High-resolution laser-projection display system using a grating electromechanical system (GEMS)

John C. Brazas; Marek W. Kowarz

doi:10.1117/12.531101

24 January 2004 High-resolution laser-projection display system using a grating electromechanical system (GEMS)

John C. Brazas, Marek W. Kowarz

Proceedings Volume 5348, MOEMS Display and Imaging Systems II; (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.531101
Event: Micromachining and Microfabrication, 2004, San Jose, California, United States

Abstract

Eastman Kodak Company has developed a diffractive-MEMS spatial-light modulator for use in printing and display applications, the grating electromechanical system (GEMS). This modulator contains a linear array of pixels capable of high-speed digital operation, high optical contrast, and good efficiency. The device operation is based on deflection of electromechanical ribbons suspended above a silicon substrate by a series of intermediate supports. When electrostatically actuated, the ribbons conform to the supporting substructure to produce a surface-relief phase grating over a wide active region. The device is designed to be binary, switching between a reflective mirror state having suspended ribbons and a diffractive grating state having ribbons in contact with substrate features. Switching times of less than 50 nanoseconds with sub-nanosecond jitter are made possible by reliable contact-mode operation. The GEMS device can be used as a high-speed digital-optical modulator for a laser-projection display system by collecting the diffracted orders and taking advantage of the low jitter. A color channel is created using a linear array of individually addressable GEMS pixels. A two-dimensional image is produced by sweeping the line image of the array, created by the projection optics, across the display screen. Gray levels in the image are formed using pulse-width modulation (PWM). A high-resolution projection display was developed using three 1080-pixel devices illuminated by red, green, and blue laser-color primaries. The result is an HDTV-format display capable of producing stunning still and motion images with very wide color gamut.

Citation Download Citation

John C. Brazas and Marek W. Kowarz "High-resolution laser-projection display system using a grating electromechanical system (GEMS)", Proc. SPIE 5348, MOEMS Display and Imaging Systems II, (24 January 2004); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.531101

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