Patent ID: 7199917

Claim:
A micro-mirror element comprising: a lower layer including an address portion for receiving an address voltage and a bias portion for receiving a bias voltage respectively; a first middle layer including a first rotating beam and a pair of bias beams, each bias beam electrically coupled to the bias portion of the lower layer by at least one via; a second middle layer including a hinge electrically coupled to at least one of the bias beams of the first middle layer and also including a second rotating beam electrically coupled to the hinge, the second rotating beam also electrically coupled to the first rotating beam by at least one via; a micro-mirror comprising a reflective surface operable to selectively tilt to reflect a beam of light, the micro-mirror electrically coupled to the second rotating beam by at least one via; wherein application of the bias voltage to the bias portion and the address voltage to the address portion creates a first, second, and third electrostatic attractions that collectively result in a force operable to tilt the mirror, the first electrostatic attraction being between the address portion and the first rotating beam, the second electrostatic attraction being between the address portion and the second rotating beam, and the third electrostatic attraction being between the address portion and the micro-mirror; wherein the first middle layer is disposed between the lower layer and the second middle layer; and wherein the second middle layer is disposed between the first middle layer and the micro-mirror.