A MEMS optical display system includes an illumination source for providing
illumination light, a collimating lens for receiving the illumination
light and forming from it collimated illumination light, and a converging
microlens array having an array of lenslets that converge the collimated
illumination light. The converging microlens array directs the
illumination light to a microelectrical mechanical system (MEMS) optical
modulator. The MEMS optical modulator includes, for example, a planar
substrate through which multiple pixel apertures extend and multiple MEMS
actuators that support and selectively position MEMS shutters over the
apertures. A MEMS actuator and MEMS shutter, together with a corresponding
aperture, correspond to pixel. The light from the converging microlens
array is focused through the apertures and is selectively modulated
according to the positioning of the MEMS shutters by the MEMS actuators,
thereby to impart image information on the illumination light. The light
is then passed to a diffused transmissive display screen by a projection
microlens array.
