IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,515,325

Granted Patent B2

US 7,515,325 · App. 11/654,794 · Granted Apr 7, 2009

Optical device

Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 7,515,325
App. No.: 11/654,794
Granted: Apr 7, 2009
Kind: B2

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Abstract

An optical device includes a movable portion and a fixed portion having a first light reflection portion. The movable portion has a second light reflection portion facing the first light reflection portion with a first gap. The first and second light reflection portions are configured to reflect light repeatedly between the first and second light reflection portions so as to cause interference and emit light having a wavelength corresponding to a size of the first gap. The optical device also includes a first electrode portion fixed to the fixed portion so as to face a surface of the movable portion near the first light reflection portion with a second gap between the movable portion and the first electrode portion. The optical device has a second electrode portion fixed to the fixed portion so as to face another surface of the movable portion with a third gap between the movable portion and the second electrode portion. One of the first and second electrode portions serves as a detection electrode for detecting a capacitance between the movable portion and the detection electrode. Another of the first and second electrode portions serves as a drive electrode. The optical device includes a circuit operable to generate a potential difference between the movable portion and the drive electrode so as to generate an electrostatic attraction force therebetween for changing a position and/or a posture of the movable portion.

Claims (54)

1. An optical device comprising:

a fixed portion having a first light reflection portion;

a movable portion having a first surface that faces the fixed portion and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the movable portion having a second light reflection portion formed on the first surface of the movable portion, the second light reflection portion facing the first light reflection portion with a first gap being formed between the first light reflection portion and the second light reflection portion, the movable portion being movable with respect to the fixed portion so as to change the first gap between the first light reflection portion and the second light reflection portion, the first light reflection portion and the second light reflection portion being configured to reflect light that enters into the optical device from the outside of the optical device repeatedly between the first light reflection portion and the second light reflection portion so as to cause interference and emit light having a wavelength corresponding to a size of the first gap to the outside of the optical device;

a first electrode portion fixed to the fixed portion so as to face the second light reflection portion near the first light reflection portion with a second gap being formed between the second light reflection portion and the first electrode portion;

a second electrode portion facing the second surface of the movable portion with a third gap being formed between the second surface of the movable portion and the second electrode portion, one of the first electrode portion and the second electrode portion serving as a detection electrode for detecting a capacitance between the movable portion and the detection electrode, another of the first electrode portion and the second electrode portion serving as a drive electrode; and

a circuit operable to generate a potential difference between the movable portion and the drive electrode so as to generate an electrostatic attraction force therebetween for changing a position and/or a posture of the movable portion, wherein the circuit includes a switching unit operable to switch the first electrode portion and the second electrode portion between a function of the detection electrode and a function of the drive electrode.

2. The optical device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the circuit is operable to generate the potential difference based on a detection result of the detection electrode.

3. The optical device as recited in claim 1 , wherein each of the first electrode portion and the second electrode portion has a plurality of electrodes.

4. The optical device as recited in claim 3

wherein the number of the plurality of electrodes of the second electrode portion are equal to that of as the plurality of electrodes of the first electrode portion,

wherein the plurality of electrodes of the first electrode portion are paired with the plurality of electrodes of the second electrode portion.

5. The optical device as recited in claim 4 , wherein each of the plurality of electrodes of the first electrode portion has a shape similar to a shape of each of the plurality of electrodes of the second electrode portion.

6. The optical device as recited in claim 5 , wherein each of the plurality of electrodes of the first electrode portion has the same size as that of each of the plurality of electrodes of the second electrode portion.

7. The optical device as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

a support portion for supporting the movable portion; and

a connection portion connecting the movable portion to the support portion so that the movable portion can be moved with respect to the support portion, the movable portion being formed integrally with the support portion and the connection portion.

8. The optical device as recited in claim 7 , further comprising:

a first substrate in which the movable portion, the support portion, and the connection portion are formed, the first substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface;

a second substrate fixed to the support portion on the first surface of the first substrate, the first electrode portion and the first light reflection portion being provided on the second substrate;

a third substrate having one surface and the other surface opposite to the one surface, the other surface of the third substrate fixed to the support portion on the second surface of the first substrate, the second electrode portion being provided on the third substrate; and

a hermetically sealed space formed between the first substrate, the second substrate, and the third substrate so that the movable portion can be moved within the hermetically sealed space.

9. The optical device as recited in claim 8 , wherein the second substrate has a recess formed in a surface thereof near the first substrate, the recess having a bottom on which the first light reflection portion and the first electrode portion are provided.

10. The optical device as recited in claim 8 , wherein the second substrate has:

a first recess having a bottom on which the first electrode portion is provided, and

a second recess formed in the bottom of the first recess so as to be surrounded by the first recess, the second recess having a bottom on which the first light reflection portion is provided.

11. The optical device as recited in claim 10 , wherein the first electrode portion is provided so as to surround the first light reflection portion.

12. The optical device as recited in claim 8 , wherein the first substrate is mainly made of silicon.

13. The optical device as recited in claim 12 , wherein at least one of the second substrate and the third substrate is mainly made of glass.

14. The optical device as recited in claim 13 , wherein at least one of the second substrate and the third substrate is mainly made of glass containing alkali metal ions.

15. The optical device as recited in claim 8 , wherein the first substrate is formed by processing one of Si layers in an SOI wafer.

16. The optical device as recited in claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first light reflection portion and the second light reflection portion comprises a dielectric multilayer film.

17. The optical device as recited in claim 1 , wherein a distance of the first gap is substantially the same as a distance of the second gap in a state where the potential difference is not generated.

18. The optical device as recited in claim 17 , wherein the first electrode portion and the second electrode portion are provided symmetrically with respect to the movable portion in a state where the potential difference is not generated.

19. An optical tunable filter comprising:

a fixed portion having a first light reflection portion;

20. An optical tunable filter module comprising an optical tunable filter including:

a fixed portion having a first light reflection portion;

21. An optical spectrum analyzer comprising an optical tunable filter including:

a fixed portion having a first light reflection portion;

22. The optical device as recited in claim 8 , wherein the third substrate has a third recess formed in the other surface, the third recess has a bottom facing the second surface of the movable portion,

wherein a fixed antireflection film is formed on the bottom of the third recess so as to be surrounded by the second electrode portion.

23. The optical device as recited in claim 8 , wherein a fixed antireflection film is formed on the one surface of the third substrate.

Assignments (1)

ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 18, 2007

From: NAKAMURA, RYOSUKE

To: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION

Reel/Frame 018807/0882 →

Priority Claims (2)

JP 2006-011549 · Jan 19, 2006 · national

JP 2006-277017 · Oct 10, 2006 · national

Continuity (1)

Related Publication 20070171530A1 · Jul 26, 2007