Spatial light modulator and method
First Claim
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1. A spatial light modulator, comprising:
- (a) a plurality of pixels formed in a layered structure;
(b) said layered structure including a substrate, s spacer layer on said substrate, a first reflecting layer on said spacer, a second reflecting layer on said first layer, and electrical addressing circuitry;
(c) for each of said pixels includingi. an electrostatically deflectable element formed in said reflecting layers and connected to the remainder of said reflecting layers by a hinge formed in said first layer alone, andii. a well formed in said spacer and located between said deflectable element and said substrate.
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Abstract
An electrostatically deflectable beam spatial light modulator with the beam composed of two layers of aluminum alloy and the hinge connecting the beam to the remainder of the alloy formed in only one of the two layers; this provides a thick stiff beam and a thin compliant hinge. The alloy is on a spacer made of photoresist which in turn is on a semiconductor substrate. The substrate contains addressing circuitry in a preferred embodiment.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A spatial light modulator, comprising:
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(a) a plurality of pixels formed in a layered structure; (b) said layered structure including a substrate, s spacer layer on said substrate, a first reflecting layer on said spacer, a second reflecting layer on said first layer, and electrical addressing circuitry; (c) for each of said pixels including i. an electrostatically deflectable element formed in said reflecting layers and connected to the remainder of said reflecting layers by a hinge formed in said first layer alone, and ii. a well formed in said spacer and located between said deflectable element and said substrate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A spatial light modulator, comprising:
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(a) a plurality of pixels formed in a layered structure; (b) said layered structure including a substrate, a spacer layer on said substrate, a first conducting reflecting layer on said spacer, a second conducting reflecting layer on said first layer, and electrical addressing circuitry; (c) each of said pixels including i. an electrostatically deflectable element formed in said reflecting layers and connected to the remainder of said reflecting layers by a hinge formed in said first layer alone, and ii. a well formed in said spacer and located between said deflectable element and said substrate; and (d) said addressing circuitry including for each of said pixels an electrode on and insulated from said substrate at the bottom of said well.
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10. A spatial light modulator, comprising:
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(a) a plurality of pixels formed in a layered structure; (b) said layered structure including a substrate, a spacer layer on said substrate, a first reflecting layer on said spacer, a second reflecting layer on said first layer, and electrical addressing circuitry; (c) each of said pixels including i. an electrostatically deflectable element formed in said reflecting layers and connected to the remainder of said reflecting layers by two hinges formed in said first layer alone, and ii. a well formed in said spacer and located between said deflectable element and said substrate; and (d) said addressing circuitry includes an electrode at the bottom of said well but asymmetrically disposed with respect to the axis running through said two hinges. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A spatial light modulator, comprising:
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(a) a plurality of pixels formed in a layered structure; (b) said layered structure including a substrate, s spacer layer on said substrate, a thin conducting reflecting layer on said spacer, a thick conducting reflecting layer on said thin layer, and electrical addressing circuitry; (c) each of said pixels including i. an electrostatically deflectable element formed in said reflecting layers and connected to the remainder of said reflecting layers by a hinge formed in said thin layer alone, and ii. a well formed in said spacer and located between said deflectable element and said substrate. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A method of fabricating a deflectable beam spatial light modulator, comprising the steps of:
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(a) forming addressing circuitry on a semiconductor substrate; (b) forming a planarizing spacer over said circuitry and substrate; (c) depositing a thin layer of a reflecting material on said spacer; (d) forming a plurality of etch stops on said thin layer, at least one etch stop for each of said deflectable beams; (e) depositing a thick layer of said material over said etch stops and said thin layer; (f) patterning said thick layer to define said deflectable beams and etching said thick and thin layers with said pattern, said etch stops preventing etching of said thin layer only and defining hinges for support of said deflectable beams; and (g) etching at least the exposed portion of said etch stops and the portion of said spacer immediately between said deflectable beams and said addressing circuitry and substrate. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification