Reflection-type light modulating array element and exposure apparatus

• US 7,046,422 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2004
• Issued: 05/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Kimura, Koichi, Sumi, Katsuto
• Primary Examiner(s): Lester, Evelyn A.
• Application Number:
  US10/965,043
• Publication Number:
  US 20050099670A1
• Time in Patent Office: 578 Days
• Field of Search: 359/223, 359/224, 359290-292, 359/295, 359/298, 359/318
• US Class Current: 359/295
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0841 the reflecting element being moved or deformed by electrostatic means

Abstract

A reflection-type light modulating array element has: a substrate; a movable member provided with a beam body provided on the substrate through a first gap, a light reflector capable of rotational displacement by twisting of the beam body, and an electrically conducting part formed at least in a partial portion of the movable member; a lower electrode provided on a substrate side to face the movable member through the first gap, and an upper electrode provided on a side opposite to the lower electrode to face the movable member through a second gap, and thereby the movable member is between the lower electrode and the upper electrode, wherein a voltage is applied to the upper electrode, the lower electrode and the electrically conducting part to cause an rocking displacement of the light reflector and thereby deflect a reflection direction of a light.

Claims

1. A reflection-type light modulating array element comprising:

a substrate;

a movable member comprising a beam body provided on said substrate through a first gap, a light reflector capable of rotational displacement by twisting of said beam body, and an electrically conducting part formed at least in a partial portion of said movable member;

a lower electrode provided on a substrate side to face said movable member through said first gap, and

an upper electrode provided on a side opposite to said lower electrode to face said movable member through a second gap, and thereby said movable member is between said lower electrode and said upper electrode,

wherein a voltage is applied to said upper electrode, said lower electrode and said electrically conducting part to cause an rocking displacement of said light reflector and thereby deflect a reflection direction of a light.

2. The reflection-type light modulating array element according to claim 1, wherein said lower electrode and said upper electrode each is provided on both sides of said beam body.

3. The reflection-type light modulating array element according to claim 1, wherein

said lower electrode comprises a first lower electrode and a second lower electrode provided on both sides of said beam body,

said upper electrode comprises a first upper electrode and a second upper electrode provided on both sides of said beam body,

said first lower electrode and said first upper electrode are provided to face each other through said movable member in a vertical direction of said substrate,

said second lower electrode and said second upper electrode are provided to face each other through said movable member in a vertical direction of said substrate, and

said first lower electrode and said second upper electrode, and said second lower electrode and said first upper electrode each are electrically connected.

4. The reflection-type light modulating array element according to claim 3, wherein

a plurality of said reflection-type light modulating elements are arrayed in one of one-dimensional state and two-dimensional state,

said first lower electrode and said second upper electrode function as a first driving electrode,

said second lower electrode and said first upper electrode function as a second driving electrode,

said electrically conducting part of said movable member functions as a movable body electrode,

said movable body electrodes of said plurality of said reflection-type light modulating elements are commonly connected, and

said reflection-type light modulating elements each is independently driven by applying a voltage to said first driving electrode and said second driving electrode of each reflection-type light modulating element.

5. The reflection-type light modulating array element according to claim 1, wherein

a top plate is disposed to face said substrate with a space and provided with said upper electrode on a bottom surface thereof,

end parts in the extending direction of said beam body, which function as support parts, each is sandwichedly held by a lower spacer standing between said end part and said substrate and an upper spacer standing between said end part and said top plate.

6. The reflection-type light modulating array element according to claim 1,

wherein the reflection-type light modulating array element further comprises a microlens array having a plurality of microlenses therein, and said microlenses are disposed to face respective light reflectors of said reflection-type light modulating elements which are arrayed in one of a one-dimensional state and a two-dimensional state.

7. An exposure apparatus comprising the reflection-type light modulating array element according to claim 6, wherein

a light from a light source is injected into said reflection-type light modulating array element through an illumination optical system and a microlens array,

the reflected light reflected by said reflection-type light modulating array element is injected into a projection optical system through said microlens array, transmitted through said projection optical system, and then irradiated on an exposure object.