Micromirror devices are devices based on microscopically small mirrors. The mirrors are microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), which means that their states are controlled by applying a voltage between the two electrodes around the mirror arrays. Digital micromirror devices are used in

video projector A video projector is an image projector that receives a video signal and projects the corresponding image on a projection screen using a lens system. Video projectors use a very bright ultra-high-performance lamp (a special mercury arc lamp), X ...

s and optics and micromirror devices for light deflection and control.

Digital Micromirror Devices

Digital Micromirror Devices (DMD) were invented by Texas Instruments in 1987 and are the core of the DLP technology used for video projection. The mirrors are arranged in a matrix and have two states, "on" or "off" (digital). In the on state, light from the projector bulb is reflected into the lens making the pixel appear bright on the screen. In the off state, the light is directed elsewhere (usually onto a

heatsink A heat sink (also commonly spelled heatsink) is a passive heat exchanger that transfers the heat generated by an electronic or a mechanical device to a fluid medium, often air or a liquid coolant, where it is dissipated away from the device, th ...

), making the pixel appear dark. Colours could be produced by various technologies like different light sources or gratings.

Light Deflection and Control

The mirrors could not only be switched between two states, their rotation is in fact continuous. This could be used for controlling the intensity and direction of incident light. One future application is controlling the light in buildings, based on micromirrors between the two panes of

Insulated glazing Insulating glass (IG) consists of two or more glass window panes separated by a space to reduce heat transfer across a part of the building envelope. A window with insulating glass is commonly known as double glazing or a double-paned window, ...

. The power and direction of the incident light is determined by the mirrors state, which itself is controlled electrostatically.

MEMS Scanning Micromirror

A MEMS scanning micromirror consists of a silicon device with a millimeter-scale mirror at the center. The mirror is typically connected to flexures that allow it to oscillate on a single axis or biaxially, to project or capture light.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Micromirror Device Semiconductor devices Optoelectronics Microtechnology Microelectronic and microelectromechanical systems