Chopping of near- and mid-infrared radiation using a curled electrostatic MEMS actuator

David Edward Dausch; Scott H. Goodwin; Gregory J. Exarhos

doi:10.1117/12.488786

10 October 2003 Chopping of near- and mid-infrared radiation using a curled electrostatic MEMS actuator

David Edward Dausch, Scott H. Goodwin, Gregory J. Exarhos

Proceedings Volume 5074, Infrared Technology and Applications XXIX; (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.488786
Event: AeroSense 2003, 2003, Orlando, Florida, United States

Abstract

An electrostatic MEMS actuator known as the “Artificial Eyelid” can be used as a micromechanical chopper for IR detectors. The actuator structure consists of a curled polymer/metal film stack which is microfabricated and released from an IR transparent substrate. The film stack is uncurled by applying an electric field between the curled film and the transparent fixed electrode on the substrate. These flexible film actuators can act as IR choppers, providing transmission of radiation to the sensor elements when open (curled) and reflection when closed (uncurled). Arrays of actuators were fabricated on ITO-coated glass substrates and ranged in size from 4 x 4 mm to 7.5 x 15 mm with individual elements ranging from 250 to 500 μm on a side. Actuation for devices with average radius of curvature of 120 μ was consistently achieved at 150-170 V operation with 98-100% of the elements functioning and long lifetimes. IR chopper characteristics were measured using a blackbody source and pyroelectric detector by applying sine and square wave voltage to the actuators at a frequency of 30 Hz. The capability of the artificial eyelid for chopping near- and mid-IR radiation, including future fabrication of devices using NiCo₂O₄ or NiRh₂O₄ films for IR transparent electrodes, will be discussed.

Citation Download Citation

David Edward Dausch, Scott H. Goodwin, and Gregory J. Exarhos "Chopping of near- and mid-infrared radiation using a curled electrostatic MEMS actuator", Proc. SPIE 5074, Infrared Technology and Applications XXIX, (10 October 2003); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.488786

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