microdisplay or MEMS panel sequentially comprises a diffracted red beam, a diffracted blue beam, and a diffracted green beam, the LC microdisplay panel or MEMS panel being configured to sequentially modulate the diffracted red beam into a red sub-frame of an image, the diffracted green beam into a green sub-frame of the image, and the diffracted blue beam into a blue sub-frame of the image.

Abstract: In order to minimize light diffraction along the direction of switching and more particularly light diffraction into the acceptance cone of the collection optics, in the present invention, micromirrors are provided which are not rectangular. Also, in order to minimize the cost of the illumination optics and the size of the display unit of the present invention, the light source is placed orthogonal to the rows (or columns) of the array, and/or the light source is placed orthogonal to a side of the frame defining the active area of the array. The incident light beam, though orthogonal to the sides of the active area, is not however, orthogonal to any substantial portion of sides of the individual micromirrors in the array. Orthogonal sides cause incident light to diffract along the direction of micromirror switching, and result in light ‘leakage’ into the ‘on’ state even if the micromirror is in the ‘off’ state. This light diffraction decreases the contrast ratio of the micromirror.