Patent ID: 6809753
Filing Date: 2004-10-26
Classification: B41J

Abstract:
An optical microswitch array, comprising:a silicon substrate, a plurality of optical microswitches each comprising: a bottom supporting layer disposed on the silicon substrate; a bottom distributed Bragg reflector comprising a stack of alternating layers of non-absorbing high refractive index dielectric material and low refractive index dielectric material and disposed on the bottom supporting layer; a bottom electrode disposed on the bottom distributed Bragg reflector; a middle air gap disposed on the bottom electrode; a separating layer surrounding the middle air gap; a top electrode disposed above the middle air gap and on the separating layer; a top supporting structure having a central plane and at least two side inflexible beams and disposed on the top electrode; and a top distributed Bragg reflector comprising a stack of alternating layers of high refractive index dielectric material and low refractive index dielectric material and disposed on the top supporting structure; a driver circuit electrically connected to the variable air Fabry-Perot cavities and selectively turning the optical microswitches â€œonâ€  or â€œoffâ€ ; a plurality of light guiding holes disposed in the silicon substrate and each perpendicularly extending to a corresponding variable air gap Fabry-Perot cavity, and an electrical connection means for interfacing to a printer's CPU.