Single-crystal-silicon 3D micromirror

• US 7,486,430 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2006
• Issued: 02/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Agency For Science Technology and Research
• Original Assignee: Agency For Science Technology and Research
• Inventors: Singh, Janak, Zhang, Xiaolin, Gan, Chih Kiong Terence, Agarwal, Ajay
• Primary Examiner(s): Choi; William C
• Application Number:
  US11/345,891
• Publication Number:
  US 20060141659A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,097 Days
• Field of Search: 359/198, 359/214, 359/224, 359/290, 359/298
• US Class Current: 359/290
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0866 the reflecting means being moved or deformed by thermal means

Abstract

In a 3D free space micromirror device, a mirror plate is joined with actuators through flexible springs where the other ends of the actuators have fixed support on the substrate. Single crystal silicon and aluminum are used as bi-morph materials with silicon dioxide providing electrical isolation between the two. Thickness variation in the microstructure is achieved by two-step p-n junction formed in a p-type substrate. Thick and thin n-silicon layer formation and DRIE cut mechanisms are employed in such a way that all the thick and thin silicon components of the structure are released simultaneously avoiding overetch which can be detrimental to the thin flexural springs. Working prototypes of the device have been found suitable for any optical switching array architecture where deflections up to 10 degrees are required.

Claims

1. A three-dimensional free space micromirror device comprising:

single crystal silicon micromirrors wherein each said micromirror comprises a reflecting surface on said single crystal silicon and a dielectric layer therebetween;

single crystal silicon thermal actuators; and

single crystal silicon flexible springs connecting said thermal actuators to said micromirrors wherein said thermal actuators allow said device to achieve a deflection angle of up to 10 degrees.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein said reflecting surface comprises a layer of chromium having a thickness of between about 100 and 200 Angstroms and an overlying layer of gold having a thickness of between about 400 and 600 Angstroms.

3. The device according to claim 1 wherein said thermal actuators comprise an aluminum film overlying said single crystal silicon and having a silicon dioxide layer therebetween for electrical isolation.

4. The device according to claim 3 wherein said thermal actuators have a length of between about 300 and 500 microns, a silicon thickness of about 2 microns, a silicon dioxide thickness of 0.2 microns, and an aluminum thickness of about 1 micron.

5. The device according to claim 1 wherein said single crystal silicon forming said micromirrors, said thermal actuators, and said flexible springs is n-doped.

6. The device according to claim 1 further comprising bond pads connected to said thermal actuators wherein said thermal actuators are attached to fixed supports on a substrate through said bond pads.

7. The device according to claim 1 wherein each mirror element of said micromirror device comprises one micromirror joined with four of said thermal actuators through four of said flexible springs at four corners symmetrically and wherein each of said thermal actuators are attached to fixed supports on a substrate.

8. The device according to claim 1 wherein said micromirror has a diameter of between about 200 and 600 microns and a silicon thickness of about 10 microns and wherein edges of said micromirror are thinner than a central portion of said micromirror.

9. The device according to claim 8 wherein said flexible springs have a thickness of about 2 microns.

10. A three-dimensional free space micromirror device comprising mirror elements wherein each mirror element comprises:

one single crystal silicon micromirror wherein said micromirror comprises a reflecting surface on said single crystal silicon and a dielectric layer therebetween;

a single crystal silicon flexible spring at each of four corners of said micromirror; and

four single crystal silicon thermal actuators, one joined to said micromirror through each of said flexible springs; and

fixed supports on a substrate attached to each of said thermal actuators wherein said thermal actuators allow said device to achieve a deflection angle of up to 10 degrees.

11. The device according to claim 10 wherein said reflecting surface comprises a layer of chromium having a thickness of between about 100 and 200 Angstroms and an overlying layer of gold having a thickness of between about 400 and 600 Angstroms.

12. The device according to claim 10 wherein said thermal actuators comprise an aluminum film overlying said single crystal silicon and having a silicon dioxide layer therebetween for electrical isolation.

13. The device according to claim 12 wherein said thermal actuators have a length of between about 300 and 500 microns, a silicon thickness of about 2 microns, a silicon dioxide thickness of 0.2 microns, and an aluminum thickness of about 1 micron.

14. The device according to claim 13 wherein said flexible springs have a thickness of about 2 microns.

15. The device according to claim 10 wherein said single crystal silicon forming said micromirrors, said thermal actuators, and said flexible springs is n-doped.

16. The device according to claim 10 further comprising bond pads connected to said thermal actuators wherein said thermal actuators are attached to said fixed supports on said substrate through said bond pads.

17. The device according to claim 10 wherein said micromirror has a diameter of between about 200 and 600 microns and a silicon thickness of about 10 microns and wherein edges of said micromirror are thinner than a central portion of said micromirror.

18. A three-dimensional free space micromirror device comprising mirror elements wherein each mirror element comprises:

one single crystal silicon micromirror;

a single crystal silicon flexible spring at each of four corners of said micromirror; and

four single crystal silicon thermal actuators, one joined to said micromirror through each of said flexible springs; and

a bond pad on each of said thermal actuators wherein said thermal actuators are attached to fixed supports on a substrate through said bond pads.

19. The device according to claim 18 wherein said micromirror comprises a reflecting surface on said single crystal silicon and a dielectric layer therebetween.

20. The device according to claim 19 wherein said reflecting surface comprises a layer of chromium having a thickness of between about 100 and 200 Angstroms and an overlying layer of gold having a thickness of between about 400 and 600 Angstroms.

21. The device according to claim 18 wherein said thermal actuators comprise an aluminum film overlying said single crystal silicon and having a silicon dioxide layer therebetween for electrical isolation.

24. The device according to claim 18 wherein said single crystal silicon forming said micromirrors, said thermal wherein actuators, and said flexible springs is n-doped.

25. The device according to claim 18 said micromirror has a diameter of between about 200 and 600 microns and a silicon thickness of about 10 microns and wherein edges of said micromirror are thinner than a central portion of said micromirror.

26. The device according to claim 18 wherein said thermal actuators allow said device to achieve a deflection angle of up to about 10 degrees.

22. The device according to claim wherein said thermal actuators have a length of between about 300 and 500 microns, a silicon thickness of about 2 microns, a silicon dioxide thickness of 0.2 microns, and an aluminum thickness of about 1 micron.

23. The device according to claim 22 wherein said flexible springs have a thickness of about 2 microns.