Yokeless hidden hinge digital micromirror device
First Claim
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1. A micromechanical device comprising:
- a substrate;
a hinge member spaced apart from said substrate;
an electrode spaced apart from said substrate, said electrode comprising a lower portion and an upper portion spaced apart from said lower portion by a first distance, the upper portion spaced apart from said substrate by a second distance greater than the first distance; and
a contact point spaced apart from said substrate, wherein said upper portion is closer to said hinge member than said contact point is to said hinge member.
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Abstract
A micromirror array 110 fabricated on a semiconductor substrate 11. The array 110 is comprised of three operating layers 12, 13, 14. An addressing layer 12 is fabricated on the substrate. A hinge layer 13 is spaced above the addressing layer 12 by an air gap. A mirror layer 14 is spaced over the hinge layer 13 by a second air gap. The hinge layer 13 has a hinge 13a under and attached to the mirror 14a, the hinge 13a permitting the mirror 14a to tilt. The hinge layer 13 further has spring tips 13c under the mirror 14a, which are attached to the addressing layer 12. These spring tips 13c provide a stationary landing surface for the mirror 14a.
24 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A micromechanical device comprising:
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a substrate; a hinge member spaced apart from said substrate; an electrode spaced apart from said substrate, said electrode comprising a lower portion and an upper portion spaced apart from said lower portion by a first distance, the upper portion spaced apart from said substrate by a second distance greater than the first distance; and a contact point spaced apart from said substrate, wherein said upper portion is closer to said hinge member than said contact point is to said hinge member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of forming a micromirror device, the method comprising:
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providing a substrate; forming a hinge member spaced apart from said substrate forming a lower electrode portion spaced apart from said substrate; forming an upper electrode portion spaced apart from said lower electrode portion by a first distance, the raised electrode also spaced apart from said substrate by a second distance greater than the first distance; and forming a contact point spaced apart from said substrate, wherein said upper electrode portion is closer to said hinge member than said contact point is to said hinge member. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A micromechanical device comprising:
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a substrate; an electrode having at least a portion spaced apart from said substrate; a limit structure spaced apart from said substrate; a hinge structure spaced apart from said substrate; and a deflectable member connected to said hinge and operable to deflect about an axis, said deflection limited by contact with said limit structure, wherein a distance between said portion of said electrode and said axis is less than a distance between said limit structure and said axis. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification