Patent ID: 8238011

Claim:
A micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) mirror device, comprising: a mirror; a frame rotatively coupled to the mirror so the mirror is rotatable about a first axis, the mirror having a first resonant frequency for oscillating about the first axis, the frame being the only element that imparts motion to the mirror; an actuator rotatively coupled to the frame so the frame is rotatable about a second axis offset from the first axis, the frame with the mirror having a second resonant frequency for oscillating about the second axis, the actuator being the only element that imparts motion to the frame, wherein the actuator comprises a first portion extending from a first proximate end near the frame to a first distal end spaced from the frame along the first axis, the first portion comprising first movable electrodes and second movable electrodes that are located on the opposite sides of the first axis and on the same side of the second axis; first stationary electrodes interdigitated out of plane with the first movable electrodes; second stationary electrodes interdigitated out of plane with the second movable electrodes; and stationary spring pads, the actuator being rotatively coupled to the stationary spring pads so the actuator is operable to oscillate about the first and the second axes to cause the mirror to oscillate about the first axis and the frame to oscillate about the second axis, thereby providing two axes of motion to the mirror.