Programmable micromirror motion control system

• US 7,474,454 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2006
• Issued: 01/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stereo D Inc., Stereo Display, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Angstrom, Inc., Stereo Display, Inc.
• Inventors: Seo, Cheong Soo, Cho, Gyoung Il
• Primary Examiner(s): Schwartz; Jordan M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): JONES, JAMES
• Application Number:
  US11/369,797
• Publication Number:
  US 20060152792A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,037 Days
• Field of Search: 359/290
• US Class Current: 359/290
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0841 the reflecting element being moved or deformed by electrostatic means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/085 the reflecting means being moved or deformed by electromagnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/08 adapted to co-operate with a remote control mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/1821 for rotating or oscillating mirrors

Abstract

A multi-motion programmable micromirror control method is provided with the multiple supports in a stepper plate to upholding the micromirror structure. The control system has advantages such that multiple motion can be applied to a micromirror and that the micromirror can be controlled in a low driving voltage and that simple motion control is applied by digital controlling and that the degrees of freedom in motion of the micromirror can be chosen by the number of the stepper plate and that only single voltage is needed for driving the micromirror motion. With many advantages, the multi-motion programmable micromirror control system provides a solution to overcome the difficulties in controlling micromirror motion.

Claims

1. A programmable micromirror motion control system comprising:

a. at least one stepper plate, configured to be rotated to uphold micromirror structure, wherein the stepper plate has at least two contact points with different heights to make the stepper plate to have a motion of rotation

b. a bottom layer configured to have at least one electrode to control the stepper plate; and

c. a micromirror;

wherein the stepper plate has at least three directional rotations and each directional rotation of the stepper plate makes each motion of the micromirror.

2. The programmable micromirror motion control system of claim 1, the stepper is controlled by electrostatic force.

3. The programmable micromirror motion control system of claim 2, the contacting structures have same potential to prevent stiction.

4. The programmable micromirror motion control system of claim 1, the stepper plate has at least one support, wherein the support is coupled to the micromirror or the micromirror has at least one support, wherein the support is coupled to the stepper plate.

5. The programmable micromirror motion control system of claim 1, wherein the micromirror has at least one motion programmed by amount of the rotation of the stepper plate.

6. The programmable micromirror motion control system of claim 5, wherein the amount of the rotation of the stepper plate is determined by the stop.

7. The programmable micromirror control system of claim 1, the stepper plate has at least one stop, wherein the stop is coupled to the bottom layer or the bottom layer has at least one stop, wherein the stop is coupled to the stepper plate.

8. The programmable micromirror motion control system of claim 1, wherein the micromirror has at least one motion programmed by the position of the support.

9. The programmable micromirror motion control system of claim 1, the micromirror has at least one motion programmed by amount of the rotation of the stepper plate and the position of the support.

10. The programmable micromirror motion control system of claim 1, wherein the control system has a plurality of degrees of freedom in motion control.

11. The programmable micromirror motion control system of claim 10, wherein the degrees of the freedom are constraint by the number of the stepper plates.

12. The programmable micromirror motion control system of claim 10, wherein the degrees of freedom in motion are constraint by the number of the supports in a step.

13. The programmable micromirror motion control system of claim 1, wherein the control system has one degree of freedom rotational motion.

14. The programmable micromirror motion control system of claim 1, wherein the control system has one degree of freedom translational motion.

15. The programmable micromirror motion control system of claim 10, wherein the control system has one degree of freedom and one degree of freedom translational motion.

16. The programmable micromirror motion control system of claim 10, wherein the control system has two degrees of freedom rotational motion.

17. The programmable micromirror motion control system of claim 10, wherein the control system has two degrees of freedom rotational motion and one degree of freedom translational motion.

18. The programmable micromirror motion control system of claim 4, wherein the micromirror motion is defined by the supports.

19. The programmable micromirror motion control system of claim 4, wherein the micromirror motion is programmed in the geometry of the stepper plate and support while fabricating the control system.

20. The programmable micromirror motion control system of claim 4, wherein the support is positioned on the stepper plate.

21. The programmable micromirror motion control system of claim 20, wherein the motion of the micromirror is defined by contact position of the supports and the micromirror after the stepper plate is rotated.

22. The programmable micromirror motion control system of claim 4, wherein the support is positioned under the micromirror.

23. The programmable micromirror motion control system of claim 22, wherein the motion of the micromirror is defined by contact position of the supports and the stepper plate after the stepper plate is rotated.

24. The programmable micromirror motion control system of claim 4, wherein the support is positioned both on the stepper plates and under the micromirror.

25. The programmable micromirror motion control system of claim 24, wherein the motion of the micromirror is defined by contact position of the supports on the stepper plate and the support under the micromirror after the stepper plate is rotated.

26. The programmable micromirror motion control system of claim 6, wherein the motion of the micromirror is defined by the amounts of the rotation of the stepper plate constraint by the position and height of the stops under the stepper plate.

27. The programmable micromirror motion control system of claim 6, wherein the motion of the micromirror is defined by the amounts of the rotation of the stepper plate constraint by the position and height of the stops at the bottom layer.

28. The programmable micromirror motion control system of claim 4, wherein the motion of the micromirror is defined by the support position on the stepper plate, or support position under the micromirror

29. The programmable micromirror motion control system of claim 6, wherein the motion of the micromirror is defined by rotation angle of the stepper plate restricted by the stops.

30. The programmable micromirror motion control system of claim 6, wherein the, amount of rotation of the stepper plate is determined by the stop and the motion of the micromirror is defined by the support.

31. The programmable micromirror motion control system of claim 1, wherein the angle amount of the each directional rotation is same and each motion of the micromirror is controlled by position of support.

32. The programmable micromirror motion control system of claim 1, wherein each motion of the micromirror is controlled by the different angle amount of the each directional rotation.

33. The programmable micromirror motion control system of claim 1, wherein each motion of the micromirror is controlled by controlling the amount of the each directional rotation and position of support.

34. The programmable micromirror motion control system of claim 1, wherein each directional rotation of the stepper plate is controlled by the corresponding electrode or electrodes.

35. The programmable micromirror motion control system of claim 1, wherein each directional rotation of the stepper plate is controlled by multiple electrodes by sharing electrodes.

36. The programmable micromirror motion control system of claim 1, wherein the stepper plate has a tip structure to reduce the contact area of stepper plate.

37. The programmable micromirror motion control system of claim 1, wherein the stepper plate has springless hinge structure.

38. The programmable micromirror motion control system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of the micromirrors are controlled by the common voltage source.

39. The programmable micromirror motion control system of claim 1, wherein the micromirror control system is used for a multi-channel optical switch.

40. The programmable micromirror motion control system of claim 39, wherein the multi-channel optical switch deflects the incident light to the desired direction by rotating the micromirror or micromirrors.

41. The programmable micromirror control system of claim 1, wherein a micromirror array lens is controlled by the control system.

42. The programmable micromirror control system of claim 41, wherein the micromirror array lens is controlled to have steps representing various focal lengths.

43. The programmable micromirror control system of claim 1, wherein the programmable micromirror control system is made on the CMOS structures and the system is controlled by the CMOS circuit.