Light modulating device
First Claim
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1. A process for fabricating a light modulating device comprising the steps of:
- forming a metal layer on a substrate;
forming a bridge support structure over the metal layer, the bridge support structure including an opening therein and a portion spaced above the substrate;
subsequently forming a lower mirror over the substrate through the opening in the bridge support structure;
positioning an upper mirror over the lower mirror and supported by the portion of the bridge support structure spaced above the substrate such that a gap is provided between a lower surface of the upper mirror and the lower mirror, the upper mirror being optically transmissive to incident radiation over a given spectral range.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to microfabricated spectrometers including methods of making and using same. Microspectrometers can be formed in a single chip in which detectors and light sources can be monolithically integrated. The microspectrometer can be integrated into a sensor system to measure the optical and physical properties of solids and fluids.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A process for fabricating a light modulating device comprising the steps of:
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forming a metal layer on a substrate;
forming a bridge support structure over the metal layer, the bridge support structure including an opening therein and a portion spaced above the substrate;
subsequently forming a lower mirror over the substrate through the opening in the bridge support structure;
positioning an upper mirror over the lower mirror and supported by the portion of the bridge support structure spaced above the substrate such that a gap is provided between a lower surface of the upper mirror and the lower mirror, the upper mirror being optically transmissive to incident radiation over a given spectral range. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A process of fabricating a light modulating device comprising:
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forming a plurality of support structures on or in a semiconductor substrate;
subsequently forming a plurality of lower mirrors in or over the substrate;
forming a sacrificial support material over each lower mirror;
forming a plurality of diaphragm elements over the sacrificial layer and which are positioned over each lower mirror; and
removing at least a portion of the sacrificial material from underneath each diaphragm element such that a gap is provided between a lower surface of each diaphragm bridge and each lower mirror. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A process for fabricating a light modulating device over a substrate, comprising the steps of:
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forming a spring structure over a substrate;
subsequently depositing a lower mirror on the substrate through an opening in the spring structure; and
attaching an upper mirror to the spring structure such that a gap is provided between a lower surface of the upper mirror and the lower mirror, the upper mirror being optically transmissive to incident radiation over a given spectral range. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
forming a plurality of detectors on or in a semiconductor substrate.
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18. The process of claim 16 further comprising forming an actuator to move the upper mirror.
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19. The process of claim 18 wherein the actuator forming step further comprises forming electrostatic force plate such that the actuator causes movement of said upper mirror relative to a detector by providing an electric field.
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20. The process of claim 18 further comprising forming a drive circuit in the substrate that is electrically connected to the actuator.
Specification