Method and apparatus for a reflective spatial light modulator with a flexible pedestal
First Claim
1. An electromechanical system, comprising:
- a substrate comprising a surface region;
a flexible member comprising a first end coupled to the surface region of the substrate, the flexible member comprising a second end and a length defined between the first end and the second end;
a base region within a first portion of the flexible member, the base region being defined from the first end to a first predetermined portion of the length of the flexible member, the base region being characterized by at least a first cross-sectional area, the first cross-sectional area being parallel to the surface region of the substrate;
a tip region within a second portion of the flexible member, the tip region being defined from the second end to a second predetermined portion of the length of the flexible member, the tip region being characterized by at least a second cross-sectional area, the second cross-sectional area being parallel to the surface region of the substrate; and
a reflective member coupled to the flexible member, the reflective member comprising a reflective surface and a backside region, the backside region being coupled to the second end of the flexible member, the reflective surface being substantially parallel to the surface region while the reflective member is in a first state and being substantially non-parallel to the surface region while the reflective member is in a second state;
whereupon the flexible member moves from a first position characterized by the first state to a second position characterized by the second state, the movement of the flexible member from the first position to the second position being constrained to lie in a first plane defined by an axis parallel to the length of the flexible member and an axis parallel to the surface region, wherein an angle between the reflective member in the first state and the reflective member in the second state, measured in the first plane, is less than 12°
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Abstract
An electromechanical system comprising a substrate including a surface region and a flexible member coupled at a first end to the surface region. The system further comprises a base region and a tip region. The system also comprises a reflective member coupled to the flexible member, including a reflective surface and a backside region, the backside region being coupled to the second end of the flexible member, the reflective surface being substantially parallel to the surface region while the reflective member is in a first state and being substantially non-parallel to the surface region while the reflective member is in a second state. The flexible member moves from a first position characterized by the first state to a second position characterized by the second state and the angle between the first state and the second state is greater than 12°.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. An electromechanical system, comprising:
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a substrate comprising a surface region;
a flexible member comprising a first end coupled to the surface region of the substrate, the flexible member comprising a second end and a length defined between the first end and the second end;
a base region within a first portion of the flexible member, the base region being defined from the first end to a first predetermined portion of the length of the flexible member, the base region being characterized by at least a first cross-sectional area, the first cross-sectional area being parallel to the surface region of the substrate;
a tip region within a second portion of the flexible member, the tip region being defined from the second end to a second predetermined portion of the length of the flexible member, the tip region being characterized by at least a second cross-sectional area, the second cross-sectional area being parallel to the surface region of the substrate; and
a reflective member coupled to the flexible member, the reflective member comprising a reflective surface and a backside region, the backside region being coupled to the second end of the flexible member, the reflective surface being substantially parallel to the surface region while the reflective member is in a first state and being substantially non-parallel to the surface region while the reflective member is in a second state;
whereupon the flexible member moves from a first position characterized by the first state to a second position characterized by the second state, the movement of the flexible member from the first position to the second position being constrained to lie in a first plane defined by an axis parallel to the length of the flexible member and an axis parallel to the surface region, wherein an angle between the reflective member in the first state and the reflective member in the second state, measured in the first plane, is less than 12°
. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An electromechanical system, comprising:
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a substrate comprising a surface region;
a flexible member comprising a first end coupled to the surface region of the substrate, the flexible member comprising a second end and a length defined between the first end and the second end;
a base region within a first portion of the flexible member, the base region being defined from the first end to a first predetermined portion of the length of the flexible member, the base region being characterized by at least a first cross-sectional area, the first cross-sectional area being parallel to the surface region of the substrate;
a tip region within a second portion of the flexible member, the tip region being defined from the second end to a second predetermined portion of the length of the flexible member, the tip region being characterized by at least a second cross-sectional area, the second cross-sectional area being parallel to the surface region of the substrate; and
a reflective member coupled to the flexible member, the reflective member comprising a reflective surface and a backside region, the backside region being coupled to the second end of the flexible member, the reflective surface being substantially parallel to the surface region while the reflective member is in a first state and being substantially non-parallel to the surface region while the reflective member is in a second state;
whereupon the flexible member moves from a first position characterized by the first state to a second position characterized by the second state, the movement of the flexible member from the first position to the second position being constrained to lie in a first plane defined by an axis parallel to the length of the flexible member and an axis parallel to the surface region, wherein an angle between the reflective member in the first state and the reflective member in the second state, measured in the first plane, is greater than 12°
. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An electromechanical system, comprising:
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a first substrate comprising a surface region;
a plurality of electrically activated electrodes coupled to the surface region of the first substrate, the plurality of electrically activated electrodes being coupled to an electrical source to receive a first electrical signal;
a plurality of flexible members comprising a first end coupled to the surface region of the first substrate, the members comprising a second end and a length defined between the first end and the second end;
a base region within a first portion of the plurality of flexible members, the base region being defined from the first end to a first predetermined portion of the length of the flexible members, the base region being characterized by at least a first cross-sectional area, the first cross-sectional area being parallel to the surface region of the substrate;
a tip region within a second portion of the plurality of flexible members, the tip region being defined from the second end to a second predetermined portion of the length of the flexible members, the tip region being characterized by at least a second cross-sectional area; and
a moveable structure, coupled to the plurality of flexible members, comprising a frontside surface and a backside surface, the backside surface being coupled to the second end of the plurality of flexible members, the frontside surface being substantially parallel to the surface region while the moveable structure is in a first state and being substantially non-parallel to the surface region while the moveable structure is in a second state;
whereupon the tip region of the plurality of flexible members moves from a first position characterized by the first state to a second position characterized by the second state upon application of a predetermined voltage bias associated with the first electrical signal, the movement of the tip region of the plurality of flexible members from the first position to the second position being constrained to lie in a plane including an axis parallel to the length of the plurality of flexible members, wherein the moveable structure tilts at an angle of less than 12°
with respect to the first surface upon application of the predetermined voltage bias associated with the first electrical signal. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. An electromechanical system, comprising:
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a first substrate comprising a surface region;
a plurality of electrically activated electrodes coupled to the surface region of the first substrate, the plurality of electrically activated electrodes being coupled to an electrical source to receive a first electrical signal;
a plurality of flexible members comprising a first end coupled to the surface region of the first substrate, the members comprising a second end and a length defined between the first end and the second end;
a base region within a first portion of the plurality of flexible members, the base region being defined from the first end to a first predetermined portion of the length of the flexible members, the base region being characterized by at least a first cross-sectional area, the first cross-sectional area being parallel to the surface region of the substrate;
a tip region within a second portion of the plurality of flexible members, the tip region being defined from the second end to a second predetermined portion of the length of the flexible members, the tip region being characterized by at least a second cross-sectional area; and
a moveable structure, coupled to the plurality of flexible members, comprising a frontside surface and a backside surface, the backside surface being coupled to the second end of the plurality of flexible members, the frontside surface being substantially parallel to the surface region while the moveable structure is in a first state and being substantially non-parallel to the surface region while the moveable structure is in a second state;
whereupon the tip region of the plurality of flexible members moves from a first position characterized by the first state to a second position characterized by the second state upon application of a predetermined voltage bias associated with the first electrical signal, the movement of the tip region of the plurality of flexible members from the first position to the second position being constrained to lie in a plane including an axis parallel to the length of the plurality of flexible members, wherein the moveable structure tilts at an angle of greater than 12°
with respect to the first surface upon application of the predetermined voltage bias associated with the first electrical signal. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification