A scanning assembly for an optical instrument includes a reflector and a folded-beam spring assembly coupled to the reflector for deflecting the reflector for beam scanning. A lever suspension assembly is coupled to the folded-beam spring assembly and provides torsional movement of the reflector for beam scanning over a two-dimensional region, allowing for large total scan angles and large vertical displacements.

A physical quantity sensor includes a substrate and a movable body. A first region to an n-th region in which a step is provided between adjacent regions are provided on a first surface of a first mass portion of the movable body. Ends of the first region to the n-th region on a side far from the rotation axis are referred to as a first end to an n-th end. In a state in which the movable body is maximally displaced around the rotation axis AY, when a virtual straight line passing through two ends of the first end to the n-th end and having a smallest angle with respect to the X axis is set as a first virtual straight line, and a straight line along a main surface of a first fixed electrode is set as a second virtual straight line, the first virtual straight line and the second virtual straight line do not intersect with each other in a region between a first normal line intersecting with an end of the first fixed electrode of the substrate closest to the rotation axis AY and a second normal line intersecting with an end of the first fixed electrode farthest from the rotation axis.

The improved scanning MEMS mirror device disclosed herein comprises a mirror body that is rotatable around a rotation axis with respect to a stationary body, wherein a rotation of the mirror body is flexibly restrained with at least one coupling element that biases the mirror body towards a neutral state. The coupling element comprises at least a bridge section and a first leaf spring section and a second leaf spring section. The first leaf spring section extends in an extension direction from a first end thereof at the bridge section towards a second end thereof that is connected to the mirror body. The second leaf spring section extends in an extension direction from a first end thereof at the bridge section towards a second end thereof where it is connected to the stationary body. The extension direction of the first leaf spring section and the extension direction of the second leaf spring section are at least substantially the same as the second planar direction. The leaf spring sections have a thickness defined in a direction orthogonal to the reference plane that is smaller than their width, defined in said first planar direction. The construction of the improved scanning MEMS mirror device results in an increased eigenfrequency of undesirable eigenmodes.

A micromechanical sensor includes a substrate having a cavity; a flexible diaphragm spanning the cavity; and a lever element that spans the diaphragm and has a first and second end section on opposite sides of a center section. A first joint element is between the first end section and the substrate and a second joint element is between the center section and the diaphragm. The lever element can be pivoted due to a deflection of the diaphragm. Two capacitive sensors are provided, each having two electrodes, one electrode of each sensor being mounted at one of the end sections of the lever element, and the other being mounted on the substrate. The electrodes are disposed so that distances between the electrodes of different sensors are influenced oppositely when the lever element is pivoted. Also, an actuator is provided for applying an actuating force between the lever element and the substrate.

A micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) device may include a mirror structure suspended from a first hinge and a second hinge that are arranged to enable the mirror structure to be tilted about a tilt axis. The mirror structure may include a first actuator and a second actuator located on opposite sides of the tilt axis. The MEMS device may include a fixed electrode coupled to first actuator to cause the mirror structure to tilt about the tilt axis in a first direction based on a fixed voltage applied to the fixed electrode. The MEMS device includes a driving electrode coupled to the second actuator to cause the mirror structure to tilt about the tilt axis in a second direction opposite from the first direction based on a driving voltage applied to the driving electrode.

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 MEMS (micro-electromechanical system) actuator includes a substrate, a first electrode structure that is stationary with respect to the substrate, wherein the first electrode structure comprises a plurality of partial electrode structures, each of which comprises an edge structure and can be electrically controlled separately and 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 electronically deflectable by means of the first electrode structure to move the edge structure of the second electrode structure into a discrete deflection position, wherein the edge structures of the first and second electrode structures are configured to be opposite to each other with respect to a top view and the opposite portions are spaced apart by a lateral distance.

An actuator element of a MEMS device is provided, which is fabricated using surface micromachining on a substrate. An insulating layer having a first portion contacts the substrate while a second portion is separated from the substrate by a gap. A metallic layer contacts the insulating layer having a first portion contacting the first portion of the insulating layer and a second portion contacting the second portion of the insulating layer. The second portion of the metallic layer is prestressed. Alternately, the actuator element includes a first insulating layer separated from the substrate by a gap. A metallic layer has a first portion contacting the substrate and a second portion contacting the insulating layer. A second insulating layer contacts a portion of the second portion of the metallic layer opposite the first insulating layer, where the second insulating layer is prestressed.

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.Sz.sub.S.

A MEMS device is formed by a body of semiconductor material which defines a support structure. A pass-through cavity in the body is surrounded by the support structure. A movable structure is suspended in the pass-through cavity. An elastic structure extends in the pass-through cavity between the support structure and the movable structure. The elastic structure has a first and second portions and is subject, in use, to mechanical stress. The MEMS device is further formed by a metal region, which extends on the first portion of the elastic structure, and by a buried cavity in the elastic structure. The buried cavity extends between the first and the second portions of the elastic structure.