The operational characteristics of deformable mirror device (DMD) spatial light modulators for image processing applications are presented. The two DMD pixel structures of primary interest are the torsion hinged pixel for amplitude modulation and the flexure hinged or piston element pixel for phase modulation. The optical response characteristics of these structures are described. Experimental results detailing the performance of the pixel structures and addressing architectures are presented and are compared with the analytical results. Special emphasis is placed on the specification, from the experimental data, of the basic device performance parameters of the different modulator types. These parameters include modulation range (contrast ratio and phase modulation depth), individual pixel response time, and full array address time. The performance characteristics are listed for comparison with those of other light modulators (LCLV, LCTV, and MOSLM) for applications in the input plane and Fourier plane of a conventional coherent optical image processing system. The strengths and weaknesses of the existing DMD modulators are assessed and the potential for performance improvements is outlined.

Date Published: 5 February 1990
PDF: 12 pages
Proc. SPIE 1151, Optical Information Processing Systems and Architectures, (5 February 1990); doi: 10.1117/12.962218

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 1151:
Optical Information Processing Systems and Architectures
Bahram Javidi, Editor(s)