One-dimensional equivalent circuit simulation of a photodiode-based spatial light modulator

A one-dimensional (1-D) equivalent circuit model for an optically addressed, photodiode-based spatial light modulator (SLM) is presented. The model is first verified for a liquid crystal (LC)-based SLM via a 1-D experimental version of the device followed by a detail simulation using SPICE. It was found that the optical performance of the LC-SLM was most sensitive to the liquid crystal thickness, substrate doping concentration, and the photodiode leakage current. This model can be a useful tool for the analysis of the optical performance (such as photosensitivity and image uniformity) of a variety of photodiode-based SLMs as a function of their structural and operating parameters.