Induction charge mirror

• US 6,525,759 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2001
• Issued: 02/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Kawai, Kiyoyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Hai
• Application Number:
  US09/793,988
• Publication Number:
  US 20020051053A1
• Time in Patent Office: 727 Days
• Field of Search: 347/237, 347/239, 347/255, 348/764, 348/770, 348/771, 348/755, 359/221, 359/223, 359/224, 359/291
• US Class Current: 347/239
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0841 the reflecting element being moved or deformed by electrostatic means

Abstract

An induction charge mirror is provided which makes a rotation mirror which is operated under an electrostatic force hinge-free and achieves a greater aperture rate in a simpler structure and the easiness with which it is manufactured. To this end, a space is provided in an upper surface portion of the insulating substrate and surrounded at least its surface portion surrounded with an insulating material. A flat mirror conductor is tiltably set within the space. A transparent electrode and first and second fixed electrodes are provided. A means is provided for normally applying a first potential to the transparent electrode and, in order to switch the tilting angle of the mirror conductor, means are provided for alternately applying a second potential and third potential to the first and second fixed electrodes.

Claims

1. An induction charge mirror comprising:

an insulating substrate;

a space defined in an upper surface portion of the insulating substrate and surrounded at least its surface portion with an insulating material;

a flat mirror conductor having an area smaller than a planar area of the space and tiltably set within the space;

a transparent electrode covering the space and upper side of the mirror conductor;

first and second fixed electrodes arranged at a lower surface side of the space and situated opposite to each other relative to a position at which the area of the mirror conductor is bisected;

means for normally applying a first potential to the transparent electrode; and

means for alternately applying second and third potentials to the first and second fixed electrodes so as to switch a tilting angle of the mirror conductor,

wherein the distance between the mirror conductor and the transparent electrode is set to be greater than that between the mirror conductor and the first and second fixed electrodes.

2. An induction charge mirror according to claim 1, wherein, if the second potential applied to the first fixed electrode is represented by V1 and an electrostatic capacitance between the transparent electrode and the mirror conductor is represented by C1 and an electrostatic capacitance between the mirror conductor and the second fixed electrode is represented by C3, the first potential given by V0 and applied to the transparent electrode is so set as to be given below:

3. An induction charge mirror according to claim 1, wherein a projection stopper is provided near a middle of a lower surface of the mirror conductor or near a middle of the fixed electrode-side surface of the space.

4. An induction charge mirror according to claim 1, wherein a third fixed electrode is so provided as to surround the first and second fixed electrodes in a spaced-apart relation and has a shielding effect.

5. An induction charge mirror according to claim 1, wherein the means for alternately applying second and third potentials to the first and second fixed electrodes is provided on a semiconductor chip attached to a rear surface of the insulating substrate.

6. An induction charge mirror according to claim 1, wherein the transparent electrode is provided on a glass substrate.

7. An induction charge mirror according to claim 1, wherein the space is wholly surrounded with the insulating material.

8. An induction charge mirror according to claim 7, wherein a third fixed electrode is so provided as to surround the first and second fixed electrodes in a spaced-apart relation and has a shielding effect.

9. An induction charge mirror according to claim 7, wherein the means for alternately applying second and third potentials to the first and second fixed electrodes is provided on a semiconductor chip attached to a rear surface of the insulating substrate.

10. An induction charge mirror according to claim 7, wherein the space is wholly surrounded with the insulating material.

11. An induction charge mirror according to claim 1, wherein the space is surrounded with the insulating material and conductors.

12. An induction charge mirror comprising:

an insulating substrate;

a space defined at an upper surface portion of the insulating substrate and surrounded at least its surface portion with an insulating material;

a flat mirror conductor having an area smaller than a planar area of the space and tiltably set within the space;

a transparent electrode covering the space and upper side of the mirror conductor;

first and second fixed electrodes arranged on a lower surface side of the space and situated opposite to each other relative to a position at which the area of the mirror conductor is bisected;

first means for normally applying a first potential to the transparent electrode;

second means alternately applying second and third potentials to the first and second fixed electrodes so as to switch a tilting angle of the mirror conductor; and

third means for simultaneously applying a fourth potential to the first and second fixed electrodes so as to retain a tilting angle of the mirror conductor,

wherein the distance between the mirror conductor and the transparent electrode is set to be greater than that between the mirror conductor and the first and second fixed electrodes.

13. An induction charge mirror according to claim 12, wherein at least the second and third means are provided on a semiconductor chip attached to a rear surface of the insulating substrate.

14. An induction charge mirror according to claim 12, wherein, if the second potential applied to the first fixed electrode is represented by V1 and an electrostatic capacitance between the transparent electrode and the mirror conductor is represented by C1 and an electrostatic capacitance between the mirror conductor and the second fixed electrode is represented by C3, the first potential given by V0 and applied to the transparent electrode is so set as to be given below:

15. An induction charge mirror according to claim 12, wherein a projection stopper is provided near a middle of a lower surface of the mirror conductor or near a middle of the fixed electrode-side surface of the space.

16. An induction charge mirror according to claim 12, wherein a third fixed electrode is so provided as to surround the first arid second fixed electrodes in a spaced-apart relation and has a shielding effect.

17. An induction charge mirror according to claim 12, wherein the transparent electrode is provided on a glass substrate.

18. An induction charge mirror according to claim 12, wherein the space is wholly surrounded with the insulating material.

19. An induction charge mirror according to claim 12, wherein the space is surrounded with the insulating material and conductors.

20. An induction charge mirror comprising:

an insulating substrate;

a space defined in an upper surface portion at the insulating substrate and surrounded at least at its surface portion with an insulating material;

a flat mirror conductor having an area smaller than a planar area of the space and tiltably set within the space;

a transparent electrode covering the space and upper side of the mirror conductor;

first and second fixed electrodes arranged at a lower surface side of the space and situated opposite to each other relative to a position at which the area of the mirror conductor is bisected;

means for normally applying a first potential to the transparent electrode; and

means for alternately applying second and third potentials to the first and second fixed electrodes so as to switch a tilting angle of the mirror conductor,

wherein, if the second potential applied to the first fixed electrode is represented by V1 and an electrostatic capacitance between the transparent electrode and me mirror conductor is represented by C1 and an electrostatic capacitance between the mirror conductor and the second fixed electrode is represented by C3, the first potential given by V0 and applied to the transparent electrode is so set as to be given below;

21. An induction charge mirror according to claim 20, further comprising:

means for simultaneously applying a fourth potential to the first and second fixed electrodes so as to retain a tilting angle of the mirror conductor.

22. An induction charge mirror according to claim 20, wherein a projection stopper is provided near a middle of a lower surface of the mirror conductor or near a middle of the fixed electrode-side surface of the space.

23. An induction charge mirror according to claim 20, wherein the transparent electrode is provided on a glass substrate.

24. An induction charge mirror according to claim 20, wherein the space is surrounded with the insulating material and conductors.