Patent ID: 7201824

Claim:
A micro-machined optical beam steering apparatus comprising: a single substrate having one or more cavities formed within said substrate's upper surface; a primary optical path means for accommodating the passage of a light beam along a primary optical axis; a micro-machined cavity formed in a portion of said substrate upper surface that is in direct communication with said primary optical path means; a means for controllably altering direction and optical properties of said beam provided within said micro-machined cavity, wherein said means comprises: a gimbaled micro-optical element nested into one or more sets of gimbaled hinge means, wherein each set of gimbaled hinge means defines an independent axis of rotation of said gimbaled micro-optical element with respect to a frame holding an outermost set of said gimbaled hinge means and said outermost frame is connected at one edge with an upper surface of said substrate by a cantilever hinge means; a plurality of independently addressable electrodes disposed for positioning said gimbaled micro-optical element; a plurality of electrical lines in direct electrical communication with said independently addressable electrodes; and an electronic control means in communication with said electrical lines, such that said gimbaled micro-optical element is electrically driven to a predetermined angular orientation with respect to said outer most frame.