Patent ID: 6639713
Filing Date: 2003-10-28
Classification: B81B,B81C,G02B

Abstract:
An apparatus for at least partially intercepting a plurality of light beams propagating along a respective plurality of beam paths, the apparatus comprising:a single crystal silicon substrate comprising a substrate surface with a surface normal direction; and an array comprising plurality of modules, each of the modules comprising: a reflector comprising single crystal silicon and a reflector surface lying in a reflector plane substantially perpendicular to the substrate surface; a reflector support which mounts the reflector to move substantially within the reflector plane with a displacement component along the surface normal direction of the substrate surface; and a reflector driver responsive to electrical current to selectively move the reflector between a first position in which the reflector intercepts at least a portion of one of the beam paths and a second position in which the reflector does not intercept the portion of one of the beam paths, at least a portion of the reflector driver being mounted to the reflector support and conductive to electrical current, such that the reflector moves to the first position when electrical current flows therethrough and moves to the second position when electrical current flow ceases, whereby the movement of the reflectors is individually addressable, and wherein the reflector driver comprises a magnetic actuator comprising: a magnetic field generated externally from the array; and an electrical conduit mechanically coupled to the reflector support, whereby the electrical current flowing through the electrical conduit interacts with the magnetic field to generate a force which moves the reflector between the first position and the second position.