SBIR-STTR Award

Segmented MEMS Mirror Arrays
Award last edited on: 10/29/2004

Sponsored Program
SBIR
Awarding Agency
NASA
Total Award Amount
$820,000
Award Phase
2
Solicitation Topic Code
-----

Principal Investigator
Thomas Tsao

Company Information

Umachines Inc (AKA: United Micromachines)

2400 North Lincoln Avenue
Altadena, CA 91001
   (626) 296-6252
   info@umachines.com
   www.umachines.com
Location: Single
Congr. District: 27
County: Los Angeles

Phase I

Contract Number: ----------
Start Date: ----    Completed: ----
Phase I year
2004
Phase I Amount
$70,000
The objective of this proposal is to demonstrate the feasibility of manufacturing large-throw, low cross-talk, high resolution and fast responding-speed wavefront control devices based on micro-electro-mechanical (MEMS) fabrication process. The device consists of Segmented Membrane Arrays (SMA) and bottom electrodes with Backside Solder Bump (BSB). The design is going to use arrays of mirror pixels to eliminate the cross talk with adjacent elements, which is usually observed in continuous membrane devices. Each mirror pixel could perform both piston motion and tip-tilt motion to eliminate diffraction noise from the mirror edges. Since each mirror pixel is independent from each other, the resonant frequency of the arrays will not decrease as the array aperture scales up. The BSB provides the packaging solution for high-resolution devices by direct electric contact through solder bump, instead of conventional wire bond techniques. It opens new opportunities to make ideal deformable mirrors with large-throw and independent addressing capabilities.

Phase II

Contract Number: ----------
Start Date: ----    Completed: ----
Phase II year
2005
Phase II Amount
$750,000
___(NOTE: Note: no official Abstract exists of this Phase II projects. Abstract is modified by idi from relevant Phase I data. The specific Phase II work statement and objectives may differ)___ The objective of this proposal is to demonstrate the feasibility of manufacturing large-throw, low cross-talk, high resolution and fast responding-speed wavefront control devices based on micro-electro-mechanical (MEMS) fabrication process. The device consists of Segmented Membrane Arrays (SMA) and bottom electrodes with Backside Solder Bump (BSB). The design is going to use arrays of mirror pixels to eliminate the cross talk with adjacent elements, which is usually observed in continuous membrane devices. Each mirror pixel could perform both piston motion and tip-tilt motion to eliminate diffraction noise from the mirror edges. Since each mirror pixel is independent from each other, the resonant frequency of the arrays will not decrease as the array aperture scales up. The BSB provides the packaging solution for high-resolution devices by direct electric contact through solder bump, instead of conventional wire bond techniques. It opens new opportunities to make ideal deformable mirrors with large-throw and independent addressing capabilities.