IP Library Granted Patent US 7,187,488
Granted Patent B2
US 7,187,488 · App. 11/077,099 · Granted Mar 6, 2007

Trimming a MEMS device to fine tune natural frequency

Assignee: Advanced NuMicro Systems, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,187,488
App. No.
11/077,099
Granted
Mar 6, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

A mirror device includes a mirror, an anchor, and a spring coupling the mirror to the anchor. The anchor and/or mirror can define one or more rows of holes adjacent to the coupling location of the spring. The natural frequency of the device can be adjusted by removing material between the perimeter of the mirror/anchor and the outermost holes, and between adjacent holes in the same row. Another mirror device includes a mirror, anchors, and springs coupling the mirror to the anchors. The natural frequency of the device can be adjusted by decoupling one or more springs coupling the mirror to the anchors. The mirror of both devices can includes one or more sacrificial portions. The natural frequencies of the both devices can also be adjusted by trimming the sacrificial portions.

Claims (25)

1. A mirror device, comprising:

a mirror;

a plurality of anchors;

a plurality of springs coupling the mirror and the anchors;

wherein one of the anchors defines a row of holes adjacent to a location where the one anchor is coupled to a respective one of the springs.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the row of holes is arranged along a rotational axis of the one spring.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the one anchor defines another row of holes adjacent to the location where the one anchor is coupled to the one spring.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the one spring is selected from the group consisting of a liner spring and a serpentine spring.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the mirror comprises a sacrificial portion that can be trimmed to adjust a natural frequency of the device.

6. The device of claim 5 , wherein the sacrificial portion comprises alignment marks defining adjustment amounts to the natural frequency of the device.

7. The device of claim 5 , wherein the mirror defines a slot near a perimeter of the mirror, the slot dividing the mirror into a reflective portion and the sacrificial portion.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the mirror device comprises a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) scanning mirror.

9. A mirror device, comprising:

a mirror;

a plurality of anchors;

a plurality of springs coupling the mirror and the anchors;

wherein the mirror defines a row of holes adjacent to a location where the mirror is coupled to one of the springs.

10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the row of holes is arranged along a rotational axis of the one spring.

11. The device of claim 9 , wherein the mirror defines another row of holes adjacent to the location where the mirror is coupled to the one spring.

12. The device of claim 9 , wherein the one spring is selected from the group consisting of a linear spring and a serpentine spring.

13. The device of claim 9 , wherein the mirror comprises a sacrificial portion that can be trimmed to adjust a natural frequency of the device.

14. The device of claim 13 , wherein the sacrificial portion comprises alignment marks defining adjustment amounts to the natural frequency of the device.

15. The device of claim 13 , wherein the mirror defines a slot near a perimeter of the mirror, the slot dividing the mirror into a reflective portion and the sacrificial portion.

16. The device of claim 9 , wherein one of the anchors defines another row of holes adjacent to another location where the one anchor is coupled to a respective one of the springs.

17. The device of claim 9 , wherein the mirror device comprises a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) scanning mirror.

Assignments (3)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNOR'S NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 017420, FRAME 0650. ASSIGNOR HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CHANGE OF NAME. Recorded May 4, 2006
From: ADVANCED NANO SYSTEMS, INC.
To: ADVANCED NUMICRO SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 017588/0162 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 4, 2006
From: ADVANCED NANO SYSTEM, INC.
To: ADVANCED NUMICRO SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 017420/0650 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 30, 2005
From: FU, YEE-CHUNG
To: ADVANCED NANO SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 015974/0487 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20060203326A1 · Sep 14, 2006