Silicon mirrors having reduced hinge stress from temperature variations
First Claim
1. A torsional hinge apparatus having minimal hinge stress due to temperature variations comprising:
- a support substrate having a first coefficient of expansion;
an integral torsional hinge device formed from a material having a different coefficient of expansion, and having an inside portion attached to a support portion along an axis by at least one pair of torsional hinges; and
anchor means for attaching said support portion of said integral torsional hinge device to said support substrate to allow substantially unrestricted expansion and contraction along two dimensions of said integral torsional hinge device and to disallow movement with respect to said support substrate in a third dimension said anchor means consisting of a single anchor attaching said support portion of said integral torsional hinge device to said support substrate at a single location; and
a biasing member attached to said support substrate and applying a force against said support portion of said integral torsional hinge device in said third direction another location spaced from said single location.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device such as a mirror assembly comprises a movable structure (41) having a first movable portion (45) hinged to a frame portion (43) by a first pair of torsional hinges (47A and 47B) spaced apart along a first axis (49). The device may also have a second movable portion (51) and a second pivot axis provided by set of torsional hinge (53A and 53B). The movable structure or mirror assembly (41) having a first coefficient of expansion is attached to a support structure (42) having a different coefficient of expansion at a single attaching or anchor point (63) such as by epoxy or a clamp (101). The single attaching point (63) allows expansion and/or contraction along two dimensions and thereby prevents compression and/or tension forces resulting from different coefficients of expansion between the mirror assembly 41 and the support structure 42 from being applied to the torsional hinges 47A, 47B, 53A and 53B. One embodiment of the invention also includes a biasing member or finger (105) which bears against the frame portion 43 of mirror assembly 41 to prevent vibrations in the third dimension.
10 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A torsional hinge apparatus having minimal hinge stress due to temperature variations comprising:
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a support substrate having a first coefficient of expansion; an integral torsional hinge device formed from a material having a different coefficient of expansion, and having an inside portion attached to a support portion along an axis by at least one pair of torsional hinges; and anchor means for attaching said support portion of said integral torsional hinge device to said support substrate to allow substantially unrestricted expansion and contraction along two dimensions of said integral torsional hinge device and to disallow movement with respect to said support substrate in a third dimension said anchor means consisting of a single anchor attaching said support portion of said integral torsional hinge device to said support substrate at a single location; and a biasing member attached to said support substrate and applying a force against said support portion of said integral torsional hinge device in said third direction another location spaced from said single location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A torsional hinge apparatus having minimal hinge stress due to temperature variations comprising:
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a support substrate having a first coefficient of expansion; an integral torsional hinge device formed from a material having a different coefficient of expansion, and having an inside portion attached to a support portion along an axis by at least one pair of torsional hinges; and an anchor for attaching said support portion of said integral torsional hinge device to said support substrate at a single location to allow substantially unrestricted expansion and contraction along two dimensions of said integral torsional hinge device and to disallow movement with respect to said support substrate in a third dimension; and a biasing member attached to said support substrate and applying a force against said support portion of said integral torsional hinge device in said third dimension at another location spaced from said single location wherein said anchor is a clamp.
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16. A method of manufacturing a torsional hinge apparatus for rotation about a pair of hinges having minimal hinge stress due to temperature variations comprising the steps of:
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providing a support substrate having a first coefficient of expansion; providing an integral torsional hinge device formed from a material having a different coefficient of expansion, and having an inside portion attached to a support portion along an axis by at least one pair of torsional hinges; and attaching said support portion of said integral torsional hinge device to said support substrate so as to allow substantially unrestricted expansion and contraction along two dimensions of said integral torsional hinge device and to disallow movement with respect to said support substrate in a third dimension at single location utilizing a single anchor; and restraining said support portion from movement due to vibrations and inertia forces by applying a biasing force in said dimension at a location on said support portion of said integral torsional hinge device spaced from said single location. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A mirror apparatus for rotation about a pair of hinges having minimal hinge stress of the mirror due to temperature variations comprising:
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a support substrate having a first coefficient of expansion; an integral mirror device formed from a material having a different coefficient of expansion, and having a mirror portion attached to a support portion along an axis by at least one pair of torsional hinges; and an anchor for attaching said support portion of said integral mirror device to said support substrate at a single location to allow substantially unrestricted expansion and contraction along two dimensions of said integral mirror device and to disallow movement with respect to said support substrate in a third dimension; and a biasing member attached to said support substrate and applying a force against said mirror support portion of said integral mirror device in said third dimension at another location spaced from said single location, wherein said anchor is a clamp.
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22. A mirror apparatus for rotation about a pair of hinges having minimal hinge stress of the mirror due to temperature variations comprising:
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a support substrate having a first coefficient of expansion; an integral mirror device formed from a material having a different coefficient of expansion, and having a mirror portion attached to a support portion along an axis by at least one pair of torsional hinges; and an anchor for attaching said support portion of said integral mirror device to said support substrate at a single location to allow substantially unrestricted expansion and contraction along two dimensions of said integral mirror device and to disallow movement with respect to said support substrate in a third dimension; and a biasing member attached to said support substrate and applying a force against said mirror support portion of said integral mirror device in said third dimension at another location spaced from said single location, wherein said integral mirror device further includes an intermediate portion attached to said mirror first pair of hinges and to said support portion by a second pair of hinges to allow rotation of said intermediate portion and said mirror portion with respect to said support portion, and wherein said anchor is a clamp.
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Specification