Galvano-mirror

• US 6,262,827 B1
• Filed: 04/27/2000
• Issued: 07/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DRNC Holdings, Inc. (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Okuda, Hisao, Ueda, Satoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, James
• Application Number:
  US09/559,093
• Time in Patent Office: 446 Days
• Field of Search: 359/198, 359/199, 359/223, 359/224
• US Class Current: 359/224.1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0841 the reflecting element being moved or deformed by electrostatic means

Abstract

A galvano-mirror includes a mirror substrate provided with a frame, a mirror element and torsion bars rotatably connecting the mirror element to the frame. The mirror element is provided with a body having an obverse surface and a reverse surface. A mirror surface is formed on the obverse surface, while first electrodes are formed on the reverse surface. The galvano-mirror also includes an electrode substrate provided with second electrodes arranged in facing relation to the first electrodes. The electrode substrate is formed with a through-hole extending through a thickness thereof and facing the mirror element.

Claims

1. A galvano-mirror comprising:

a mirror substrate including a frame, a mirror element and torsion bars rotatably connecting the mirror element to the frame, the mirror element being provided with a body having an obverse surface and a reverse surface, the mirror element being also provided with a mirror surface formed on the obverse surface and first electrodes formed on the reverse surface; and

an electrode substrate provided with second electrodes arranged in facing relation to the first electrodes;

wherein the electrode substrate is formed with a through-hole extending through a thickness thereof and facing the mirror element.

2. The galvano-mirror according to claim 1, wherein the second electrodes are arranged adjacent to the through-hole.

3. The galvano-mirror according to claim 1, further comprising stoppers for preventing the first electrodes from contacting with the second electrodes.

4. A galvano-mirror comprising:

a mirror substrate including a frame, a mirror element and torsion bars rotatably connecting the mirror element to the frame, the mirror element being provided with a body having an obverse surface and a reverse surface, the mirror element being also provided with a mirror surface formed on the obverse surface and first electrodes formed on the reverse surface;

an electrode substrate formed with second electrodes facing the first electrodes;

third electrodes formed on the obverse surface of the mirror element; and

a supporting structure provided with fourth electrodes facing the third electrodes.

5. The galvano-mirror according to claim 4, wherein the electrode substrate is formed with a through-hole extending through a thickness thereof and facing the mirror element.

6. The galvano-mirror according to claim 5, wherein the through-hole is generally symmetrical with respect to axes of the torsion bars, the second electrodes comprising two conductive layers which are arranged close to the through-hole and symmetrical with respect to the axes of the torsion bars.

7. The galvano-mirror according to claim 6, wherein the through-hole is rectangular.

8. The galvano-mirror according to claim 6, wherein the through-hole is elliptic.

9. The galvano-mirror according to claim 6, wherein the through-hole is circular.

10. The galvano-mirror according to claim 4, wherein the first electrodes, the second electrodes, the third electrodes and the fourth electrodes comprise two conductive layers, respectively, which are arranged symmetrically with respect to axes of the torsion bars.

11. The galvano-mirror according to claim 10, wherein the two conductive layers of the first electrodes are electrically connected to each other, the two conductive layers of the third electrodes being electrically connected to each other, voltage being simultaneously applied both to one of the two conductive layers of the second electrodes and to one of the two conductive layers of the fourth electrodes for generating a torque in the mirror element.

12. The galvano-mirror according to claim 10, wherein the two conductive layers of the second electrodes are electrically connected to each other, the two conductive layers of the fourth electrodes being electrically connected to each other, voltage being simultaneously applied both to one of the two conductive layers of the first electrodes and to one of the two conductive layers of the third electrodes for generating a torque in the mirror element.

13. The galvano-mirror according to claim 4, wherein an electrostatic force generated by voltage application across the first and the second electrodes has a first component parallel to the mirror element, and an electrostatic force generated by voltage application across the third and the fourth electrodes has a second component parallel to the mirror element, the first component being cancelled out by the second component.

14. The galvano-mirror according to claim 4, wherein the supporting structure has a one-piece frame-like configuration.

15. The galvano-mirror according to claim 14, wherein the supporting structure is formed with an opening for allowing passage of light.

16. The galvano-mirror according to claim 4, wherein the supporting structure comprises a pair of supporting members each of which has an L-shaped cross section.

17. The galvano-mirror according to claim 4, further comprising stoppers for restricting rotation of the mirror element to prevent the first electrodes from contacting with the second electrodes and to prevent the third electrodes from contacting with the fourth electrodes.

18. The galvano-mirror according to claim 17, wherein the stoppers protrude from the electrode substrate.

19. The galvano-mirror according to claim 4, wherein the first and the third electrodes are electrically connected to each other.

20. The galvano-mirror according to claim 19, wherein the first and the third electrodes are formed integral to each other.