Micro-mirror device with light angle amplification
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A micro-mirror device, comprising:
- a substrate having a surface;
a plate spaced from the substrate and oriented substantially parallel to the substrate, the plate having a surface oriented substantially parallel to the surface of the substrate, and the plate and the substrate defining a cavity therebetween;
a reflective element interposed between the substrate and the plate; and
a liquid having an index of refraction greater tan one disposed in the cavity between at least the reflective element and the plate,wherein the reflective element is adapted to move between a first position and at least one second position, and reflect light through the surface of the plate.
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Abstract
A micro-mirror device includes a substrate and a plate spaced from and oriented substantially parallel to the substrate such that the plate and the substrate define a cavity therebetween. A reflective element is interposed between the substrate and the plate, and a liquid having an index of refraction greater than one is disposed in the cavity between at least the reflective element and the plate. As such, the reflective element is adapted to move between a first position and at least one second position.
28 Citations
50 Claims
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1. A micro-mirror device, comprising:
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a substrate having a surface; a plate spaced from the substrate and oriented substantially parallel to the substrate, the plate having a surface oriented substantially parallel to the surface of the substrate, and the plate and the substrate defining a cavity therebetween; a reflective element interposed between the substrate and the plate; and a liquid having an index of refraction greater tan one disposed in the cavity between at least the reflective element and the plate, wherein the reflective element is adapted to move between a first position and at least one second position, and reflect light through the surface of the plate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of forming a micro-mirror device, the method comprising:
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providing a substrate having a surface; orienting a surface of a plate substantially parallel to the surface of the substrate and spacing the plate from the substrate, including defining a cavity between the plate and the substrate; interposing a reflective element between the substrate and the plate; and disposing a liquid having an index of refraction greater than one in the cavity between at least the reflective element and the plate, wherein the reflective element is adapted to move between a first position and at least one second position, and reflect light through the surface of the plate. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A micro-mirror device, comprising:
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a substrate having a surface; a plate spaced from the substrate and oriented substantially parallel to the substrate, wherein the plate has a surface oriented substantially parallel to the surface of the substrate, and the plate and the substrate define a cavity therebetween; a reflective element interposed between the substrate and the plate in the cavity, wherein the reflective element is adapted to reflect light from the cavity and through the surface of the plate; and means for amplifying an exit angle of light from the cavity for a given tilt angle of the reflective element. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A method of controlling light with a micro-mirror device including a reflective element interposed between a substrate and a transparent plate, the method comprising:
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receiving light at the reflective element through a surface of the transparent plate oriented substantially parallel to a surface of the substrate; and reflecting the light with the reflective element, including directing the light through a liquid having an index of refraction greater than one, through an interface with the liquid, and back through the transparent plate, wherein directing the light through the interface with the liquid includes refracting the light at the interface with the liquid. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A method of using a liquid having an index of refraction greater than one in a micro-mirror device including a reflective element interposed between a substrate and a transparent plate, the method comprising:
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receiving light at the reflective element through a surface of the transparent plate oriented substantially parallel to a surface of the substrate; reflecting the light with the reflective element, including directing the light through the liquid, through an interface with the liquid, and back through the transparent plate; and refracting the light at the interface with the liquid, including increasing an exit angle of the light from the micro-mirror device for a given tilt angle of the reflective element.
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47. A method of using a liquid having an index of refraction greater than one in a micro-mirror device including a reflective element interposed between a substrate and a transparent plate, the method comprising:
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receiving light at the reflective element through a surface of the transparent plate oriented substantially parallel to a surface of the substrate; reflecting the light with the reflective element, including directing the light through the liquid, through an interface with the liquid, and back through the transparent plate; and refracting the light at the interface with the liquid, including exiting the light from the micro-mirror device with an exit angle corresponding to an apparent tilt angle of the reflective element greater than an actual tilt angle of the reflective element.
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48. A method of using a liquid having an index of refraction greater than one in a micro-mirror device including a reflective element interposed between a substrate and a transparent plate, the method comprising:
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receiving light at the reflective element through a surface of the transparent plate oriented substantially parallel to a surface of the substrate; reflecting the light with the reflective element, including directing the light through the liquid, through an interface with the liquid, and back through the transparent plate; and refracting the light at the interface with the liquid, including reducing a tilt angle of the reflective element for a desired exit angle of the light from the micro-mirror device.
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49. A method of using a liquid having an index of refraction greater than one in a micro-mirror device including a reflective element, the method comprising:
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reflecting light with the reflective element, including directing the light through the liquid and through an interface with the liquid; moving the reflective element through a tilt angle between a first position and at least one second position; and refracting the light at the interface with the liquid, including reducing the tilt angle of the reflective element for a desired exit angle of the light from the micro-mirror device, wherein reducing the tilt angle of the reflective element for the desired exit angle of the light includes increasing a response time of moving the reflective element between the first position and the at least one second position.
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50. A method of using a liquid having an index of refraction greater than one in a micro-mirror device including a reflective element, the method comprising:
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reflecting light with the reflective element, including directing the light through the liquid and through an interface with the liquid; moving the reflective element through a tilt angle between a first position and at least one second position; and reflecting the light at the interface with the liquid, including reducing the tilt angle of the reflective element for a desired exit angle of the light from the micro-mirror device, wherein reducing the tilt angle of the reflective element for the desired exit angle of the light includes reducing fatigue of the micro-mirror device while moving the reflective element between the first position and the at least one second position.
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Specification