Invention:
A phase light modulator (PLM) is a device that modulates phase of light in a 2-dimensional manner. This innovation is a method for optical enhancement of phase modulation to overcome the challenge of insufficient phase modulation of PLM in general, including Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCoS), liquid crystals (LC), Micro Electro Mechanical System (MEMS) and others. By the method, insufficient phase modulation, or insufficient range of the mechanical displacement of micromirrors used with longer wavelength is optically enhanced. Consequently, diffraction efficiency is increased at longer wavelength.
Background:
Due to the relatively slow response time of liquid crystals (LCs), application of Liquid Crystal on Silicon phase light modulators are mainly for displaying images, manipulation of micro particles that does not require high speed phase modulation. PLM devices are commonly manufactured by LCoS processes. A fast laser beam steering enables real time recognition of distant objects with high enough scan rate. Micro Electromechanical System (MEMS)-based PLMs generally have a faster switching time, compared to the switching time of LCs. Such MEMS-based PLM operates in a piston mode of electro dynamically controlled array of micro-mirrors.
Applications:
- LIDAR
- Beam steering
- Spatial light modulation
- Micro-electrical mechanical systems (MEMS)
- Aerospace and defense
- Telecommunications
- Consumer electronics
Advantages:
- Real time recognition of distant objects
- Increased diffraction efficiency
- Faster switching time
