High fill ratio reflective spatial light modulator with hidden hinge
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A micro mirror comprising:
- a mirror plate formed from a first portion of a single piece of silicon bearing material, the mirror plate having an upper surface and a lower surface;
a hinge formed from a second portion of the single piece of silicon bearing material and connected to the mirror plate for allowing the mirror plate to rotate relative to a longitudinal axis of the hinge; and
a reflective surface on the upper surface of the mirror plate and above a portion of the hinge.
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Abstract
A micro mirror array having a hidden hinge that is useful, for example, in a reflective spatial light modulator. In one embodiment, the micro mirror array includes spacer support walls, a hinge, a mirror plate and a reflective surface on the upper surface of the mirror plate, the reflective surface concealing the hinge and the mirror plate. The micro mirror array fabricated from a single material.
149 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A micro mirror comprising:
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a mirror plate formed from a first portion of a single piece of silicon bearing material, the mirror plate having an upper surface and a lower surface; a hinge formed from a second portion of the single piece of silicon bearing material and connected to the mirror plate for allowing the mirror plate to rotate relative to a longitudinal axis of the hinge; and a reflective surface on the upper surface of the mirror plate and above a portion of the hinge. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An array of micro mirrors, comprising:
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a plurality of mirror plates fabricated from first regions of a substrate, a mirror plate having an upper surface and a lower surface; a plurality of hinges fabricated from second regions of the substrate, a hinge coupled to the mirror plate for allowing the mirror plate to rotate relative to the spacer support frame about an axis defined by the hinge; and a plurality of reflective surfaces, a reflective surface on the upper surface of the mirror plate and above a portion of the hinge. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. An array of a plurality of micro mirrors, comprising:
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a first micro mirror fabricated out of a single crystal silicon wafer, the first micro mirror plate comprising; a first mirror plate having a first upper surface and a first lower surface, a first hinge connected to the first mirror plate for allowing the first mirror plate to rotate relative to a longitudinal axis of the first hinge, and a first reflective surface on the first upper surface of the first mirror plate and above the first hinge; and a second micro mirror fabricated out of the single crystal silicon wafer, the second micro mirror plate comprising; a second mirror plate having a second upper surface and a second lower surface, a second hinge connected to the second mirror plate for allowing the second mirror plate to rotate relative to a longitudinal axis of the second hinge, and a second reflective surface on the second upper surface of the second minor plate and above the second hinge. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A spatial light modulator, comprising:
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means for selecting a micro mirror to deflect in an array of micro mirrors; means for applying a voltage to an electrode corresponding to the selected micro mirror causing the micro mirror to rotate about a hinge, the hinge positioned substantially beneath an upper surface and under a reflective surface of the micro mirror, and permitting light striking the micro mirror to be reflected in a desired direction; and wherein the micro mirror further has a mirror plate upon which the reflective surface is deposited and a spacer support frame, each of the hinge, mirror plate and spacer support frame are not deposited, but fabricated from a wafer consisting essentially of a single material. - View Dependent Claims (34)
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35. A spatial light modulator, comprising:
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means for deflecting having an upper surface, said means for deflecting fabricated from a wafer of single crystal silicon; means for rotating the deflecting means about an axis, said means for rotating also fabricated from the wafer of single crystal silicon; and means for reflecting light, the reflecting means deposited on the upper surface of the deflecting means and above the rotating means to substantially conceal the rotating means.
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Specification