Patent ID: 6253001
Filing Date: 2001-06-26
Classification: G02B,H04Q

Abstract:
A micromachine for steering optical signals comprising:a substrate;a micromirror supported adjacent to said substrate to enable movement of said micromirror relative to said substrate;a first surface electrostatic arrangement operatively associated with said micromirror to selectively rotate said micromirror relative to said substrate in response to first electrostatic forces, said first surface electrostatic arrangement including first and second sets of electrodes configured and aligned to generate said first electrostatic forces in response to voltage patterns applied across said first and second sets; anda second surface electrostatic arrangement operatively associated with said micromirror to selectively rotate said micromirror relative to said substrate in response to second electrostatic forces, said second surface electrostatic arrangement including third and fourth sets of electrodes configured and aligned to generate said second electrostatic forces in response to voltage patterns applied across said third and fourth sets;wherein rotations of said micromirror by operations of said first surface electrostatic arrangement follow angular paths that are separate from angular paths followed by said micromirror operations of said second surface electrostatic arrangement.