The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 11, 2004
Filed:
Jul. 31, 2001
Christopher P. Brophy, Corning, NY (US);
Xiaodong R. Fu, Painted Post, NY (US);
David W. Lambert, Corning, NY (US);
Paul P. Merchant, late of Corning, NY (US);
Corning Incorporated, Corning, NY (US);
Abstract
A moveable micromirror includes a supporting structure, a flexible post extending from the supporting structure, and a table extending radially from the end of the post along a plane generally perpendicular to the post, the table having a reflective surface facing away from the supporting structure. The post, preferably formed of single-crystal silicon, is dimensioned to be sufficiently flexible to allow the reflective surface to be selectively moveable and positionable, with at least two degrees of freedom, when urged by a suitable actuating force. A method of making an array of moveable micromirrors of this type includes deep etching a silicon substrate so as to form posts surrounded by trenches, etching back the surface of the substrate around the posts so as to allow the posts to protrude beyond the surface of the substrate, and affixing a table with a reflective surface thereon to the tops of a plurality of the posts.