Actuator-controlled mirror with Z-stop mechanism

• US 6,844,952 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2001
• Issued: 01/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsemi Communications, Inc. (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Vitesse Semiconductor Sales Corp. (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Dalziel, Warren
• Primary Examiner(s): Shafer, Ricky D.
• Application Number:
  US09/956,609
• Publication Number:
  US 20030053232A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,218 Days
• Field of Search: 359/223, 359/224, 359/225, 359/226, 359/872, 359/876, 359/840, 250/559.29, 250/230, 250/234
• US Class Current: 359/224.1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/1821 for rotating or oscillating mirrors

Abstract

Actuator-controlled mirrors with a Z-stop mechanism to reduce an undesired translational motion of the mirrors.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a fixed frame;

a mirror assembly having a coil and a mirror that are fixed relative to each other;

a flexure spring engaging said mirror to said fixed frame to allow said mirror assembly to rotate around a rotational axis relative to said fixed frame under an action of a torque;

a rigid support bar fixed to said fixed frame;

a pivot support unit disposed between and in contact with said support bar and said mirror assembly to pivot said mirror assembly at or near a center of rotation of said mirror assembly with respect to said support bar; and

a second mirror in said mirror assembly, fixed relative to said mirror, said second mirror having a reflective surface facing a direction opposite to a reflective surface of said mirror.

2. The device as in claim 1, wherein said flexure spring has a structure to engage said mirror assembly to further rotate around a second rotational axis in addition to said rotational axis, wherein said mirror assembly further includes a second coil fixed relative to said coil and said mirror, said coil and said second coil responsive to two independent control electric currents, respectively, to control rotation of said mirror assembly around said rotational axis and said second rotational axis, respectively, in presence of magnetic fields at said coils.

3. The device as in claim 1, further comprising:

a monitor light source to produce a monitor beam incident to said second mirror;

a monitor detector disposed relative said second mirror to receive a reflection of said monitor beam off said second mirror to determine a direction of said second mirror; and

a control unit coupled to receive a detector signal from said monitor detector to control a driving electric current according to said direction of said second mirror to control direction of said mirror.

4. The device as in claim 3, wherein said monitor detector is a position-sensitive detector.

5. The device as in claim 1, wherein said pivot support includes an elastic material.

6. The device as in claim 5, wherein said elastic material includes a silicon gel.

7. The device as in claim 5, wherein said elastic material includes an elastomer.

8. A device, comprising:

a fixed frame;

a mirror assembly having a coil and a mirror that are fixed relative to each other;

a flexure spring engaging said mirror to said fixed frame to allow said mirror assembly to rotate around a rotational axis relative to said fixed frame under an action of a torque;

a rigid support bar fixed to said fixed frame; and

a pivot support unit disposed between and in contact with said support bar and said mirror assembly to pivot said mirror assembly at or near a center of rotation of said mirror assembly with respect to said support bar,

wherein said flexure spring has a stiffness less than about 20 mNmm/rad.

9. The device as in claim 8, further comprising a second mirror in said mirror assembly, fixed relative to said mirror, said second mirror having a reflective surface facing a direction opposite to a reflective surface of said mirror.

10. The device as in claim 9, further comprising:

a monitor light source to produce a monitor beam incident to said second mirror;

a monitor detector disposed relative said second mirror to receive a reflection of said monitor beam off said second mirror to determine a direction of said second mirror; and

a control unit coupled to receive a detector signal from said monitor detector to control a driving electric current according to said direction of said second mirror to control direction of said mirror.