US Patent No: 5,665,997

Number of patents in Portfolio can not be more than 2000

Grated landing area to eliminate sticking of micro-mechanical devices

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ATTORNEY / AGENT: (SPONSORED)
 

Importance

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Abstract

A digital micro-mirror device (10), whose contacting elements (11, 17) are not prone to stick together. In the case of a deflecting mirror device, landing electrodes (17) are covered with a grating (19), which reduces the contacting area but still permits conduction between the mirror (11) and the landing electrode (17). Alternatively, the landing electrode (17) can be fabricated as a grated surface.

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First Claim

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Patent Owner(s)

Patent OwnerAddressTotal Patents
TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATEDDALLAS, TX17006

International Classification(s)

  • [Classification Symbol]
  • [Patents Count]

Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Randall, John N Richardson, TX 29 545
Weaver, Douglas J Dallas, TX 4 361

Cited Art

Patent Info (Count) # Cites Year
 
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION (5)
4,209,349 Method for forming a narrow dimensioned mask opening on a silicon body utilizing reactive ion etching 78 1978
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4,707,218 Lithographic image size reduction 157 1986
4,803,181 Process for forming sub-micrometer patterns using silylation of resist side walls 54 1987
 
TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED (1)
4,358,340 Submicron patterning without using submicron lithographic technique 50 1980

