Patent ID: 7365898

Claim:
A micromirror element comprising: a substrate; a lower layer disposed outwardly from the substrate, the lower layer including a bias portion for receiving a bias voltage and at least two address portions for respectively receiving an address voltage; a micromirror comprising a reflective surface operable to pivot about a pivot point to selectively reflect a beam of light, the micromirror electrically coupled to the bias portion; a light absorptive layer disposed outwardly from at least a portion of the substrate; at least two electrodes, each of the at least two electrodes electrically coupled to one of the at least two address portions, the electrodes positioned between the micromirror and the lower layer on opposite sides of the pivot point; wherein application of the bias voltage to the bias portion and the address voltage to at least one of the address portions creates an electrostatic attraction between at least one of the at least two electrodes and the micromirror; wherein the electrostatic attraction at least partially contributes to a force utilized in selectively tilting the micromirror; wherein each of the at least two electrodes has a sloped portion, the sloped portion having an outer surface disposed inwardly from the micromirror, the outer surface having a first end and a second end, each second end closer to the pivot point than the first end, the first end closer to the substrate than the second end; and wherein the sloped portion has material properties that at least partially contribute to the slope of the outer surface.