An optical device includes a support portion a movable unit and a pair of torsion bars disposed on both sides of the movable unit on a first axis. The movable unit includes a main body portion, a ring-shaped portion surrounding the main body portion when viewed from a predetermined direction perpendicular to the first axis, two connection portions connecting the main body portion and the ring-shaped portion to each other, and a rib portion provided to the main body portion. Each of the two connection portions includes two connection regions that are separated from each other by a space and the each of the two connection region connects the main body portion and the ring-shaped portion to each other. The rib portion includes four extending portions radially extending between a center of the main body portion and the four connection regions respectively when viewed from the predetermined direction.

A MEMS device is obtained by forming a temporary biasing structure on a semiconductor body, and forming an actuation coil on the semiconductor body, the actuation coil having at least one first end turn, one second end turn and an intermediate turn arranged between the first and the second end turns and electrically coupled to the first end turn through the temporary biasing structure. In this way, the intermediate turn is biased at approximately the same potential as the first end turn during galvanic growth, and, at the end of growth, the actuation coil has an approximately uniform thickness. At the end of galvanic growth, portions of the temporary biasing structure are selectively removed to electrically separate the first end turn from the intermediate turn and from a dummy biasing region adjacent to the first end turn.

A mechanical microsystem including a pair of elastically deformable elements, a mechanical hinge joining the deformable elements together, and at least two electroactive layers. The microsystem is configured such that, from a rest position wherein the deformable elements fall into a plane, a deformation of one of the deformable elements displacing it outside of the plane induces an electric current circulation in one of the two electroactive layers, and/or conversely. Each deformable element has a front face and a rear face opposite one another and substantially parallel to the plane. A first electroactive layer is arranged together with a first deformable element on its rear face, and a second electroactive layer, different from the first layer, is arranged with a second deformable element, different from the first element, on its front face.

A micromirror device includes a first support portion that is connected to the mirror portion on a first axis located in a plane including the reflecting surface of the mirror portion in a stationary state, and that swingably supports the mirror portion around the first axis. The first support portion is composed of a main shaft stretched along the first axis and a plurality of sub-shafts symmetrically disposed on both sides of the main shaft across the first axis and stretched along the first axis, the first support portion has a folded structure having three or more folded portions formed by connecting the plurality of sub-shafts, and in a case where inner curvature radii of the folded portions are denoted by R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, ... , in order from the closest to the first axis, a relationship of 0.73 ≤ R.sub.k+1/R.sub.k ≤ 0.9 (k = 1, 2, ...) is satisfied.

A hinge for a microelectromechanical system includes a fixed part and a part movable relative to the fixed part along at least an out-of-plane direction, the hinge being intended to suspend the moving part from the fixed part. The hinge includes a first rigid part, a second part fixed to the first part at one end and intended to be anchored to the fixed part or the moving part. The second part deforms in bending in a first direction, two third parts are fixed to the first part and are anchored to the moving part or the fixed part, and the third parts deform in bending along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction.

Small form-factor MEMS devices and methods of using the devices are disclosed. An exemplary MEMS device includes an accelerometer contact microphone. Certain devices described herein comprise nanometer scale sensing gaps in the out-of-plane direction to increase vibration sensitivity in a vacuum casing. Certain devices described herein provide a differential sensing mechanism. The disclosure also describes accelerometer contact microphones having an operational bandwidth ranging from 0 Hz and 10,000 Hz. The vibration acceleration sensitivity of certain devices described herein is better 100 μg√Hz.

To manufacture an oscillating structure, a wafer is processed by: forming torsional elastic elements; forming a mobile element connected to the torsional elastic elements; processing the first side of the wafer to form a mechanical reinforcement structure; and processing the second side of said wafer by steps of chemical etching, deposition of metal material, and/or deposition of piezoelectric material. Processing of the first side of the wafer is carried out prior to processing of the second side of the wafer so as not to damage possible sensitive structures formed on the first side of the wafer.

An electrooptical device includes a first metal layer disposed spaced apart from a first surface of a substrate and including a mirror, which modulates light, and a mirror support post, which has a tubular shape and protrudes from the mirror toward the substrate. The first metal layer is formed by forming a metal layer on a surface of a sacrificial layer having an opening, patterning the metal layer, and removing the sacrificial layer. Thus, the mirror support post is formed so as to extend over the inner wall of the opening. Here, the mirror support post has a thickness of not less than 1.5 times the length of the mirror support post.

A MEMS micro-mirror device includes a middle substrate, a movable structure, at least one stopper coupled with the movable structure, at least one flexure, an upper cap, and a lower cap. The movable structure includes a micro-mirror plate having a reflective surface. The flexure connects the stopper and the middle substrate. The upper cap, bonded with the middle substrate, has a first opening for allowing the movable structure's movement and has at least one first recess facing a first side of the flexure and a first side of the stopper. The lower cap, bonded with the middle substrate, has a second opening for allowing space for the movement and has at least one second recess facing a second side of the flexure and a second side of the stopper.

A micromechanical assembly having a holder, a drive frame which has at least one energizable coil device disposed at least one of on and in the drive frame and which is joined to the holder via at least one frame spring, a mirror element that is at least partially framed by the drive frame and is suspended from the drive frame by a first mirror spring and a second mirror spring, the mirror element being disposed between the two mirror springs and being adjustable about a mirror axis of rotation in relation to the drive frame, and the mirror element being suspended from the drive frame asymmetrically relative to the mirror axis of rotation. A method for manufacturing a micromechanical assembly is also described. A method for operating a micromechanical assembly is also described.