MEMS devices requiring no mechanical support
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An electromechanical device, comprising:
- a first electrode;
a second electrode, wherein a gap is present between the first and second electrodes; and
a mechanically isolated electrically attractable member positioned within the gap, wherein the electrically attractable member is movable within the gap between a first position closer to the first electrode than the second electrode and a second position closer to the second electrode than the first electrode, wherein the first electrode and electrically attractable member form an interferometric modulator.
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Abstract
MEMS devices such as interferometric modulators are described having movable layers that are mechanically isolated. The movable layers are electrically attractable such that they can be selectively moved between a top and bottom electrode through application of a voltage. In interferometric modulators, the movable layers are reflective such that an optically resonant cavity is formed between the layer and a partially reflective layer, thereby providing a display pixel that can be turned on or off depending on the distance between the reflective layers in the resonant cavity.
246 Citations
43 Claims
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1. An electromechanical device, comprising:
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a first electrode; a second electrode, wherein a gap is present between the first and second electrodes; and a mechanically isolated electrically attractable member positioned within the gap, wherein the electrically attractable member is movable within the gap between a first position closer to the first electrode than the second electrode and a second position closer to the second electrode than the first electrode, wherein the first electrode and electrically attractable member form an interferometric modulator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A display, comprising an array of electromechanical devices that comprise:
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a first electrode; a second electrode, wherein a gap is present between the first and second electrodes; and a mechanically isolated electrically attractable member positioned within the gap, wherein the electrically attractable member is movable within the gap between a first position closer to the first electrode than the second electrode and a second position closer to the second electrode than the first electrode. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An electromechanical device, comprising:
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a first electrode, wherein the first electrode is partially reflective; a second electrode, wherein a gap is present between the first and second electrodes; and a mechanically isolated electrically attractable member positioned within the gap, wherein the electrically attractable member is movable within the gap between a first position closer to the first electrode than the second electrode and a second position closer to the second electrode than the first electrode. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. An electromechanical device, comprising:
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a first electrode; a second electrode, wherein a gap is present between the first and second electrodes; a mechanically isolated electrically attractable member positioned within the gap, wherein the electrically attractable member is movable within the gap between a first position closer to the first electrode than the second electrode and a second position closer to the second electrode than the first electrode; and a charge transfer element configured to change a charge of the electrically attractable member, wherein the charge transfer element comprises a conductive post along which the electrically attractable member is configured to move. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33)
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34. An electromechanical device, comprising:
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a first electrode; a second electrode, wherein a gap is present between the first and second electrodes; a mechanically isolated electrically attractable member positioned within the gap, wherein the electrically attractable member is movable within the gap between a first position closer to the first electrode than the second electrode and a second position closer to the second electrode than the first electrode; and a post positioned within the gap, wherein the electrically attractable member comprises an opening through which the post extends. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification