Mechanical vibrating element

• US 4,421,381 A
• Filed: 03/11/1981
• Issued: 12/20/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Yokogawa Electric Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yokogawa Hokushin Electric Corp.
• Inventors: Ueda, Toshitsugu, Kohsaka, Fusao
• Primary Examiner(s): Nussbaum, Marvin L.
• Application Number:
  US06/242,627
• Time in Patent Office: 1,014 Days
• Field of Search: 310/344, 310/25, 310/36, 324/97, 333/167, 333/186-192, 250/230, 350/6.6, 350/99
• US Class Current: 359/214.1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0816 by means of one or more reflecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/085 the reflecting means being moved or deformed by electromagnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/10 Scanning systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10653 using flexible or piezoelectric means
• CPC Class Codes: H03H 9/12 for networks with interaction of optical and acoustic waves
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 9/047 in which the windings of the moving coil lay in the same plane

Abstract

Herein disclosed is a mechanical vibrating element which can be used as a resonator made operative to resonate in a predetermined frequency, a filter having a frequency selecting property or an optical deflector adapted to be mechanically dislocated in accordance with an input signal for deflecting an optical beam. The mechanical vibrating element according to the present invention is characterized in that a single insulating substrate constructs a frame and a moving portion supported by the frame, in that the moving portion is formed with a conductive pattern or a coil, and in that an electric current is fed to the conductor or the coil, while appling a magnetic field in the same direction as the plane direction of the insulating substrate, so that the moving portions may be mechanically vibrated.

Claims

1. A mechanical vibrating element characterized:

in that a frame and a moving portion supported by said frame are constructed of a single insulating substrate;

in that said moving portion is formed with one or more coils or conductive patterns;

in that both the formations of said frame and said moving portions and the formations of said coils or said conductive patterns are made by photolithographic and etching techniques and in that a current is fed to said coils or conductors, while imparting a magnetic field in the same direction as the plane direction of said insulating substrating, so that said moving portion may be mechanically vibrated.

2. A mechanical vibrating element as set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that said moving portion is supported on said frame through a spring portion.

3. A mechanical vibrating element as set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that at least two moving portions are supported on said frame.

4. A mechanical vibrating element as set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that said moving portion is constructed of a band-shaped beam which is supported by said frame and which is bent to vibrate.

5. A mechanical vibrating element as set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that the variation of the frequency of said moving portion is detected to perform a function as physical property detecting means.

6. A mechanical vibrating element as set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that said insulating substrate is made of such a material as can be anisotropically etched.

7. A mechanical vibrating element for optical deflection, characterized:

in that at least spring portions and a moving portion supported by said spring portions are constructed of a single insulating substrate;

in that said moving portion is provided with a reflecting mirror and a coil pattern; and

in that both the formations of the shapes of said spring portions and said moving portion and the formations of said reflecting mirror and said coil pattern are performed by using the photolithographic and etching techniques.

8. A mechanical vibrating element as set forth in claim 7, further characterized;

in that said moving portion is formed with another moving portion which is supported by other spring portions; and

in that the second-named moving portion is formed with another coil pattern and another reflecting mirror.

9. A mechanical vibrating element for optical deflection, characterized:

in that a frame portion, spring portions connected to said frame portion, and a moving portion supported by said spring portions are constructed of a single insulating substrate;

in that said moving portion is equipped with both a reflecting mirror and a coil pattern which is formed to extend over said moving portion, said spring portions and said frame portion; and

in that both the formations of the shapes of said spring portions and said moving portion and the formations of said reflecting mirror and said coil pattern are performed by using the photolithographic and etching techniques.

10. A mechanical vibrating element as set forth in claim 9, further characterized:

in that said moving portion is formed a second moving portion which is supported by second spring portions; and

in that a second coil pattern is formed to extend over the second-named moving portion, the second-named spring portions and the first-named moving portion.

11. A mechanical vibrating element characterized:

in that a frame portion, spring portions connected to said frame portion, extension and contraction absorbing spring portions formed midway of said spring portions, and a moving portion supported by said spring portions are constructed of a single insulating substrate;

said moving portion is formed with one or more coils or conductive patterns; and

in that a coil is fed to said coils or conductors, while imparting a magnetic field which is in the same direction as the plane direction of said insulating substrate, so that said moving portion may be mechanically vibrated.

12. A mechanical vibrating element for optical deflection, characterized in that an optical deflecting element, in which at least a frame, spring portions connected to said frame, and a moving portion supported by said spring portions are constructed of a single insulating substrate, and in which said moving portion is provided with a reflecting mirror and a coil pattern, is accommodated in a protecting case which is formed with an aperture at its portion corresponding to said reflecting mirror and which is equipped with a prism or mirror mounted in said aperture for changing the direction of an optical beam.