Patent · US Expired

Micromirror actuator and manufacturing method thereof

US6931171B2 · kind B2 · utility

1Cited by
1References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 5, 2002
Grant dateAug 16, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 3, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B6/3586
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An actuator which can be actively driven so as to precisely control a driving angle of a micromirror, and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The micromirror actuator includes a substrate, a trench, a micromirror, and a driving angle control unit. The trench is formed in a predetermined position of the substrate and has at least one electrode. The micromirror rotates by an electrostatic force generated through an interaction with the at least one electrode so as to reflect incident light in a predetermined direction. The driving angle control unit supports the micromirror so as to control the position of an actuation shaft of the micromirror. Accordingly, the micromirror can stand erect at an accurate right angle without an additional actuator for correcting the error in the driving angle of the micromirror so as to reduce insertion loss.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.