Elastomeric light valves

Two types of elastomeric light valves , their fabrication, performance, and application, are described. Both are thin blocks of poly(dimethylsiloxane), PDMS, with relief structures on their surfaces, either an array of square pyramids or an array of retroreflective corner cubes (see Figure). Use of the valves in a display device is demonstrated, in which the transparency can be controlled by mechanical compression. magnified image