Patent ID: 7382516

Claim:
A discretely controlled micromirror (DCM) comprising: a) a substrate; b) a micromirror having a reflective surface wherein the reflective surface is top side of the micromirror and a bottom side wherein the bottom side is an opposite side of the reflective surface; and c) a plurality of variable supports that are located between the bottom side of the micromirror and the substrate, wherein at least one of the variable supports is controlled discretely by electrostatic force to change height of the variable support; wherein the motion of the micromirror is determined by the contact points of the micromirror and the controlled variable supports, wherein the controlled variable supports contact with bottom side of the micromirror, wherein the micromirror rests on the controlled variable supports, and wherein the motion of the micromirror is determined by selection of the controlled variable supports.