Microelectromechanical device and method utilizing conducting layers separated by stops
First Claim
1. An electromechanical device comprising:
- a substrate;
a partially transparent or translucent and partially reflective electrode disposed over the substrate;
at least one aperture in the electrode extending at least partially through the electrode and having a boundary;
a reflective element comprising at least one stop member, wherein the electrode is disposed between the reflective element and the substrate, and wherein the at least one stop member extends toward one of the at least one aperture in the electrode;
an electrically nonconductive surface within the aperture or on a portion of the boundary; and
a support structure separating the reflective element from the electrode;
wherein the reflective element is configured to be movable between a first position and a second position, the stop member spaced from the electrically nonconductive surface when the reflective element is in the first position, and a portion of the stop member in contact with the electrically nonconductive surface when the reflective element is in the second position to stop the reflective element from contacting the electrically nonconductive surface except at the stop member portion of the reflective element and to electrically isolate the reflective element from the electrode when the reflective element is in the second position.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device includes a reflective element that includes at least one stop member. The device also includes an electrode and an aperture that extends at least partially through the electrode. The aperture has a boundary. The device has an electrically nonconductive surface within the aperture or on a portion of the boundary of the aperture. A support structure separates the reflective element from the electrode. The reflective element can be moved between a first position and a second position. The stop member is spaced from the electrically nonconductive surface when the reflective element is in the first position. A portion of the stop member is in contact with the electrically nonconductive surface when the reflective element is in the second position. The reflective element and the electrode are electrically isolated from each other when the reflective element is in the second position.
245 Citations
31 Claims
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1. An electromechanical device comprising:
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a substrate; a partially transparent or translucent and partially reflective electrode disposed over the substrate; at least one aperture in the electrode extending at least partially through the electrode and having a boundary; a reflective element comprising at least one stop member, wherein the electrode is disposed between the reflective element and the substrate, and wherein the at least one stop member extends toward one of the at least one aperture in the electrode; an electrically nonconductive surface within the aperture or on a portion of the boundary; and a support structure separating the reflective element from the electrode; wherein the reflective element is configured to be movable between a first position and a second position, the stop member spaced from the electrically nonconductive surface when the reflective element is in the first position, and a portion of the stop member in contact with the electrically nonconductive surface when the reflective element is in the second position to stop the reflective element from contacting the electrically nonconductive surface except at the stop member portion of the reflective element and to electrically isolate the reflective element from the electrode when the reflective element is in the second position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An electromechanical device comprising:
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a substrate; means for reflecting light, the reflecting means comprising at least one means for stopping movement of the reflecting means; means for conducting electricity, the conducting means partially transparent or translucent and partially reflective, the conducting means disposed over the substrate; means for receiving the at least one stopping means, the receiving means having a boundary, the receiving means having an electrically nonconductive portion within the receiving means or on the boundary; and means for separating the reflecting means and the conducting means, the conducting means disposed between the reflecting means and the substrate, wherein the reflecting means is configured to be movable between a first position and a second position, the stopping means spaced from the electrically nonconductive portion when the reflecting means is in the first position, and a portion of the stopping means in contact with the electrically nonconductive portion when the reflecting means is in the second position to stop the reflecting means from contacting the electrically nonconductive portion except at the stopping means portion of the reflecting means and to electrically isolate the reflecting means from the conducting means when the reflecting means is in the second position. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification