Microelectromechanical mirror and mirror array
First Claim
1. An electrostatically actuated plate, comprising:
- a reference surface having a plurality of control electrodes;
a support frame held above the reference surface by a plurality of standoff posts;
a plurality of electrostatic actuators flexibly suspended from the support frame and respectively held over the plurality of control electrodes; and
a freely movable plate flexibly suspended from the plurality of electrostatic actuators and held above the reference surface.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A freely rotatable microelectromechanical mirror and mirror array. Each mirror is connected to a plate flexibly suspended from a plurality of actuators by a plurality of plate flexures. The actuators are flexibly suspended from a support structure by a plurality of actuator flexures. The support structure is held above and electrically isolated from a reference layer by a plurality of standoff posts. The reference layer contains a plurality of actuation means such as control electrodes to move the actuators in first and second directions when actuated. Control voltages can be selectively applied to selective control electrodes to selectively move the actuators, and extend the plurality of plate flexures. The extended plate flexures create a net restoring force or torque to translate or rotate the freely movable plate. The plate and attached mirror are thereby translated or rotated about an arbitrary axis of rotation without stress.
171 Citations
76 Claims
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1. An electrostatically actuated plate, comprising:
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a reference surface having a plurality of control electrodes;
a support frame held above the reference surface by a plurality of standoff posts;
a plurality of electrostatic actuators flexibly suspended from the support frame and respectively held over the plurality of control electrodes; and
a freely movable plate flexibly suspended from the plurality of electrostatic actuators and held above the reference surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A microelectromechanical mirror, comprising:
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a reference surface having a plurality of control electrodes;
a support frame held above the reference surface by a plurality of standoff posts;
a plurality of electrostatic actuators flexibly suspended from the support frame and respectively held over the plurality of control electrodes;
a freely movable plate flexibly suspended from the plurality of electrostatic actuators and held above the reference surface; and
a mirrored surface connected to the freely movable plate. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A freely movable plate, comprising:
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a plurality of actuators flexibly suspended over a reference surface from a support structure;
a plurality of actuation means for respectively actuating the plurality of actuators; and
a freely movable plate flexibly suspended from the plurality of actuators by a plurality of torsional plate flexures. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A microelectromechanical mirror, comprising:
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a plurality of actuators flexibly suspended over a reference surface from a support structure;
a plurality of actuation means for respectively actuating the plurality of actuators;
a freely movable plate flexibly suspended from the plurality of actuators by a plurality of torsional plate flexures; and
a mirrored surface connected to the freely movable plate. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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53. A microelectromechanical mirror array, comprising a plurality of microelectromechanical mirrors wherein each mirror comprises:
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a reference surface having a plurality of control electrodes;
a support frame held above the reference surface by a plurality of standoff posts;
a plurality of electrostatic actuators flexibly suspended from the support frame and respectively held over the plurality of control electrodes;
a freely movable plate flexibly suspended from the plurality of electrostatic actuators and held above the reference surface; and
a mirrored surface connected to the freely movable plate. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63)
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64. A microelectromechanical mirror array, comprising a plurality of microelectromechanical mirrors wherein each mirror comprises:
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a plurality of actuators flexibly suspended over a reference surface from a support structure;
a plurality of actuation means for respectively actuating the plurality of actuators;
a freely movable plate flexibly suspended from the plurality of actuators by a plurality of torsional plate flexures; and
a mirrored surface connected to the freely movable plate. - View Dependent Claims (65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76)
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Specification