Abstract: A micro-optical bench device is fabricated by a process that provides control over one or more properties of the micro-optical bench device and/or one or more properties of optical surfaces in the micro-optical bench device. The process includes etching a substrate to form a permanent structure including optical elements and a temporary structure. The shape of the temporary structure and gaps between the temporary structure and permanent structure facilitate control of a property of the micro-optical bench and/or optical surfaces therein. The process further includes removing the temporary structure from an optical path of the micro-optical bench device.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to an integrated optical probe card and a system for performing wafer testing of optical micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) structures with an in-plane optical axis. On-wafer optical screening of optical MEMS structures may be performed utilizing one or more micro-optical bench components to redirect light between an out-of-plane direction that is perpendicular to the in-plane optical axis to an in-plane direction that is parallel to the in-plane optical axis to enable testing of the optical MEMS structures with vertical injection of the light.

Abstract: A Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) apparatus provides for self-calibration of mirror positioning of a moveable mirror of an interferometer. At least one mirror in the MEMS apparatus includes a non-planar surface. The moveable mirror is coupled to a MEMS actuator having a variable capacitance. The MEMS apparatus includes a capacitive sensing circuit for determining the capacitance of the MEMS actuator at multiple reference positions of the moveable mirror corresponding to a center burst and one or more secondary bursts of an interferogram produced by the interferometer based on the non-planar surface. A calibration module uses the actuator capacitances at the reference positions to compensate for any drift in the capacitive sensing circuit.

Abstract: A Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) interferometer provides for self-calibration of mirror positioning of a moveable mirror. The moveable mirror is coupled to a MEMS actuator having a variable capacitance. The MEMS interferometer includes a capacitive sensing circuit for determining the capacitance of the MEMS actuator at two or more known positions of the moveable mirror and a calibration module for using the actuator capacitances at the known positions to compensate for any drift in the capacitive sensing circuit.

Abstract: A micro-optical bench device is fabricated by a process that provides control over one or more properties of the micro-optical bench device and/or one or more properties of optical surfaces in the micro-optical bench device. The process includes etching a substrate to form a permanent structure including optical elements and a temporary structure. The shape of the temporary structure and gaps between the temporary structure and permanent structure facilitate control of a property of the micro-optical bench and/or optical surfaces therein. The process further includes removing the temporary structure from an optical path of the micro-optical bench device.

Abstract: A shadow mask having two or more levels of openings enables selective step coverage of micro-fabricated structures within a micro-optical bench device. The shadow mask includes a first opening within a top surface of the shadow mask and a second opening within the bottom surface of the shadow mask. The second opening is aligned with the first opening and has a second width less than a first width of the first opening. An overlap between the first opening and the second opening forms a hole within the shadow mask through which selective coating of micro-fabricated structures within the micro-optical bench device may occur.

Abstract: A Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) apparatus provides for self-calibration of mirror positioning of a moveable mirror of an interferometer. At least one mirror in the MEMS apparatus includes a non-planar surface. The moveable mirror is coupled to a MEMS actuator having a variable capacitance. The MEMS apparatus includes a capacitive sensing circuit for determining the capacitance of the MEMS actuator at multiple reference positions of the moveable mirror corresponding to a center burst and one or more secondary bursts of an interferogram produced by the interferometer based on the non-planar surface. A calibration module uses the actuator capacitances at the reference positions to compensate for any drift in the capacitive sensing circuit.

Abstract: A spatial splitting-based optical Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) Interferometer includes a spatial splitter for spatially splitting an input beam into two interferometer beams and a spatial combiner for spatially combining the two interferometer beams. A MEMS moveable mirror is provided to produce an optical path difference between the first interferometer beam and the second interferometer beam.

Abstract: A spatial splitting-based optical Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) Interferometer includes a spatial splitter for spatially splitting an input beam into two interferometer beams and a spatial combiner for spatially combining the two interferometer beams. A MEMS moveable mirror is provided to produce an optical path difference between the first interferometer beam and the second interferometer beam.

