MICROMIRROR ELEMENTS, PACKAGE FOR THE MICROMIRROR ELEMENTS, AND PROTECTION SYSTEM THEREFOR

摘要

Micromirrors are provided which are not rectangular in order to minimize light diffraction along a direction of switching and into the acceptance cone of collection optics (115). A light source (114) is placed orthogonal to rows and columns of an array (94) though not orthogonal to any substantial portion of the sides of the micromirrors in the array. The micromirrors of the present invention result in an improved contrast ratio and the light source position results in a more compact system. The micromirrors have the ability to pivot in opposite direction to on and off positions where the movement to the on position is greater than the movement to the off position.