Patent ID: 7034975

Claim:
An interferometric micro electro-mechanical switching (MEMS) device comprising: an interferometer comprising an optical cavity having a depth and formed between an inner mirror assembly and an outer mirror assembly, the depth of the optical cavity comprising a substantially uniform depth over a width of the interferometer during operation, wherein the substantially uniform depth of the optical cavity comprises a variation of no more than one-quarter wavelength over the width of the interferometer; and an actuator coupled to the interferometer and comprising an inner conductor, an outer conductor, and at least two actuator supports, the outer conductor comprising a width and a length, the at least two actuator supports comprising at least a first actuator support and a second actuator support, wherein an electrode gap having a depth is formed between the inner conductor and the outer conductor, wherein the first actuator support and the second actuator support are disposed substantially along the length of the outer conductor, wherein the first actuator support is disposed substantially along a first side of the outer conductor and the second actuator support is disposed substantially along a second side of the outer conductor, and wherein the first side of the outer conductor is separated from the second side of the outer conductor by approximately the width of the outer conductor; wherein the depth of the optical cavity and the depth of the electrode gap are capable of being selected substantially independently of one another and wherein the outer conductor operates to move relative to the inner conductor by deforming between the at least two actuator supports and substantially along the length of the outer conductor in response to a voltage differential between the outer conductor and the inner conductor.