Holographic displays and smart lenses

The invention of micromirror arrays has sparked a revolution in vision systems research. These devices are an indispensable component in many current generation products ranging from large scale projection engines and portable projectors to heads up displays. In addition, these devices are enabling new research paths in spectroscopy, lithography, volumetric displays and optical networking, just to name a few. In this article we highlight some of the recent advances in micromirror array technology, especially using Silicon-Germanium (SiGe) MEMS. We will also present an overview of two applications this technology gave rise to, namely the holographic display and a micromirror array based zoom lens.