Abstract: An optical Micro Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) device provides an optical path retardation multiplier. The MEMS device includes a moveable corner cube reflector, a fixed minor and a MEMS actuator. The moveable corner cube reflector is optically coupled to receive an incident beam and reflect the incident beam through 180 degrees towards the fixed mirror. The fixed minor is optically coupled to reflect a reflected beam back towards the moveable corner cube reflector along a reverse path of the incident beam. The MEMS actuator is coupled to the moveable corner cube reflector to cause a displacement of the moveable corner cube reflector to extend an optical path length of the reflected beam.

Abstract: A Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) interferometer provides for self-calibration of mirror positioning of a moveable mirror. The moveable mirror is coupled to a MEMS actuator having a variable capacitance. The MEMS interferometer includes a capacitive sensing circuit for determining the capacitance of the MEMS actuator at two or more known positions of the moveable mirror and a calibration module for using the actuator capacitances at the known positions to compensate for any drift in the capacitive sensing circuit.

Abstract: A Micro Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) spectrometer architecture compensates for verticality and dispersion problems using balancing interfaces. A MEMS spectrometer/interferometer includes a beam splitter formed on a first surface of a first medium at an interface between the first medium and a second medium, a first mirror formed on a second surface of the first medium, a second mirror formed on a third surface of the first medium and balancing interfaces designed to minimize both a difference in tilt angles between the surfaces and a difference in phase errors between beams reflected from the first and second mirrors.

Abstract: An electrostatic comb drive actuator for a MEMS device includes a flexure spring assembly and first and second comb drive assemblies, each coupled to the flexure spring assembly on opposing sides thereof. Each of the first and second comb assemblies includes fixed comb drive fingers and moveable comb drive fingers coupled to the flexure spring assembly and extending towards the fixed comb drive fingers. The comb drive fingers are divided equally between the first and second comb drive assemblies and placed symmetrically about a symmetry axis of the flexure spring assembly. When electrically energized, the moveable comb drive fingers of both the first and second comb drive assemblies simultaneously move towards the fixed comb drive fingers of the first and second comb drive assemblies.

Abstract: A Micro Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) spectrometer architecture compensates for verticality and dispersion problems using balancing interfaces. A MEMS spectrometer/interferometer includes a beam splitter formed on a first surface of a first medium at an interface between the first medium and a second medium, a first mirror formed on a second surface of the first medium, a second mirror formed on a third surface of the first medium and balancing interfaces designed to minimize both a difference in tilt angles between the surfaces and a difference in phase errors between beams reflected from the first and second mirrors.

Abstract: An optical Micro Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) device provides an optical path retardation multiplier. The MEMS device includes a moveable corner cube reflector, a fixed minor and a MEMS actuator. The moveable corner cube reflector is optically coupled to receive an incident beam and reflect the incident beam through 180 degrees towards the fixed mirror. The fixed minor is optically coupled to reflect a reflected beam back towards the moveable corner cube reflector along a reverse path of the incident beam. The MEMS actuator is coupled to the moveable corner cube reflector to cause a displacement of the moveable corner cube reflector to extend an optical path length of the reflected beam.

Abstract: An electrostatic comb drive actuator for a MEMS device includes a flexure spring assembly and first and second comb drive assemblies, each coupled to the flexure spring assembly on opposing sides thereof. Each of the first and second comb assemblies includes fixed comb drive fingers and moveable comb drive fingers coupled to the flexure spring assembly and extending towards the fixed comb drive fingers. The comb drive fingers are divided equally between the first and second comb drive assemblies and placed symmetrically about a symmetry axis of the flexure spring assembly. When electrically energized, the moveable comb drive fingers of both the first and second comb drive assemblies simultaneously move towards the fixed comb drive fingers of the first and second comb drive assemblies.