Micromirror array lens with self-tilted micromirrors

• US 8,622,557 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2008
• Issued: 01/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stereo D Inc., Stereo Display, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Angstrom, Inc., Stereo Display, Inc.
• Inventors: Cho, Gyoung Il, Sohn, Jin Young, Kim, Hye Young, Seo, Cheong Soo
• Primary Examiner(s): Shafer, Ricky D
• Application Number:
  US12/124,111
• Publication Number:
  US 20090290244A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,058 Days
• Field of Search: 359/199.1, 359/199.2, 359/224.1, 359/224.2, 359/850, 359/855, 359/865, 359/198.1, 359/221.1, 359/558, 359/566, 359/572, 359/726, 359/742, 359/846, 359/849, 359/851
• US Class Current: 359/851
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0833 the reflecting element being a micromechanical device, e.g. a MEMS mirror, DMD G02B26/0825 takes precedence; micromechanical devices in general B81B

Abstract

A Micromirror Array Lens with self-tilted micromirrors comprising a plurality of self-tilted micromirrors and configured to form a designed optical surface profile by self-tilted micromirrors. Each self-tilted micromirror comprises a substrate, at least one stiction plate configured to be attracted to the substrate by adhesion force, a micromirror plate having a reflective surface, coupled to the stiction plate elastically and configured to have a required motion when the stiction plate is attracted to the substrate, and at least one pivot structure disposed between the substrate and the micromirror plate and configured to provide a tilting point or area for the motion of the micromirror plate. The designed optical surface profile determines the required motion of the micromirror plate and a surface profile shape memory is built in the structure of the micro-mechanical elements of the self-tilted micromirrors so that each micromirror plate has the required motion.

Claims

1. A Micromirror Array Lens with self-tilted micromirrors comprising a plurality of self-tilted micromirrors and configured to form a designed optical surface profile by self-tilted micromirrors to function as a lens, wherein each self-tilted micromirror comprises

a) a substrate;

b) at least one stiction plate configured to be attracted to the substrate by adhesion force;

c) a micromirror plate having a reflective surface, coupled to the stiction plate elastically and configured to have a required motion when the stiction plate is attracted to the substrate; and

d) at least one pivot structure disposed between the substrate and the micromirror plate and configured to provide a tilting point or area for the motion of the micromirror plate;

wherein the designed optical surface profile determines the required motion of the micromirror plate and a surface profile shape memory is built in the self-tilted micromirrors so that each micromirror plate has the required motion.

2. The Micromirror Array Lens with self-tilted micromirrors of claim 1 wherein the required motion of the micromirror plate determines a size of the micromirror plate.

3. The Micromirror Array Lens with self-tilted micromirrors of claim 1, wherein the required motion of the micromirror plate determines a size or a position or both a size and a position of the pivot structure.

4. The Micromirror Array Lens with self-tilted micromirrors of claim 1, wherein the Micromirror Array Lens with the designed optical surface profile have an optical focusing power.

5. The Micromirror Array Lens with self-tilted micromirrors of the claim 1, wherein the micromirror plate is coupled to the stiction plate elastically by at least one micromirror plate spring structure.

6. The Micromirror Array Lens with self-tilted micromirrors of the claim 5, wherein the self-tilted micromirror further comprises at least one micromirror plate post configured to provide a space between the micromirror plate and the stiction plate and connecting the micromirror plate and the micromirror plate spring structure.

7. The Micromirror Array Lens with self-tilted micromirrors of the claim 1, wherein the self-tilted micromirror further comprises at least one support structure disposed on the substrate and connected to the stiction plate elastically.

8. The Micromirror Array Lens with self-tilted micromirrors of the claim 7, wherein the self-tilted micromirror further comprises at least one substrate spring structure connecting the stiction plate and the support structure.

9. The Micromirror Array Lens with self-tilted micromirrors of the claim 7, wherein the pivot structure is disposed on the micromirror plate and configured to contact the support structure when the stiction plate is attracted to the substrate.

10. The Micromirror Array Lens with self-tilted micromirrors of the claim 7, wherein the support structure is the pivot structure configured to contact the micromirror plate when the stiction plate is attracted to the substrate.

11. The Micromirror Array Lens with self-tilted micromirrors of the claim 1, wherein the pivot structure is disposed on the substrate and configured to contact the micromirror plate when the stiction plate is attracted to the substrate.

12. The Micromirror Array Lens with self-tilted micromirrors of the claim 1, wherein the pivot structure is disposed on the micromirror plate and configured to contact the substrate when the stiction plate is attracted to the substrate.

13. The Micromirror Array Lens with self-tilted micromirrors of the claim 1, wherein the adhesion force is caused by capillary action of a liquid used in a releasing process of micro-mechanical elements of the Micromirror Array Lens.

14. The Micromirror Array Lens with self-tilted micromirrors of the claim 1, wherein the adhesion force is adhesion surface force.

15. The Micromirror Array Lens with self-tilted micromirrors of the claim 1, wherein the adhesion force is der Waals force.

16. The Micromirror Array Lens with self-tilted micromirrors of the claim 1, wherein the adhesion force is caused by atomic bonding.

17. The Micromirror Array Lens with self-tilted micromirrors of the claim 1, wherein the adhesion force is electrostatic force by residual charge.

18. The Micromirror Array Lens with self-tilted micromirrors of the claim 1, wherein the stiction plate is attracted to the substrate in the releasing process of the micro-mechanical elements of the Micromirror Array Lens.

19. The Micromirror Array Lens with self-tilted micromirrors of the claim 1, wherein the stiction plate is attracted to the substrate in an initial operation of the Micromirror Array Lens.

20. The Micromirror Array Lens with self-tilted micromirrors of the claim 1, wherein the linear and angular position of the micromirror plate remains fixed by the adhesion force after the motion of the micromirror plate.

21. The Micromirror Array Lens with self-tilted micromirrors of the claim 1, wherein the self-tilted micromirror further comprises at least one dimple disposed between the micromirror plate and the substrate and configured to provide a space between the micromirror plate and the stiction plate.

22. The Micromirror Array Lens with self-tilted micromirrors of claim 1, wherein the designed optical surface profile is prepared to satisfy a convergence condition to form the lens.

23. The Micromirror Array Lens with self-tilted micromirrors of claim 1, wherein the designed optical surface profile is prepared to satisfy a phase matching condition to form the lens.

24. The Micromirror Array Lens with self-tilted micromirrors of claim 1, wherein the designed optical surface profile is prepared to correct an aberration of an optical system.

25. The Micromirror Array Lens with self-tilted micromirrors of claim 1, wherein the Micromirror Array Lens is a diffractive optical element.