Patent ID: 7106514
Filing Date: 2006-09-12
Classification: H01P

Abstract:
1. An optical tunable filter, comprising: a first substrate having a light transmitting property, the first substrate including a movable portion, a current-carrying portion provided around the movable portion through predetermined spacing and supporting portions provided between the movable portion and the current-carrying portion for connecting the movable portion with respect to the current-carrying portion and for elastically supporting the movable portion with respect to the current-carrying portion, the current-carrying portion adapted to supply an electrical current to the movable portion through the supporting portions, wherein the movable portion, the supporting portions and the current-carrying portion are integrally formed from the same material by means of an etching method so that the current-carrying portion and the movable portion have substantially the same thickness; a second substrate having a light transmitting property, the second substrate being provided so as to be opposed to the first substrate; a first gap and a second gap which are respectively provided between the movable portion and the second substrate; an interference portion which causes interference of incident light between the movable portion and the second substrate through the second gap; a first reflective film provided on a surface of the movable portion which defines the second gap and a second reflective film provided on a surface of the second substrate which faces the movable portion and defines the second gap; and a driving portion for changing a distance of the second gap by displacing the movable portion with respect to the second substrate using the first gap, the driving portion including a driving electrode provided on the second substrate to provide the first gap between the driving electrode and the movable portion so that the movable portion is movable up and down by a Coulomb force generated therebetween when a voltage is applied between the movable portion and the driving electrode.