Abstract:
A beam steering module and switching system. The steering module is composed of an NxM array of single axis mirrors able to rotate about a particular axis (X-axis), a second NxM array of single axis mirrors able to rotate about an axis orthogonal to that of the first NxM array of mirrors (Y-axis), and a relay lens designed to image the first mirror array onto the second mirror array such that the beam angle may be controlled in both the X and Y-axis by adjusting the angle of the appropriate mirrors in the X and Y mirror arrays. Two steering modules may be combined to form a switching system. With two such steering modules, it is possible to completely determine, at the plane of the output fiber array, the position and angle of an optical beam emerging from any of the input fibers.
Abstract:
An optical cross-connect switch comprises a base (216), a flap (211) and one or more electrically conductive landing pads (222) connected to the flap (211). The flap (211) has a bottom portion that is movably coupled to the base (216) such that the flap (211) is movable with respect to a plane of the base (216) from a first orientation to a second orientation. The one or more landing pads (222) are electrically isolated from the flap (211) and electrically coupled to be equipotential with a landing surface.
Abstract:
A microelectromechanical (MEMS) apparatus has a base (206) and a flap (211) with a portion coupled to the base so that the flap may move out of the plane of the base between first and second position. The base may have a cavity (215) with largely vertical sidewalls that contact a portion of the flap when the flap is in the second position. Electrodes (216) may be placed on the vertical sidewalls and electrically isolated from the base to provide electrostatic clamping of the flap to the sidewall. An array of one or more of such structures may be used to form an optical switch. The apparatus may be made by a process involving etching one or more trenches in a backside of a base. The trench may be etched such that a crystal orientation of the base material defines an orientation of a sidewall.
Abstract:
An across-wafer optical MEMS device (100) includes a protective lid (106) having across-wafer light-transmissive portions (110). The across-wafer optical MEMS device (100) allows light to pass in a direction (104) substantially parallel to a surface on which the optical MEMS device (100) is mounted. The light-transmissive portions (110) in the protective lid (106) allow light to pass from an optical device located on one side of the optical MEMS device (100) to a second device located on another side of the optical MEMS device (100). A plurality of optical MEMS devices (100) can be located on the substrate (102) and enclosed by the same lid (106) without wafer-level encapsulation of each optical MEMS device (100).
Abstract:
An across-wafer optical MEMS device (100) includes a protective lid (106) having across-wafer light-transmissive portions (110). The across-wafer optical MEMS device (100) allows light to pass in a direction (104) substantially parallel to a surface on which the optical MEMS device (100) is mounted. The light-transmissive portions (110) in the protective lid (106) allow light to pass from an optical device located on one side of the optical MEMS device (100) to a second device located on another side of the optical MEMS device (100). A plurality of optical MEMS devices (100) can be located on the substrate (102) and enclosed by the same lid (106) without wafer-level encapsulation of each optical MEMS device (100).
Abstract:
A multi-layer vertical comb-drive actuator includes a first comb structure having a plurality of first comb fingers (14) and a second comb structure having a plurality of second comb fingers (24), wherein the first and second comb fingers are substantially interdigitated. The first and second comb fingers may include two or more stacked conductive layers electrically isolated from each other by an insulating layer or an air gap. Alternatively, either the first or second comb fingers may include only one conductive layer. An application of a voltage (15) between the first and second comb fingers causes the second comb structure to move relative to the first comb structure. The present invention includes a 2D-gimble configuration to rotate a movable element along two axes.
Abstract:
Micromechanical devices are provided that are capable of movement due to a flexible portion. The micromechanical device can have a flexible portion (35) formed of a nitride of preferably an element from groups 3A to 6A of the periodic table (preferably from the first two rows of these groups) and a late transition metal (preferably from groups 8B or 1B of the periodic table). The micromechanical devices can be any device, particularly MEMS sensors or actuators preferably having a flexible portion such as an accelerometer, DC relay or RF switch, optical cross connect or optical switch, or a micromirror part of an array for direct view and projection displays. The flexible portion is preferably formed by sputtering a target having a group 8B or 1B element and a group 3A to 6A element. The target can have other major consituents or impurities (e.g. additional group 3A to 6A element(s)). The target is reactively sputtered in a nitrogen ambient so as to result in a sputtered hinge. It is possible to form both stiff and/or flexible portions of the micromechanical device in this way.
Abstract:
A method for forming a suspend structure with thin film flexible elements is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method etches a trench in a bulk substrate around to be released components. The trench is filled with sacrificial material. The surface of the sacrificial material is planarized. Thin film hinge material is patterned and etched on the surface of the sacrificial material. The bulk substrate is then etched from the backside to pre-release the sacrificial material. The sacrificial material is etched to remove the sacrificial material, thus forming a suspended structure with thin film hinges.
Abstract:
An optical switch device includes a rolling shutter or membrane attached at one of its edges to a substrate near an optical port in the substrate. The rolling shutter can assume one of two states. In a first closed state, the membrane is uncoiled onto the substrate over the port such that light directed at the port impinges on the shutter. In a second open state, the membrane is rolled up away from the port such that light directed at the port impinges on the port. In one embodiment, a mirror is formed on the membrane such that when the membrane is in the closed state over the substrate, light directed at the port is reflected by the mirror. In one configuration, the optical port includes a hole or aperture such light passed through the port without interference. The device can include a latch electrode the far end of the membrane such that when it is rolled out, it can be held in position by a latching voltage applied across the latch electrode and the substrate. Slits can be formed in the membrane to keep the mirror flat by relieving strain in the membrane and to allow gases in proximity to the device to pass through the membrane as it is activated. The shutter can include dimples to minimize the area of contact between the membrane and the substrate to reduce the probability of the two sticking together. The attachment edge of the membrane can be made shorter than its width to reduce distortions in the membrane to keep the mirror flat. A raised annular rim can be provided around the port such that when the shutter is held down over the port it is pulled taut and flat over the rim. This feature is also used to maintain flatness in the mirror. The switch device can be used as part of an array of optical switches.
Abstract:
A monolithically fabricated micromachined structure couples a reference frame (56) to a dynamic plate (58). Performance of torsional oscillators or scanners benefits greatly by coupling the frame (56) to the plate (58) with folded torsional flexure hinges (96) rather than torsion bars. A folded torsion flexure hinge (96) for supporting the plate (58) from the frame (56) is made up of three basic hinge segments (102a, 102b, 102c). Each basic hinge segment (102a, 102b, 102c) has a longitudinal axis (98) which is not oriented perpendicular to the rotation axis (62) of the plate (58). An intermediaire region (104) of the folded torsional flexure hinge (96) couples together immediately adjacent ends (106) of the basic hinge segments (102a, 102b, 102c). A basic hinge segment (102b) may include a torsion sensor (108) for measuring angular rotation of the plate (58) about axis (62) with respect to the frame (56).