Furlani E.P.
Eastman Kodak Research Labs, US
Keywords: electrothermal diffraction grating, electrothermal light modulator, MOEMS grating, thermoelastic grating
We present a thermoelastically driven MOEMS light modulator in the form of an ElectroThermal Grating (ETG). The ETG consists of an array of equally spaced bilayer microbeams suspended at both ends above a substrate (Fig. 1). The bilayer microbeams have a conductive/reflective top layer that has highly resistive end sections, and a central portion with low resistance, and a nonconductive bottom layer. In an unactivated state, the microbeams are flat and the ETG reflects incident light like a mirror (Fig. 2a). Light modulation occurs when a potential difference is applied across the conductive layers of alternate microbeams. This causes current to flow through the resistive end sections which, in turn, expand due to joule heating. The top sections expand more than the corresponding bottom sections, which have a lower coefficient of thermal expansion. This causes a thermoelastically induced deformation of the heated microbeams downward, toward the substrate. A diffraction pattern is produced when the heated microbeams deform a distance of / 4 £f from their rest position ( £f is the wavelength of the incident light) (Fig. 2b). Since the deformation depends on the level of current, an ETG can operate in an analog mode wherein it selectively diffracts a range of wavelengths. In this presentation, we demonstrate the performance of an ETG. We present an analytical design formula for rapid parametric optimization, and demonstrate ETG viability at operating voltages below one volt.
Journal: TechConnect Briefs
Volume: 1, Technical Proceedings of the 2004 NSTI Nanotechnology Conference and Trade Show, Volume 1
Published: March 7, 2004
Pages: 398 - 401
Industry sectors: Advanced Materials & Manufacturing | Sensors, MEMS, Electronics
Topic: MEMS & NEMS Devices, Modeling & Applications
ISBN: 0-9728422-7-6