Patent Citation Ranking

Forward Cites

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QUALCOMM MEMS TECHNOLOGIES, INC. (262)
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7,221,495 Thin film precursor stack for MEMS manufacturing 93 2003
7,460,291 Separable modulator 42 2003
7,012,726 MEMS devices with unreleased thin film components 65 2003
7,198,973 Method for fabricating an interference display unit 89 2003
7,161,728 Area array modulation and lead reduction in interferometric modulators 128 2003
7,692,844 Interferometric modulation of radiation 10 2004
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7,280,265 Interferometric modulation of radiation 40 2004
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7,250,315 Method for fabricating a structure for a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device 45 2004
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7,130,104 Methods and devices for inhibiting tilting of a mirror in an interferometric modulator 53 2005
7,553,684 Method of fabricating interferometric devices using lift-off processing techniques 6 2005
7,417,783 Mirror and mirror layer for optical modulator and method 7 2005
7,373,026 MEMS device fabricated on a pre-patterned substrate 12 2005
7,343,080 System and method of testing humidity in a sealed MEMS device 8 2005
RE40436 Hermetic seal and method to create the same 7 2005
7,304,784 Reflective display device having viewable display on both sides 33 2005
7,161,730 System and method for providing thermal compensation for an interferometric modulator display 78 2005
7,567,373 System and method for micro-electromechanical operation of an interferometric modulator 19 2005
7,936,497 MEMS device having deformable membrane characterized by mechanical persistence 0 2005
7,317,568 System and method of implementation of interferometric modulators for display mirrors 1 2005
7,310,179 Method and device for selective adjustment of hysteresis window 8 2005
7,724,993 MEMS switches with deforming membranes 0 2005
7,492,502 Method of fabricating a free-standing microstructure 11 2005
7,417,735 Systems and methods for measuring color and contrast in specular reflective devices 23 2005
7,369,296 Device and method for modifying actuation voltage thresholds of a deformable membrane in an interferometric modulator 14 2005
7,630,119 Apparatus and method for reducing slippage between structures in an interferometric modulator 10 2005
7,136,213 Interferometric modulators having charge persistence 14 2005
7,564,612 Photonic MEMS and structures 53 2005
7,327,510 Process for modifying offset voltage characteristics of an interferometric modulator 144 2005
7,369,294 Ornamental display device 38 2005
7,684,104 MEMS using filler material and method 7 2005
7,653,371 Selectable capacitance circuit 10 2005
7,415,186 Methods for visually inspecting interferometric modulators for defects 3 2005
7,675,669 Method and system for driving interferometric modulators 2 2005
7,453,579 Measurement of the dynamic characteristics of interferometric modulators 10 2005
7,545,550 Systems and methods of actuating MEMS display elements 1 2005
8,310,441 Method and system for writing data to MEMS display elements 0 2005
7,446,927 MEMS switch with set and latch electrodes 5 2005
7,486,429 Method and device for multistate interferometric light modulation 8 2005
7,236,284 Photonic MEMS and structures 82 2005
7,630,114 Diffusion barrier layer for MEMS devices 1 2005
8,014,059 System and method for charge control in a MEMS device 0 2005
7,776,631 MEMS device and method of forming a MEMS device 6 2005
7,618,831 Method of monitoring the manufacture of interferometric modulators 0 2005
7,403,323 Process control monitors for interferometric modulators 1 2005
7,369,252 Process control monitors for interferometric modulators 0 2005
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8,391,630 System and method for power reduction when decompressing video streams for interferometric modulator displays 0 2005
7,795,061 Method of creating MEMS device cavities by a non-etching process 1 2005
7,355,779 Method and system for driving MEMS display elements 1 2006
7,916,980 Interconnect structure for MEMS device 0 2006
7,382,515 Silicon-rich silicon nitrides as etch stops in MEMS manufacture 4 2006
8,194,056 Method and system for writing data to MEMS display elements 0 2006
7,582,952 Method for providing and removing discharging interconnect for chip-on-glass output leads and structures thereof 2 2006
7,547,568 Electrical conditioning of MEMS device and insulating layer thereof 6 2006
7,550,810 MEMS device having a layer movable at asymmetric rates 19 2006
7,450,295 Methods for producing MEMS with protective coatings using multi-component sacrificial layers 40 2006
7,483,197 Photonic MEMS and structures 16 2006
7,616,369 Film stack for manufacturing micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) devices 11 2006
7,532,377 Movable micro-electromechanical device 28 2006
7,643,203 Interferometric optical display system with broadband characteristics 17 2006
7,948,457 Systems and methods of actuating MEMS display elements 0 2006
7,903,047 Mode indicator for interferometric modulator displays 2 2006
7,711,239 Microelectromechanical device and method utilizing nanoparticles 0 2006
7,623,287 Non-planar surface structures and process for microelectromechanical systems 4 2006
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7,417,784 Microelectromechanical device and method utilizing a porous surface 42 2006
8,049,713 Power consumption optimized display update 1 2006
7,920,136 System and method of driving a MEMS display device 0 2006
7,706,044 Optical interference display cell and method of making the same 8 2006
