The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 06, 1998
Filed:
Feb. 21, 1997
Evan George Colgan, Suffern, NY (US);
James Mckell Harper, Yorktown Heights, NY (US);
Frank Benjamin Kaufman, Amawalk, NY (US);
Margaret Paggi Manny, Mahopac, NY (US);
Robert Lee Melcher, Mount Kisco, NY (US);
James Louis Speidell, Poughquag, NY (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
A reflective spatial light modulator array is described incorporating liquid crystal devices, mirrors, a semiconductor substrate, electrical circuits, and a reflector/absorber layer for blocking light. The invention overcomes the problem of shielding light from semiconductor devices, high optical throughput and contrast, pixel storage capacitance to hold the voltage across the liquid crystal device and precise control of the liquid crystal device thickness without spacers obscuring the mirrors.