MEMS scanner with dual magnetic and capacitive drive

• US 7,071,594 B1
• Filed: 11/03/2003
• Issued: 07/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microvision, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Microvision, Inc.
• Inventors: DeWitt, Frank A. IV, Luanava, Selso H., Tegreene, Clarence T., Urey, Hakan, Wiklof, Christopher A., Yan, Jun, Casasanta, Vincenzo III
• Primary Examiner(s): TAMAI, KARL I
• Application Number:
  US10/700,279
• Publication Number:
  US 20060152106A1
• Time in Patent Office: 974 Days
• Field of Search: 310/309, 310/40.MM, 359223-226, 359/291
• US Class Current: 310/309
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/085 the reflecting means being moved or deformed by electromagnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/101 with both horizontal and vertical deflecting means, e.g. raster or XY scanners colour television using laser beams scanning a display screen H04N9/3129
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 1/008 Laterally driven motors, e.g. of the comb-drive type

Abstract

A MEMS scanning device includes more than one type of actuation. In one approach capacitive and magnetic drives combine to move a portion of the device along a common path. In one such structure, the capacitive drive comes from interleaved combs. In another approach, a comb drive combines with a pair of planar electrodes to produce rotation of a central body relative to a substrate. In an optical scanning application, the central body is a mirror. In a biaxial structure, a gimbal ring carries the central body. The gimbal ring may be driven by more than one type of actuation to produce motion about an axis orthogonal to that of the central body. In another aspect, a MEMS scanning device is constructed with a reduced footprint.

Claims

1. A microelectromechanical resonant device, comprising:

a base;

a movable body coupled to the base for resonant motion relative to the base about a pivot axis;

a comb drive coupled to the movable body and oriented to produce a torque about the pivot axis; and

a magnetic coil carried by the movable body and oriented to produce a torque about the pivot axis;

wherein the base and movable body are both formed from a semiconductor material.

2. The microelectromechanical resonant device of claim 1 further including:

a first substantially planar electrode carried by the movable body; and

a second electrode positioned to produce an electrical field extending between the first and second electrodes.

3. The microelectromechanical resonant device of claim 1 wherein the movable body and a portion of the comb drive form an integral body.

4. The microelectromechanical resonant device of claim 1 wherein the movable body includes a polysilicon material.

5. The microelectromechanical resonant device of claim 1 further comprising a gimbal ring interposed between the base and the movable body, the frame being coupled to the base and configured for movement about a second axis substantially orthogonal to the pivot axis.