Patent · US Expired

Optically addressed MEMS

US7190509B2 · kind B2 · utility

4Cited by
10References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateNov 7, 2001
Grant dateMar 13, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 29, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B2006/12104
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Optically controlled micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) is disclosed. In one embodiment, a MEMS device may include a rotatable mirror having an optical sensor that is in electrical communication with the rotatable mirror via an associated electrode. Electrical potential may be supplied to an appropriately configured optical sensor so that a variable range of voltages may be supplied to the rotatable mirror. In operation, an optical control beam may be directed onto the optical sensor where it may be sampled to determine its optical characteristics (e.g., optical wavelength, light intensity, position, polarization, duty cycle, etc.) The optical sensor may then supply voltage to the rotatable mirror based on the determined optical characteristics of the optical control beam, causing the rotatable mirror to rotate about one or more axes.

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