A system and method of providing a micromirror pixel 400 that is highly resistant to bright failure states. The micromirror 400 uses an asymmetric yoke 402 to ensure the mirror is only attracted to the address electrode in one rotation direction. The landing mechanism on the other side of the torsion binge axis also is altered to allow the pixel to over rotate in the off direction. The over rotation ensures that light reflected by the mirror when in the off direction will miss the projection lens pupil, allowing the corresponding pixel to remain dark in both an operational and failed state.

Claims

18 · 18 independent · depth 1

18 granted claims

›1.independentA micromirror device comprising:

›2.independentThe micromirror device of claim 1, said asymmetric yoke limiting deflection of said deflectable member in a first direction of rotation about said tor…

›3.independentThe micromirror of claim 1, said at least one address electrode comprising:

›4.independentThe micromirror of claim 1, said at least one address electrode comprising:

›5.independentA micromirror device comprising:

›6.independentA micromirror device comprising:

›7.independentA micromirror device comprising:

›8.independentThe micromirror device of claim 7, said means for limiting said deflection comprising an asymmetric yoke.

›9.independentThe micromirror device of claim 7, said means for limiting said deflection comprising a least one landing nub.

›10.independentA display system comprising:

›11.independentThe display system of claim 10, said asymmetric yoke limiting deflection of said deflectable member in a first direction of rotation about said torsio…

›12.independentThe display system of claim 10, said at least one address electrode comprising:

›13.independentA display system comprising:

›14.independentThe display system of claim 13, said at least one address electrode comprising:

›15.independentA display system comprising:

›16.independentA display system comprising:

›17.independentThe display system of claim 16, said means for limiting said deflection comprising an asymmetric yoke.

›18.independentThe display system of claim 16, said means for limiting said deflection comprising a least one landing nub.

Classifications

7 codes

IPC · International Patent Classification

Section G — Physics

G02B2/600

USPC · US Patent Classification

359/291359/646359/290347/239359/224310/36

Claim changes

Soon

Coming soonHow the claims changed between publication and grant

See which claims were amended, added or cancelled during examination, with every added and removed word marked.

AmendedAddedCancelledUnchanged

The published claims of this patent are not paired with the granted ones in what we hold.

File wrapper

⤢ drag to zoom

USPTOApplicanthover for detail · click to open

Pendency

1.3 y

477 days filing → grant

Office actions

non-final + final

Responses

1 RCE

Examiner

Loha Ben

art unit —

Law firm

Law firm · Log in to unlock

Citations: 4 back · 0 forward

See the full prosecution history — every USPTO and applicant action on this file, in order.

Term & fees

See the term timeline — pendency span, in-force span, the maintenance fees paid and both computed expiry dates.

Priority chain

2 priority documents

Priority

28 Dec 2001

earliest claimed

›Priority documents — 2

Type	Document	Date
provisional	US 60/343636 00	28 Dec 2001
related publication	US 20030123126 A1	3 Jul 2003

Validity challenges

See the validity challenges on record — reexaminations, IPRs and PGRs, with their institution decisions and outcomes.

Citations

See every patent this one cites and every patent that cites it back — publication, assignee, and how each one was found.