SELF-TILTED MICROMIRROR DEVICE

• US 20090303569A1
• Filed: 05/20/2008
• Published: 12/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Angstrom, Inc., High-Performance Marketing Co., Stereo Display, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Angstrom, Inc., Stereo Display, Inc.
• Inventors: Seo, Cheong Soo, Cho, Gyoung Il, Kim, Hye Young, Sohn, Jin Young
• Application Number:
  US12/124,110
• Publication Number:
  US 20090303569A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/290
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 2201/042 Micromirrors, not used as optical switches
• CPC Class Codes: B81C 1/00007 Assembling automatically hinged components, i.e. self-assembly processes self-assembly mechanisms B81B7/0003
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0833 the reflecting element being a micromechanical device, e.g. a MEMS mirror, DMD G02B26/0825 takes precedence; micromechanical devices in general B81B

Abstract

A self-tilted micromirror device of the present invention comprises a plurality of micro-structures including a substrate, at least one stiction plate configured to be attracted to the substrate by adhesion force, a top plate coupled to the stiction plate elastically and configured to have at least one motion when the stiction plate is attracted to the substrate, and at least one pivot structure disposed between the substrate and the top plate and configured to provide a tilting point or area for the motion of the top plate. The motion of the top plate is determined by the geometry of the micro-structures of the self-tilted micromirror device.

Claims

1. A self-tilted micromirror device comprising:

a) a substrate;

b) at least one stiction plate configured to be attracted to the substrate by adhesion force;

c) a top plate coupled to the stiction plate elastically and configured to have at least one motion when the stiction plate is attracted to the substrate; and

d) at least one pivot structure disposed between the substrate and the top plate and configured to provide a tilting point or area for the motion of the top plate;

wherein the motion of the top plate is determined by the geometry of the micro-structures of the self-tilted micromirror device.

2. The self-tilted micromirror device of the claim 1, wherein the motion of the top plate is determined by the size of the top plate.

3. The self-tilted micromirror device of the claim 1, wherein the motion of the top plate is determined by the size and position of the pivot structure.

4. The self-tilted micromirror device of the claim 1, wherein the top plate is coupled to the stiction plate elastically by at least one top plate spring structure.

5. The self-tilted micromirror device of the claim 4, further comprising at least one top plate post configured to provide a space between the top plate and the stiction plate and connecting the top plate and the top plate spring structure.

6. The self-tilted micromirror device of the claim 1, further comprising at least one support structure disposed on the substrate and connected to the stiction plate elastically.

7. The self-tilted micromirror device of the claim 6, further comprising at least one substrate spring structure connecting the stiction plate and the support structure.

8. The self-tilted micromirror device of the claim 1, wherein the pivot structure is disposed on the substrate and configured to contact the top plate when the stiction plate is attracted to the substrate.

9. The self-tilted micromirror device of the claim 1, wherein the pivot structure is disposed on the top plate and configured to contact the substrate when the stiction plate is attracted to the substrate.

10. The self-tilted micromirror device of the claim 6, wherein the pivot structure is disposed on the top plate and configured to contact the support structure when the stiction plate is attracted to the substrate.

11. The self-tilted micromirror device of the claim 6, wherein the support structure is the pivot structure configured to contact the top plate when the stiction plate is attracted to the substrate.

12. The self-tilted micromirror device of the claim 1, wherein the adhesion force is caused by capillary action of the liquid used in the releasing process of the micro-structures.

13. The self-tilted micromirror device of the claim 1, wherein the adhesion force is adhesion surface force.

14. The self-tilted micromirror device of the claim 1, wherein the adhesion force is der Waals force.

15. The self-tilted micromirror device of the claim 1, wherein the adhesion force is caused by atomic bonding.

16. The self-tilted micromirror device of the claim 1, wherein the adhesion force is electrostatic force by residual charge.

17. The self-tilted micromirror device of the claim 1, wherein the stiction plate is attracted to the substrate in the releasing process of the micro-structures.

18. The self-tilted micromirror device of the claim 1, wherein the stiction plate is attracted to the substrate in the initial operation of the self-tilted micromirror device.

19. The self-tilted micromirror device of the claim 1, wherein the linear and angular position of the top plate remains fixed by the adhesion force after the motion of the top plate.

20. The self-tilted micromirror device of the claim 1, further comprising at least one dimple disposed between the top plate and the substrate and configured to provide a space between the top plate and the stiction plate.

21. A self-tilted micromirror device comprising:

a) a substrate;

b) at least one stiction plate configured to be attracted to the substrate by adhesion force;

c) a top plate configured to have at least one motion when the stiction plate is attracted to the substrate;

d) at least one top plate post configured to provide a space between the top plate and the stiction plate;

e) at least one top plate spring structure connecting the stiction plate and the top plate post; and

d) at least one pivot structure disposed between the substrate and the top plate and configured to provide a tilting point or area for the motion of the top plate;

wherein the motion of the top plate is determined by the geometry of the micro-structures.

22. A self-tilted micromirror device comprising:

a) a substrate;

b) at least one stiction plate configured to be attracted to the substrate by adhesion force;

c) a top plate coupled to the stiction plate elastically and configured to have at least one motion when the stiction plate is attracted to the substrate; and

d) at least one pivot structure connecting the substrate and the top plate and configured to be bent and provide a tilting point or area for the motion of the top plate;

wherein the motion of the top plate is determined by the geometry of the micro-structures.

23. A self-tilted micromirror device comprising:

a) a substrate;

b) at least one stiction plate configured to be attracted to the substrate by adhesion force;

c) a top plate coupled to the stiction plate elastically and configured to have at least one motion when the stiction plate is attracted to the substrate;

d) at least one pivot structure disposed between the substrate and the top plate and configured to provide a tilting point or area for the motion of the top plate; and

e) at least one support structure disposed on the substrate and connected to the stiction plate by at least one substrate spring structure;

wherein the motion of the top plate is determined by the geometry of the micro-structures.

24. A self-tilted micromirror device comprising:

a) a substrate;

b) at least one stiction plate configured to be attracted to the substrate by adhesion force;

c) a top plate connected to the stiction plate by at least one top plate spring structure and configured to have at least one motion when the stiction plate is attracted to the substrate;

d) at least one pivot structure disposed between the substrate and the top plate and configured to provide a tilting point or area for the motion of the top plate; and

e) at least one support structure disposed on the substrate and connected to the stiction plate by at least one substrate spring structure;

wherein the motion of the top plate is determined by the geometry of the micro-structures.

25. A self-tilted micromirror device comprising:

a) a substrate;

b) at least one stiction plate configured to be attracted to the substrate by adhesion force;

c) a top plate coupled to the stiction plate elastically and configured to have at least one motion when the stiction plate is attracted to the substrate;

d) at least one pivot structure disposed between the substrate and the top plate and configured to provide a tilting point or area for the motion of the top plate;

e) at least one support structure disposed on the substrate and connected to the stiction plate by at least one substrate spring structure; and

f) at least one dimple structure disposed between the substrate and the top plate and configured to provide a space between the stiction plate and the top plate;

wherein the motion of the top plate is determined by the geometry of the micro-structures.