Steerable optical assemblies

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10890755-B2
Application number	US-201815993435-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 30, 2018
Priority date	May 30, 2018
Publication date	Jan 12, 2021
Grant date	Jan 12, 2021

Abstract

The description relates to computing devices that employ steerable optics. One example includes a steering mechanism and a base substrate positioned relative to the steering mechanism. The example also includes an optical substrate positioned over the base substrate and an adhesive complex securing the optical substrate relative to the base substrate with multiple different types of adhesives.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A device, comprising:
a steering mechanism;
a base substrate extending along a plane and positioned relative to the steering mechanism;
an optical substrate positioned over the base substrate; and,
an adhesive complex securing the optical substrate relative to the base substrate, the adhesive complex comprising a first adhesive extending completely between a first portion of the base substrate and a first portion of the optical substrate and that imparts a relatively greater distortive force per unit area between the optical substrate and the base substrate and a second adhesive that is spaced apart laterally along the plane from the first adhesive and that extends completely between a second portion of the base substrate and a second portion of the optical substrate and that imparts a relatively less distortive force per unit area between the optical substrate and the base substrate.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the steering mechanism comprises a magnetic coil and a magnetic field generator.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the optical substrate comprises a mirror, a lens, or a prism.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the optical substrate is designed to extend along another plane.

5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the first portion of the optical substrate deviates from the another plane away from the base substrate and the second portion that deviates away from the another plane deviates toward the base substrate.

6. The device of claim 5 , wherein the first adhesive is secured to the first portion and the second adhesive is secured to the second portion.

7. The device of claim 6 , wherein the first adhesive experiences a greater change in volume when transitioning from a more flowable application state to a more rigid securing state.

8. The device of claim 7 , wherein the base substrate includes a retainment feature that limits migration of the second adhesive in the more flowable application state.

9. The device of claim 8 , wherein the base substrate includes other retainment features that limit migration of the first adhesive in the more flowable application state.

10. The device of claim 8 , wherein the retainment feature is formed on a first surface of the base substrate that faces the optical substrate.

11. The device of claim 10 , wherein the retainment feature is formed into the base substrate through the first surface.

12. The device of claim 10 , wherein locations of the retainment feature is based upon contours of the optical substrate away from the plane.

13. A device, comprising:
a steering mechanism;
a base substrate positioned relative to the steering mechanism;
an optical substrate positioned over the base substrate; and,
an adhesive complex securing the optical substrate relative to the base substrate with a first adhesive having first contraction properties and a second adhesive having second contraction properties, the first adhesive extending completely between a first portion of the base substrate and a corresponding first portion of the optical substrate and the second adhesive being spaced apart from and not contacting the first adhesive and extending completely between a second portion of the base substrate and a corresponding second portion of the optical substrate.

14. The device of claim 13 , wherein the adhesive complex comprises less than 10% of a total area of the optical substrate.

15. The device of claim 13 , wherein the contraction properties are contraction coefficients between an application state and a cured state.

16. The device of claim 15 , wherein the application state is a relatively more flowable state and the cured state is a relatively less flowable state.

17. The device of claim 13 , wherein adhesive of the adhesive complex is aligned with deviations of the optical substrate from a planar configuration.

18. The device of claim 17 , further comprising retainment features on the base substrate that align with the deviations.

19. The device of claim 18 , wherein the retainment features are formed into the base substrate.

20. A device, comprising:
a display; and,
a steerable configuration-enhancing optical assembly comprising a base substrate secured to an optical substrate by multiple discrete adhesives having different contraction properties from one another and that are spaced apart from one another along the base substrate and individual discrete adhesives extend completely between the base substrate and the optical substrate.

Assignees

• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• Pu Chuan
• Wang Jincheng
• Maitra Kingsuk
• Nystrom Michael James

Classifications

• G02B26/0833 Primary

  the reflecting element being a micromechanical device, e.g. a MEMS mirror, DMD (G02B26/0825 takes precedence; micromechanical devices in general B81B) · CPC title

• G02B26/085 Primary

  the reflecting means being moved or deformed by electromagnetic means · CPC title

• G02B26/0883

  the refracting element being a prism · CPC title

• G02B7/1821

  for rotating or oscillating mirrors · CPC title

• G02B26/0875

  by means of one or more refracting elements · CPC title