[1][2] The valve diffracts laser light using an array of tiny movable ribbons mounted on a silicon base.
Electronic signals alter the alignment of the gratings, and this displacement controls the intensity of the diffracted light in a very smooth gradation.
As this spatial frequency is determined by the photolithographic mask used to form the GLV device in the CMOS fabrication process, the departure angles can be very accurately controlled, which is useful for optical switching applications.
Besides, there is no physical contact between moving elements which makes the lifetime of the GLV as long as 15 years without stopping (over 210 billion switching cycles).
The GLV technology has been applied to various products, from laser-based HDTV sets to computer-to-plate offset printing presses to DWDM components used for wavelength management.
Besides, the light can be diffracted by the GLV device into an eyepiece for virtual retinal display or into an optical system for image projection onto a screen (projector and rear-projector).