7,880,954 Integrated modulator illumination 14 2006
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7,349,139 System and method of illuminating interferometric modulators using backlighting 15 2006
8,174,469 Dynamic driver IC and display panel configuration 0 2006
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7,372,619 Display device having a movable structure for modulating light and method thereof 74 2006
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7,321,457 Process and structure for fabrication of MEMS device having isolated edge posts 60 2006
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7,636,151 System and method for providing residual stress test structures 0 2006
7,471,442 Method and apparatus for low range bit depth enhancements for MEMS display architectures 4 2006
7,702,192 Systems and methods for driving MEMS display 0 2006
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7,777,715 Passive circuits for de-multiplexing display inputs 2 2006
7,527,998 Method of manufacturing MEMS devices providing air gap control 10 2006
7,388,704 Determination of interferometric modulator mirror curvature and airgap variation using digital photographs 3 2006
7,534,640 Support structure for MEMS device and methods therefor 13 2006
7,830,586 Transparent thin films 10 2006
7,554,711 MEMS devices with stiction bumps 30 2006
7,763,546 Methods for reducing surface charges during the manufacture of microelectromechanical systems devices 3 2006
7,566,664 Selective etching of MEMS using gaseous halides and reactive co-etchants 24 2006
7,660,058 Methods for etching layers within a MEMS device to achieve a tapered edge 3 2006
7,928,940 Drive method for MEMS devices 0 2006
7,580,172 MEMS device and interconnects for same 4 2006
7,898,722 Microelectromechanical device with restoring electrode 26 2006
7,629,197 Spatial light modulator 27 2006
7,388,697 System and method for addressing a MEMS display 5 2006
7,242,512 System and method for addressing a MEMS display 6 2006
7,667,884 Interferometric modulators having charge persistence 3 2006
7,385,762 Methods and devices for inhibiting tilting of a mirror in an interferometric modulator 40 2006
7,355,782 Systems and methods of controlling micro-electromechanical devices 6 2006
7,535,621 Aluminum fluoride films for microelectromechanical system applications 23 2006
7,652,814 MEMS device with integrated optical element 3 2007
7,884,989 White interferometric modulators and methods for forming the same 2 2007
7,872,792 Method and device for modulating light with multiple electrodes 4 2007
7,846,344 Method and device for modulating light 0 2007
7,733,552 MEMS cavity-coating layers and methods 3 2007
7,742,220 Microelectromechanical device and method utilizing conducting layers separated by stops 7 2007
8,059,326 Display devices comprising of interferometric modulator and sensor 1 2007
7,738,156 Display devices comprising of interferometric modulator and sensor 0 2007
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7,643,199 High aperture-ratio top-reflective AM-iMod displays 6 2007
7,782,517 Infrared and dual mode displays 4 2007
7,944,599 Electromechanical device with optical function separated from mechanical and electrical function 1 2007
7,630,121 Electromechanical device with optical function separated from mechanical and electrical function 9 2007
7,612,932 Microelectromechanical device with optical function separated from mechanical and electrical function 14 2007
8,115,987 Modulating the intensity of light from an interferometric reflector 0 2007
7,642,110 Method for fabricating a structure for a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) device 14 2007
7,570,415 MEMS device and interconnects for same 1 2007
8,081,369 System and method for a MEMS device 0 2007
7,852,545 Method and device for modulating light 8 2007
7,826,120 Method and device for multi-color interferometric modulation 8 2007
7,808,694 Method and device for modulating light 8 2007
7,738,157 System and method for a MEMS device 11 2007
8,072,402 Interferometric optical modulator with broadband reflection characteristics 2 2007
7,492,503 System and method for multi-level brightness in interferometric modulation 19 2007
7,719,752 MEMS structures, methods of fabricating MEMS components on separate substrates and assembly of same 2 2007
7,564,613 Microelectromechanical device and method utilizing a porous surface 2 2007
7,982,700 Conductive bus structure for interferometric modulator array 0 2007
7,542,198 Device having a conductive light absorbing mask and method for fabricating same 19 2007
7,999,993 Reflective display device having viewable display on both sides 0 2007
7,773,286 Periodic dimple array 2 2007
7,715,079 MEMS devices requiring no mechanical support 3 2007
7,532,386 Process for modifying offset voltage characteristics of an interferometric modulator 6 2007
8,058,549 Photovoltaic devices with integrated color interferometric film stacks 1 2007
7,847,999 Interferometric modulator display devices 1 2008
7,663,794 Methods and devices for inhibiting tilting of a movable element in a MEMS device 8 2008
7,515,327 Method and device for corner interferometric modulation 10 2008
7,623,752 System and method of testing humidity in a sealed MEMS device 4 2008
7,570,865 System and method of testing humidity in a sealed MEMS device 1 2008
7,660,031 Device and method for modifying actuation voltage thresholds of a deformable membrane in an interferometric modulator 2 2008
8,164,821 Microelectromechanical device with thermal expansion balancing layer or stiffening layer 0 2008
8,040,588 System and method of illuminating interferometric modulators using backlighting 0 2008
7,612,933 Microelectromechanical device with spacing layer 16 2008
