An optical device includes a support portion, a first movable portion having an optical surface, a second movable portion having a frame shape and surrounding the first movable portion, a first coupling portion coupling the first movable portion and the second movable portion to each other, a second coupling portion coupling the second movable portion and the support portion to each other, and a softening member which has a softening characteristic and to which stress is applied when the first movable portion swings around a first axis. When viewed in a direction perpendicular to the optical surface, the softening member is provided to a portion of the second movable portion, the portion extending between a drive element and the first coupling portion, and is not electrically connected to an outside.

An actuator device includes a support portion, a movable portion, a connection portion which connects the movable portion to the support portion on a second axis, a first wiring which is provided on the connection portion, a second wiring which is provided on the support portion, and an insulation layer which includes a first opening exposing a surface opposite to the support portion in a first connection part located on the support portion in one of the first wiring and the second wiring and covers a corner of the first connection part. The rigidity of a first metal material forming the first wiring is higher than the rigidity of a second metal material forming the second wiring. The other wiring of the first wiring and the second wiring is connected to the surface of the first connection part in the first opening.

Disclosed herein is a microelectromechanical device that features a fixed structure defining a cavity, a tiltable structure elastically suspended within the cavity, and a piezoelectrically driven actuation structure that rotates the tiltable structure about a first rotation axis. The actuation structure includes driving arms with piezoelectric material, elastically coupled to the tiltable structure by decoupling elastic elements that are stiff to out-of-plane movements but compliant to torsional movements. The tiltable structure is elastically coupled to the fixed structure at the first rotation axis using elastic suspension elements, while the fixed structure forms a frame surrounding the cavity with supporting elements. A lever mechanism is coupled between a supporting element and a driving arm.

A flexure-based micro-array having a plurality of micro-assemblies, each comprising: an object; and at least three electrostatic actuation modules for tipping, tilting, and/or piston-actuating the object, each actuation module comprising: a base with first and second electrodes electrically isolated from each other; an electrically conductive lever arm; a first flexure bearing suspending the lever arm adjacent the first and second electrodes so that electrical activation of at least one of the first and second electrodes produces an electrostatic moment of force on the lever arm to resiliently bias the first flexure bearing and pivot the lever arm about a fulcrum; and a second flexure bearing connecting the lever arm to the object at a connection location that is different from other connection locations of the other actuation modules so that pivoting the lever arm about the fulcrum induces the second flexure bearing to pivot the object about an object pivot axis defined between two of the other connection locations while the second flexure bearing decouples the lever arm from object displacements induced by two of the other actuation modules connected to the two other connection locations defining the object pivot axis, wherein the plurality of micro-assemblies are arranged with the objects juxtaposed in a substantially 2D array.

A device transmits a movement and a force between a first zone and a second zone which are insulated from one another in a sealed manner. The device includes a planar support, a transmission element that is rotatably movable with respect to the support by a pivot joint having an axis of rotation that is parallel to a plane of the support, an opening in the support through which the transmission element passes and level with which the pivot joint is positioned. The transmission element includes at least one first transmission arm on one side of the plane of the support and one second transmission arm on the other side of the plane of the support, and sealed insulation positioned in the opening, such that it insulates the first zone from the second zone in a sealed manner and allows the rotational movement of the transmission element.

A microelectromechanical device that comprises a first structural layer, and a movable mass suspended to a primary out-of plane motion relative the first structural layer. A cantilever motion limiter structure is etched into the movable mass, and a first stopper element is arranged on the first structural layer, opposite to the cantilever motion limiter structure. Improved mechanical robustness is achieved with optimal use of element space.

A MEMS device that suppresses variations in a resistance value caused by contracting vibrations in a direction in which a holding portion extends. The MEMS device includes a frame, a rectangular plate that receives an input of a driving signal, and holding portions that anchor the rectangular plate to the frame. The frame and the rectangular plate are both rectangular in shape. The holding portions are provided extending toward the frame from central areas of the opposing sides of the rectangular plate, and anchor the rectangular plate to the frame. A resistive film is formed in a region that follows a straight line connecting the holding portions that anchor the rectangular plate to the frame and that corresponds to no more than half a maximum displacement from a vibration distribution.

A MEMS (micro-electromechanical system) actuator element includes a substrate, a stationary first electrode structure with an edge structure, a second electrode structure with an edge structure, wherein the second electrode structure is deflectably coupled to the substrate by means of a spring structure and electrostatically deflectable by means of the first electrode structure to move the edge structure of the second electrode structure into an intermediate position between a minimum and maximum vertical deflection position, wherein the minimum and maximum deflection position specify a maximum deflection path, wherein the edge structures of the first and second electrode structures are to each other and are vertically spaced apart in the minimum deflection position and wherein, in the maximum deflection position, the vertical immersion path of the edge structure of the second electrode structure into the edge structure of the first electrode structure is up to 0.5 times the maximum deflection path z.sub.S.

An actuator element of a MEMS device on a substrate able to create large, out-of-plane deflection includes two separated metallic layers contacting the substrate. The second metallic layer has a first portion contacting the substrate and a second portion having cantilevered over the substrate and first metallic layer. A first insulating layer contacts the cantilevered metallic layer on a bottom contacting surface and a second insulating layer contacting the cantilevered metallic layer on a portion of a top contacting surface. The second, cantilevered portion of the metallic layer is prestressed causing the distal end to deform away from the substrate. Applying a voltage potential between the first and second metallic layers creates an electrostatic field drawing the distal end toward the substrate.

A method for forming a MEMS device may include performing a silicon-on-nothing process to form a cavity in a monocrystalline silicon substrate at a first depth relative to a top surface of the monocrystalline silicon substrate; forming, in an electrically conductive electrode region of the monocrystalline silicon substrate, an electrically insulated region extending to a second depth that is less than the first depth relative to the top surface of the monocrystalline silicon substrate; and etching the monocrystalline silicon substrate to expose a gap between a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein the second electrode is separated from the first electrode, within a first depth region, by a first distance defined by the electrically insulated region and the gap, and wherein the second electrode is separated from the first electrode, within a second depth region, by a second distance defined by the gap.