Patents by Inventor Douglas J. Weaver

Douglas J. Weaver has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Unsticking mirror elements of digital micromirror device
    Patent number: 5717513
    Abstract: A method of repositioning mirror elements (10) of a digital micromirror device (DMD) that have become stuck in an "on" or an "off" position. The mirror element (10) is irradiated with a short high-energy pulse of visible light. The method may be easily performed during fabrication at the wafer level, and may be followed by a passivation step to prevent further sticking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Douglas J. Weaver
  • Grated landing area to eliminate sticking of micro-mechanical devices
    Patent number: 5665997
    Abstract: A digital micro-mirror device (10), whose contacting elements (11, 17) are not prone to stick together. In the case of a deflecting mirror device, landing electrodes (17) are covered with a grating (19), which reduces the contacting area but still permits conduction between the mirror (11) and the landing electrode (17). Alternatively, the landing electrode (17) can be fabricated as a grated surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Douglas J. Weaver, John N. Randall
  • Repair of digital micromirror device having white defects
    Patent number: 5617242
    Abstract: A method of repairing mirror elements of a digital micromirror device (DMD) that have become stuck in an "on" position. The mirror element (10) is located and targeted with a laser beam. The wavelength, pulse duration, and power of the radiation is selected so that the mirror component (11) of the defective mirror element (10) will be ablated without affecting the underlying circuitry or neighboring mirror elements (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Douglas J. Weaver
  • Demultiplexer for wavelength-multiplexed optical signal
    Patent number: 5524155
    Abstract: A demultiplexer (10) for a wavelength-multiplexed optical signal. A series of optical filters (13) along an input line (12) each select a signal component of a given wavelength. An optical shutter (14) receives the output of each filter (13), and is operated so as to either block or pass the filtered signal component. The filters (13) and shutters (14) may be made using integrated circuit fabrication techniques, and the entire demultiplexer (10) may be made as a monolithic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1996
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Douglas J. Weaver