Patent ID: 11958738
Assignee: SILICON LIGHT MACHINES CORPORATION
Field: Optics (Instruments)
Classification: CPC B  G | IPC B  G

Claim 19:
20. A method of fabricating a dual-layer microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) device, the method comprising:
depositing and patterning a first sacrificial layer over an upper surface of a substrate, said patterning including forming first post holes extending through the first sacrificial layer to the upper surface of the substrate;
depositing and patterning an actuator layer over the first sacrificial layer to fill the first post holes and form a plurality of spring structures coupled to the upper surface by first posts;
depositing and patterning a second sacrificial layer over the actuator layer, said patterning including forming second post holes;
depositing and patterning a top modulating layer over the second sacrificial layer to fill the second post holes and form a number of light modulating micro-ribbons, each light modulating micro-ribbon coupled to a number of the plurality of spring structures by second posts; and
removing the first and second sacrificial layers to release the number of light modulating micro-ribbons and plurality of spring structures,
wherein the plurality of spring structures are operable to enable the number of light modulating micro-ribbons to move continuously and vertically relative to the upper surface of the substrate while maintaining the number of light modulating micro-ribbons substantially parallel to one another and the upper surface of the substrate.