Project Title:

Universal Spatial Light Modulator

Displaytech, Inc.
2200 Central Avenue
Boulder, CO 80301

93-1  06.06   8933    A       AMOUNT REQUESTED $69,099

Universal Spatial Light Modulator

Abstract:

The proposed work aims to develop "smart" spatial light modulators
(SLMs) that integrate photodetectors, light modulators, and
electronic processing. These SLMs exploit an easily fabricated
hybrid optoelectronic technology that places ferroelectric liquid
crystal (FLC) light modulators directly atop silicon VLSI
circuitry. We propose here to design and fabricate a small
prototype FLC/VLSI SLM implementing an innovative "universal"
function: it can be addressed either electrically or optically, or
read out electrically as a camera. The Phase I effort will focus on
achieving detector sensitivity and uniformity in pixels 30 micron
or smaller; it should yield a prototype SLM with an array size of
32 x 32 or greater, and a frame update rate greater than 1kHz. The
proposed effort includes pixel circuit design and simulation, VLSI
layout, silicon integrated circuit (IC) fabrication, fabrication of
FLC modulators atop the IC, and characterization of the resulting
SLM. Phase II should result in arrays sizes of 256 x 256 or greater
with contrast better than 200:1 and frame rates in excess of 10
kHz. The resulting SLMs will be no larger than a packaged
integrated circuit like microprocessor, and will require no
specialized driver circuitry beyond a standard logic-level
interface.

The proposed SLMs should find use in myriad optical image
processing applications such as target and pattern recognizing
correlators or trackers. Forseen commercial applications include
use as input devices in optical digital memory systems, as
miniature displays suitable for projection or head-mounted virtual
reality environments, and as printheads for compact, high-
resolution hardcopy products.

spatial light modulator, ferroelectric liquid crystal,
optoelectronics, optic signal processing, image processing, optical
computing, silicon VLSI