Method and apparatus for an actuator system having buried interconnect lines

• US 7,741,685 B1
• Filed: 04/01/2005
• Issued: 06/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Iris Ao, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Iris Ao, Inc.
• Inventors: Knollenberg, Clifford F., Helmbrecht, Michael Albert
• Primary Examiner(s): Cao; Phat X
• Application Number:
  US11/097,599
• Time in Patent Office: 1,908 Days
• Field of Search: 257/414, 257/415
• US Class Current: 257/414
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 2203/0163 Spring holders
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 2203/053 Translation according to an axis perpendicular to the substrate
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 2203/056 Rotation in a plane parallel to the substrate
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 3/0037 For increasing stroke, i.e. achieve large displacement of actuated parts
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/06 for controlling the phase of light G02B26/08 takes precedence , measuring optical phase difference G01J9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0825 the reflecting element being a flexible sheet or membrane, e.g. for varying the focus flexible mirrors for cosmetic use A45D42/24
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2059/0081 with a tapered air-gap between fixed and movable electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 59/0009 making use of micromechanics

Abstract

A micromachined actuator including a body or platform mounted to a suspension system anchored to a substrate. In one embodiment, the suspension system is comprised of a set of one or more spring flexures connecting the actuator body to the substrate with strain relief provided via connecting torsional elements. In another embodiment, the suspension system includes a first set of one or more spring flexures each with one end anchored to a largely rigid intermediate frame and the other end attached to the body. A second set of one or more flexures is attached between the intermediate frame and the substrate. A third actuator embodiment maximizes force electrode area to minimize voltage required for electrostatic actuation. A fourth embodiment provides electrical interconnect to an actuator or an actuator array using polysilicon with silicon nitride isolation. Actuators may be fabricated by combining the key features of all four embodiments or actuators may be fabricated using any combination of two or three of the embodiments.

Claims

1. An actuator system, comprising:

a microelectromechanical (MEMS) structure comprising;

an actuator body connected with a suspension system; and

the suspension system connected with a set of layers, the suspension system being configured to elevate the actuator body above the set of layers upon actuation in a motion substantially perpendicular to the set of layers, the suspension system comprising a set of one or more flexures and a set of one or more torsional elements, wherein each flexure connects the actuator body with the set of layers and each torsional element connects a corresponding flexure with the actuator body and provides strain relief between the corresponding flexure and the actuator body, wherein each torsional element has a length comprising the distance from the corresponding flexure to the actuator body, the length being greater than the width of the torsional element; and

the set of layers comprising;

an electrode layer comprising a set of one or more electrodes for actuating the MEMS structure when a voltage is applied to the set of electrodes, each electrode having a skewed asymmetrical non-diamond shape and being located underneath the center of the actuator body and extending to a location underneath the edge of the actuator body; and

an interconnect layer comprising a set of one or more interconnects coupled to the set of electrodes, the set of interconnects being coupled to a control circuit for controlling voltages applied to the set of electrodes via the set of interconnects, the interconnect layer being beneath the electrode layer.

2. The actuator system of claim 1, wherein each torsional element relieves angular strain caused by a difference between the angle of the corresponding flexure and the angle of the actuator body.

3. The actuator system of claim 1, wherein the set of layers further comprises:

a first isolation layer comprising an electrically isolating film, the first isolation layer being between the electrode layer and the interconnect layer; and

a second isolation layer comprising an electrically isolating film for electrically isolating the set of interconnects, the second isolation layer being beneath the interconnect layer.

4. The actuator system of claim 1, wherein the actuator body is a platform, actuator segment, or mirror segment.