Digital micromirror device

A Mikrospiegelaktor is a micro-electromechanical device for dynamic modulation of light.

Types

It is (german micro scanner, or even scanning micromirror ) and Spatial Light Modulators (English spatial light modulator SLM) distinguish micromirror actuators between so-called micro- scanners.

• In microscanners the modulation of a beam occurs at a continuously moving single mirror. Light can be guided grazing on a projection or "scanned". Use find microscanner in projection displays, barcode scanners, endoscopy, spectroscopy and many more applications.
• In spatial light modulators, the modulation of light over a mirror matrix. The individual levels decrease over time in discrete deflections. This deflection of partial beams or a phase-shifting effect. Using a matrix-like arrangement can deflect the light of a strong light source so micromirror actuators that an image is projected. Examples of spatial light modulators are the Digital Micromirror Device (DMD ) which constitute the technological base of products such as Digital Light Processing (DLP ). DLPs, a trademark of Texas Instruments (TI), are used inter alia in cinemas with digital film projectors. First DMDs were developed at TI by Larry Hornbeck and William Ed Nelson in 1987.

Principle

The micromirror actuators consist usually of individual elements arranged in a matrix in which the individual micro-mirror of a reflecting surface is tiltable with an edge length of a few micrometers; the micro mirror on a DMD chip, for example, have an edge length of about 16 micron and are therefore smaller than a fifth of the width of a human hair. The movement is caused by the action of force of electrostatic fields. Each micromirror can be individually adjusted in its angle and usually has two stable final states between which it can be up to 5000 times change within a second.

Applications

The technology will have for some considerable DLP projectors used (among other things for particularly powerful video projectors) and rear projection screens. Furthermore, they can be used for 2D scanner mirror (for example, cash machines ) or even for Maskenbelichter in semiconductor manufacturing.

Micromirror actuators for light control could be used in future in the building: The mirror should it be installed between the two panes of double glazing and can be switched as described above electrostatically. The lighting in the room ( strength and direction ) would then depend on the position of the mirror. This technology can be true with small prototypes that already apply on a laboratory scale, but lacking for commercial use or a large scaled production method of images.