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:
Aug. 30, 2005
Filed:
Feb. 19, 2002
Bryan P. Staker, Pleasanton, CA (US);
William C. Banyai, San Francisco, CA (US);
Bryan P. Staker, Pleasanton, CA (US);
William C. Banyai, San Francisco, CA (US);
Glimmerglass Networks, Inc., Hayward, CA (US);
Abstract
In a gimbaled micromachined micromirror array optimized for parallel-plate electrostatic operation, longitudinal-type gimbal hinge elements are provided in which a plurality of torsional longitudinal hinge elements are arranged in an array parallel to the axis of rotation and which are linked together by rigid lateral brace sections. In primary embodiment the hinge elements are arranged in a double gimbal configuration. Specific embodiments of the hinge elements are simple longitudinal, compound longitudinal, stacked simple longitudinal, and stacked compound longitudinal. The longitudinal hinges may be used with various types of mirrors including circular or rectilinear, recessed or nonrecessed, where the hinges are connected in either a symmetric or asymmetric configuration relative to one another, as hereinafter illustrated by way of a subset of examples. A preferred embodiment of a mirror structure suitable for an array structure according to the invention is a nonstacked compound longitudinal hinge symmetrically connected to a circular nonrecessed electrostatically-actuatable parallel plate mirror within a substantially circular ring hinged in substantially the same way to form a double gimbaled structure.