UC Berkeley

In this paper, we present the design, fabrication, and measurements of a two-dimensional (2-D) optical scanner with electrostatic angular vertical comb (AVC) actuators. The scanner is realized by combining a foundry-based surface-micromachining process (Multi-User MEMS Processes-MUMPs) with a three-mask deep-reactive ion-etching (DRIE) postfabrication process. The surface-micromachining provides versatile mechanical design and electrical interconnect while the bulk micromachining offers high-aspect ratio structures leading to flat mirrors and high-force, large-displacement actuators. The scanner achieves dc mechanical scanning ranges of +/- 6.2 degrees (at 55 Vdc) and +/- 4.1 degrees (at 50 Vdc) for the inner and outer gimbals, respectively. The resonant frequencies are 315 and 144 Hz for the inner and the outer axes, respectively. The 1-mm-diameter mirror has a radius of curvature of over 50 cm.