8,222,066 Eliminate release etch attack by interface modification in sacrificial layers 0 2008
7,898,723 Microelectromechanical systems display element with photovoltaic structure 5 2008
7,969,638 Device having thin black mask and method of fabricating the same 0 2008
7,688,494 Electrode and interconnect materials for MEMS devices 10 2008
7,839,557 Method and device for multistate interferometric light modulation 5 2008
7,944,603 Microelectromechanical device and method utilizing a porous surface 0 2008
7,851,239 Low temperature amorphous silicon sacrificial layer for controlled adhesion in MEMS devices 1 2008
8,023,167 Backlight displays 0 2008
7,768,690 Backlight displays 1 2008
7,746,539 Method for packing a display device and the device obtained thereof 1 2008
7,738,158 Electromechanical device treatment with water vapor 1 2008
7,855,826 Method and apparatus to reduce or eliminate stiction and image retention in interferometric modulator devices 6 2008
8,054,527 Adjustably transmissive MEMS-based devices 0 2008
7,704,772 Method of manufacture for microelectromechanical devices 11 2008
7,859,740 Stiction mitigation with integrated mech micro-cantilevers through vertical stress gradient control 0 2008
7,672,035 Separable modulator 15 2008
7,787,173 System and method for multi-level brightness in interferometric modulation 6 2008
7,830,588 Method of making a light modulating display device and associated transistor circuitry and structures thereof 11 2009
7,944,604 Interferometric modulator in transmission mode 1 2009
8,270,056 Display device with openings between sub-pixels and method of making same 0 2009
7,889,415 Device having a conductive light absorbing mask and method for fabricating same 4 2009
8,102,590 Method of manufacturing MEMS devices providing air gap control 0 2009
8,081,370 Support structures for electromechanical systems and methods of fabricating the same 0 2009
7,952,787 Method of manufacturing MEMS devices providing air gap control 0 2009
7,889,417 Electromechanical system having a dielectric movable membrane 2 2009
8,405,899 Photonic MEMS and structures 0 2009
8,358,266 Light turning device with prismatic light turning features 0 2009
8,270,062 Display device with at least one movable stop element 0 2009
8,068,269 Microelectromechanical device with spacing layer 0 2009
7,920,319 Electromechanical device with optical function separated from mechanical and electrical function 0 2009
7,948,671 Apparatus and method for reducing slippage between structures in an interferometric modulator 1 2009
7,924,494 Apparatus and method for reducing slippage between structures in an interferometric modulator 0 2009
7,830,589 Device and method for modifying actuation voltage thresholds of a deformable membrane in an interferometric modulator 0 2009
8,077,379 Interferometric optical display system with broadband characteristics 0 2009
8,098,416 Analog interferometric modulator device with electrostatic actuation and release 0 2010
8,126,297 MEMS device fabricated on a pre-patterned substrate 0 2010
7,852,544 Separable modulator 31 2010
8,164,815 MEMS cavity-coating layers and methods 0 2010
8,394,656 Method of creating MEMS device cavities by a non-etching process 0 2010
8,081,373 Devices and methods for enhancing color shift of interferometric modulators 0 2010
8,035,884 Method and device for modulating light with semiconductor substrate 0 2010
8,213,075 Method and device for multistate interferometric light modulation 0 2010
8,035,883 Device having a conductive light absorbing mask and method for fabricating same 0 2011
8,098,417 Electromechanical system having a dielectric movable membrane 0 2011
8,368,997 Electromechanical device with optical function separated from mechanical and electrical function 0 2011
8,289,613 Electromechanical device with optical function separated from mechanical and electrical function 0 2011
8,174,752 Interferometric modulator in transmission mode 0 2011
8,390,547 Conductive bus structure for interferometric modulator array 0 2011
8,243,360 Device having a conductive light absorbing mask and method for fabricating same 0 2011
 
SPATIAL PHOTONICS, INC. (7)
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7,394,586 Spatial light modulator 2 2006
7,667,885 Spatial light modulator 0 2008
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RAYTHEON COMPANY (3)
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6,791,441 Micro-electro-mechanical switch, and methods of making and using it 32 2002
7,002,441 Micro-electro-mechanical switch, and methods of making and using it 19 2004
 
ROCKSTAR BIDCO, LP (2)
6,044,705 Micromachined members coupled for relative rotation by torsion bars 169 1997
6,467,345 Method of operating micromachined members coupled for relative rotation 26 2000
 
TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED (2)
8,031,391 System and method for operating light processing electronic devices 0 2008
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HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P. (1)
6,903,487 Micro-mirror device with increased mirror tilt 8 2003
 
HUGHES ELECTRONICS CORPORATION (1)
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IRIDIGM DISPLAY CORPORATION (1)
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NORTEL NETWORKS LIMITED (1)
6,426,013 Method for fabricating micromachined members coupled for relative rotation 22 1999
 
OMRON CORPORATION (1)
7,161,273 Antistatic mechanism of an electrostatic actuator 4 2002
 
QUALCOMM MEMS TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD. (1)
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ROBERT BOSCH GMBH (1)
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UDC, LLC (1)
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