Institut National D'optique

National Optics Institute

Nicholas R Swart

Hubert Jerominek

Martin Renaud

The microbridge structure comprises a substrate layer provided with two first electrical contacts, a microstructure provided with two second electrical contacts, and a micro support for suspending the microstructure over and at a predetermined distance from the substrate layer. The micro support extends along a vertical axis. The micro support has a central upper cavity extending along the vertical axis within the micro support. The micro support has a lower end connected to the substrate layer and an upper end connected to the microstructure for supporting the microstructure with respect to the substrate layer. The micro support is a multilayer micro support comprising two conductive paths and a layer made of dielectric material. The conductive paths and the layer of the micro support extend from the upper end to the lower end thereof. The two conductive paths connect respectively the two first contacts to the two second contacts. The present invention is also concerned with a method for forming a microstructure suspended by a micro support.

Microbridge structure and method for forming a microstructure suspended

The invention relates to spatial light modulators (SLM) for amplitude and phase modulation of incident light. A 'flexure' hinge which is provided between the SLM's substrate and micromirror comprises integral hinged sections which allow for the micromirror to tilt or to move in a piston-like fashion relative to the substrate in response to an electrostatic force. The hinge is particularly advantageous for large mirrors. In addition, the hinge can provide improved heat sinking capability over previously reported SLM hinge designs based on torsion bars and cantilever beams. The flexure hinge has sufficient mechanical flexibility that the SLM actuation voltage required is not excessively high. The flexure hinge has many applications, the preferred ones being a SLM for modulating high-energy beams and a SLM for optical channel switching.

Light modulating microdevice and method

Microstructure suspended by a microsupport

The microbridge structure is for emitting or detecting radiations. According to one embodiment, it comprises a substrate layer provided with two first electrical contacts, and a microstructure provided with two second electrical contacts and having an underside, a top side opposite to the underside, through which radiations are emitted or received, at least one radiation active layer lying between the underside and the top side, the radiation active layer having two distal points connected respectively to the two second electrical contacts of the microstructure, and a radiation reflective layer lying between the underside and the radiation active layer. It also comprises a micro support for suspending the microstructure over and at a predetermined distance from the substrate layer with the underside of the microstructure facing the substrate layer. The micro support is provided with at least two electrically conductive paths for connecting respectively the two first electrical contacts to two second electrical contacts. The present invention is also concerned with methods for forming microbridge structures.

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Ancienne-Lorette, Canada

Nicholas R Swart