Electromagnetic force controlled micromirror array
US6181460A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 18, 1998 |
| Grant date | Jan 30, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 18, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S359/904
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A micromirror device (10) is provided with a rotatable optical component (22) for use in a digital image processing application. The micromirror device (10) includes a semiconductor wafer (12), having a recess (14) formed therein, and a platform (20) with the optical component (22) deposited thereon that is movably coupled to the side surface of the recess (14). A first magnetic field source (24) is disposed around the periphery of the optical component (22) on the platform (20) and a second magnetic field source (26) is disposed proximate to this first magnetic field source (24), such that these magnetic field sources are selectively activatable to generate an electromagnetic field for rotating the platform (20). More specifically, the second magnetic field source (26) is disposed on the angular side surfaces of the recess (14) or adjacent to the recess (14) on a top surface of the wafer (12). A magnetic strip (30) may optionally be disposed on the bottom surface of the recess (14) for concentrating the electromagnetic field.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.