Grating Light Valve

Grating Light Valve is a trademark of Silicon Light Machines for a MEMS, which is used for targeted deflection of light. Thus, it can be used in projection system such as projectors and video projectors.

This is intended to compete with the Digital Micromirror Device (DMD ) from Texas Instruments as well as LCDs.

Principle of operation

The principle of operation is based, in contrast to Mikrospiegelaktorfeld on light diffraction on an optical lattice. To tiny metal strips can be moved up and down electrostatically. This means any pixels between grid function and reflective mirror can be switched back and forth.

The light beam for projecting an image reflected by this device, as required by the lens on the screen or on a black surface inside the unit (called light trap ). Thus, in a non- visible to the human eye, the image on the projection speed is established. The color of the pixels is determined by a rotating disc in the primary colors. The short light pulses result of this they are perceived by the eye as mixed colors.