Light modulating microdevice
First Claim
1. A mirror for light modulators, comprising a light-receiving member, at least one hinge adapted to be provided at an upper end thereof with said light-receiving member, said light-receiving member being flexible, said hinge being adapted to extend below said light-receiving member and being displaceable between deformed and extended positon thereby allowing for at least one of the displacement and the deformation of said light-receiving member.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A light modulator comprises a mirror, a substrate provided with at least one electrode, and at least one hinge extending between the substrate and the mirror. The mirror is flexible with the hinge being displaceable for allowing for the displacement and/or the deformation of the mirror. Typically, there are two symmetrically disposed hinges, each including upper and lower arms that define an angle therebetween. The upper arm is connected to the mirror, and the lower arm is mounted to the substrate. The upper and lower arms are adapted to pivot relative to one another thereby allowing the angle to vary and thus allowing the mirror to at least one of displace and deform. When unbiased, the mirror may be plane, convex or concave. When biased, the plane mirror adopts a curved attitude, whereas the curved mirror changes its curvature. The upper and lower arms of each hinge are V-shaped and define an apex. The apexes extend inwardly in a facing relationship.
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Citations
38 Claims
- 1. A mirror for light modulators, comprising a light-receiving member, at least one hinge adapted to be provided at an upper end thereof with said light-receiving member, said light-receiving member being flexible, said hinge being adapted to extend below said light-receiving member and being displaceable between deformed and extended positon thereby allowing for at least one of the displacement and the deformation of said light-receiving member.
- 12. A light modulator comprising a mirror, a substrate provided with at least one electrode, and at least one hinge extending between said substrate and said mirror, said mirror being flexible with said hinge being displaceable for allowing for at least one of the displacement and the deformation of said mirror.
- 23. A hinge assembly for supporting a flexible mirror in a light modulator, comprising at least one hinge including first and second arms hingedly connected together, an upper end of said hinge being adapted to be connected to the mirror, said first and second arms of said hinge being V-shaped and defining an apex, said hinge being adapted to extend substantially under the mirror with said apex extending inwardly, said hinge being displaceable between deformed and extended positions thereof, thereby allowing for the displacement and deformation of the mirror.
- 31. A light modulator comprising a flexible mirror, a substrate provided with at least one electrode and at least one hinge connecting said substrate and said mirror, said hinge including first and second arms hingedly connected together, an upper end of said hinge being connected to said mirror, said first and second arms of said hinge being V-shaped and defining an apex, said hinge extending substantially under the mirror with said apex extending inwardly, said hinge being displaceable for allowing for the displacement and deformation of said mirror.
Specification