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:
May. 30, 2006
Filed:
Dec. 20, 2004
Uma Srinivasan, Mountain View, CA (US);
Eric J. Shrader, Belmont, CA (US);
Robert Matusiak, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Uma Srinivasan, Mountain View, CA (US);
Eric J. Shrader, Belmont, CA (US);
Robert Matusiak, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Abstract
A variable modulator assembly includes a deformable layer adhered to a compliant layer surface, and an n-phase electrode configuration, n>2, adhered to an opposite surface of the compliant layer. A controller is configured to selectively apply a variable signal to the selected electrodes of the electrode configuration. Application of the variable signal causes the deformable layer to reconfigure to an alternated shape having distinct peaks and valleys. The distance between the peaks and valleys being determined by the value of the applied variable signal, wherein the alternated shape travels in a preferred direction. An optical modulating method includes positioning the variable modulator assembly to receive and reflect light from a light source, monitoring the reflected light, and altering the variable signal to maintain a desired output intensity.