US 12,124,118 B2
Spatial light modulator, light modulating device, and method for driving spatial light modulator
Hiroto Sakai, Hamamatsu (JP); Munenori Takumi, Hamamatsu (JP); and Hiroshi Tanaka, Hamamatsu (JP)
Assigned to HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K., Hamamatsu (JP)
Filed by HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K., Hamamatsu (JP)
Filed on Sep. 13, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/367,614.
Application 18/367,614 is a continuation of application No. 16/977,397, granted, now 11,906,821, previously published as PCT/JP2019/004462, filed on Feb. 7, 2019.
Claims priority of application No. 2018-043311 (JP), filed on Mar. 9, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2024/0004225 A1, Jan. 4, 2024
Int. Cl. G02F 1/01 (2006.01); G02F 1/29 (2006.01); G03H 1/22 (2006.01)
CPC G02F 1/01 (2013.01) [G02F 1/29 (2013.01); G03H 1/2294 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A spatial light modulator comprising:
a modulator including a plurality of pixels, and configured to modulate a phase or an intensity of incident light in each pixel according to an amplitude of a drive signal changing periodically with time; and
a driving circuit configured to provide the drive signal to the modulator, wherein
the plurality of pixels of the modulator include first pixel groups each with a longitudinal direction corresponding to a predetermined direction and second pixel groups each with a longitudinal direction corresponding to the predetermined direction, and the first pixel groups and the second pixel groups are alternately arranged in a direction intersecting with the predetermined direction,
the driving circuit is configured to perform control such that a phase of the drive signal provided to the first pixel groups and a phase of the drive signal provided to the second pixel groups are mutually inverted, and is configured to variably control boundary lines between the first pixel groups and the second pixel groups, and
at least part of the first pixel groups and at least part of the second pixel groups are in an irradiation region of the incident light.