METHODS AND DEVICES FOR INHIBITING TILTING OF A MOVABLE ELEMENT IN A MEMS DEVICE
First Claim
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1. A microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) device comprising:
- a substrate;
an electrically conductive layer over the substrate;
a movable element positioned over the substrate and movable between a first position spaced from the substrate by a first distance and a second position spaced from the substrate by a second distance, the first distance being greater than the second distance, and the movable element having a first surface facing away from the substrate and a second surface facing towards the substrate;
at least one stationary member contacting the first surface of the movable element when the movable element is in the first position, wherein the at least one stationary member is configured to inhibit movement of at least a portion of the movable element when the movable element is in the first position, and further wherein the second surface of the movable element is substantially parallel to the substrate when the movable element is in the first position and the second position; and
a mechanical layer coupled to the movable element, wherein the mechanical layer exerts a force on the movable element that facilitates contact between the at least one stationary member and the first surface of the movable element when the movable element is in the first position.
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Abstract
Interferometric modulators having a separable modulator architecture are disclosed having a reflective layer suspended from a flexible layer over a cavity. The interferometric modulators have one or more anti-tilt members that inhibit undesirable movement of the reflective layer, such as curling and/or tilting. The stabilization of the reflective layer by the anti-tilt members can improve the quality of the optical output of the interferometric modulators, as well as displays comprising such interferometric modulators.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) device comprising:
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a substrate;
an electrically conductive layer over the substrate;
a movable element positioned over the substrate and movable between a first position spaced from the substrate by a first distance and a second position spaced from the substrate by a second distance, the first distance being greater than the second distance, and the movable element having a first surface facing away from the substrate and a second surface facing towards the substrate;
at least one stationary member contacting the first surface of the movable element when the movable element is in the first position, wherein the at least one stationary member is configured to inhibit movement of at least a portion of the movable element when the movable element is in the first position, and further wherein the second surface of the movable element is substantially parallel to the substrate when the movable element is in the first position and the second position; and
a mechanical layer coupled to the movable element, wherein the mechanical layer exerts a force on the movable element that facilitates contact between the at least one stationary member and the first surface of the movable element when the movable element is in the first position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device comprising:
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means for supporting at least a portion of the MEMS device;
first electrically conductive means for receiving an electrical signal, the first electrical conductive means positioned over the supporting means;
second electrically conductive means for receiving an electrical signal, the second electrical conductive means positioned over the supporting means, the second electrically conductive means movable between a first position spaced from the first electrically conductive means by a first distance and a second position spaced from the first electrically conductive means by a second distance, the first distance being greater than the second distance, wherein the second electrically conductive means has a first surface facing away from the supporting means and a second surface substantially parallel to the supporting means when the second electrically conductive means is in the first and second positions;
means for stabilizing the second electrically conductive means, the stabilizing means contacting the first surface of the second electrically conductive means when the second electrically conductive means is in the first position, wherein the stabilizing means is configured to inhibit movement of at least a portion of the second electrically conductive means when the second electrically conductive means is in the first position; and
means for exerting a force on the second electrically conductive means, the force facilitating contact between the stabilizing means and the first surface of the second electrically conductive means when the second electrically conductive means is in the first position. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of manufacturing a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device comprising:
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forming an electrically conductive layer over a substrate;
forming a dielectric layer over the substrate;
depositing a sacrificial layer over the electrically conductive layer and the dielectric layer;
forming a reflective element over the sacrificial layer, the reflective element having a first surface facing away from the substrate and a second surface substantially parallel to the substrate;
forming a hole through the sacrificial layer;
forming a stabilization member comprising a first portion formed in the hole and a second portion connected to the first portion, the second portion formed over at least a portion of the reflective element; and
forming a mechanical layer coupled to the reflective element, wherein the mechanical layer exerts a force on the reflective element that facilitates contact between the stabilization member and the first surface of the reflective element subsequent to removal of the sacrificial layer. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device comprising:
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a display comprising a plurality of display elements, each display element comprising;
a substrate;
an electrically conductive layer over the substrate;
a movable element positioned over the substrate and movable between a first position spaced from the substrate by a first distance and a second position spaced from the substrate by a second distance, the first distance being greater than the second distance, and the movable element having a first surface facing away from the substrate and a second surface facing towards the substrate;
at least one stationary member contacting the first surface of the movable element when the movable element is in the first position, wherein the at least one stationary member is configured to inhibit movement of at least a portion of the movable element when the movable element is in the first position, and further wherein the second surface of the movable element is substantially parallel to the substrate when the movable element is in the first position and the second position; and
a mechanical layer coupled to the movable element, wherein the mechanical layer exerts a force on the movable element that facilitates contact between the at least one stationary member and the first surface of the movable element when the movable element is in the first position;
a processor in electrical communication with the display, the processor being configured to process image data; and
a memory device in electrical communication with the processor. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A method of modulating light, the method comprising:
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providing a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device, the MEMS device comprising;
a substrate;
an electrically conductive layer over the substrate;
a movable element positioned over the substrate and movable between a first position spaced from the substrate by a first distance and a second position spaced from the substrate by a second distance, the first distance being greater than the second distance, and the movable element having a first surface facing away from the substrate and a second surface facing towards the substrate;
at least one stationary member contacting the first surface of the movable element when the movable element is in the first position, wherein the at least one stationary member is configured to inhibit movement of at least a portion of the movable element when the movable element is in the first position, and further wherein the second surface of the movable element is substantially parallel to the substrate when the movable element is in the first position and the second position; and
a mechanical layer coupled to the movable element, wherein the mechanical layer exerts a force on the movable element that facilitates contact between the at least one stationary member and the first surface of the movable element when the movable element is in the first position; and
moving the movable element between the first position and the second position.
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23. A device comprising:
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an array of at least two interferometric modulators, each interferometric modulator comprising;
a substrate;
an optical layer positioned over the substrate, the optical layer being at least partially transmissive to incident light;
a mirror mechanically coupled to and positioned over the substrate and movable between a first position spaced from the optical layer by a first distance and a second position spaced from the optical layer by a second distance, the first distance being greater than the second distance, and the mirror having a surface facing away from the substrate, wherein light reflected by the interferometric modulator is interferometrically modulated; and
at least one stationary member contacting the surface of the mirror when the mirror is in the first position, wherein the at least one stationary member is configured to inhibit movement of at least a portion of the mirror when the mirror is in the first position;
wherein the stationary members of the at least two interferometric modulators contact the surface of each respective mirror at a different first distance from the optical layer when the mirrors are in the first position.
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Specification