Process for fabricating an optical mirror array
First Claim
1. A process for fabricating an electro-optic device comprising:
- providing a first substrate having a first layer of semiconductor material and a second layer of semiconductor material separated by a layer of an oxidized semiconductor material;
forming a cavity in the first layer of semiconductor material wherein the cavity terminates at the layer of oxidized semiconductor material;
defining a mirror element in the second layer of semiconductor material wherein the mirror element has a location in the second layer of material that corresponds to the location of the cavity in the first layer of material and wherein the mirror element has first and second major surfaces;
removing the layer of oxidized material between the mirror element and the cavity;
providing a second semiconductor substrate having electrodes formed thereon;
placing the first substrate in contact with the second substrate so that the electrodes on the second substrate are under the mirror element in the first substrate and disposed in the cavity in the first substrate; and
bonding the first substrate to the second substrate.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electro-optic device which includes a mirror array attached to a base substrate is disclosed. The mirror array comprises a substrate having a plurality of spaced-apart mirrors with underlying cavities (each having a diameter at least about the same size as that of the overlying mirror) formed therein. The base substrate includes a plurality of electrodes as well as a plurality of electrical interconnections. The mirror array is attached to the base substrate so that each mirror of the array as well as a cavity are supported above a set of electrodes. Each mirror of the mirror array rotates relative to the major plane of the substrate in response to an electrical signal. The application of an electrical potential to each mirror relative to at least one electrode of the set of electrodes causes the desired rotation (depending on the magnitude of the electrical potential) up to an angle of about 20 degrees.
126 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A process for fabricating an electro-optic device comprising:
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providing a first substrate having a first layer of semiconductor material and a second layer of semiconductor material separated by a layer of an oxidized semiconductor material;
forming a cavity in the first layer of semiconductor material wherein the cavity terminates at the layer of oxidized semiconductor material;
defining a mirror element in the second layer of semiconductor material wherein the mirror element has a location in the second layer of material that corresponds to the location of the cavity in the first layer of material and wherein the mirror element has first and second major surfaces;
removing the layer of oxidized material between the mirror element and the cavity;
providing a second semiconductor substrate having electrodes formed thereon;
placing the first substrate in contact with the second substrate so that the electrodes on the second substrate are under the mirror element in the first substrate and disposed in the cavity in the first substrate; and
bonding the first substrate to the second substrate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification