Abstract: A Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) device includes a substrate, an electronic circuit mounted on the substrate, a movable element mounted on the substrate whose movement is controlled by application of an operating voltage by the electronic circuit, a stopper mounted on the substrate that stops the movement of the movable element through mechanical contact of the stopper with the movable element, and an auto-inspection mechanism that applies a test voltage between the movable element and the stopper and determines whether or not a leak current is present. The auto-inspection mechanism is mounted, at least in part, on the substrate. The test voltage is lower than the operating voltage.

Abstract: An image display system includes an array of pixel elements, column drivers, row drivers, a look up table memory, and a controller. Input video data including gradation information of an input image is received. According to rules of a look up table, the input video data is assigned to multiple groups, binary signals for respective groups are generated using the respective input video data assigned to each group, and an order of the binary signals within at least some groups is rearranged to form respective binary control signals without conflicting state changes. The controller transmits the binary control signals to the column drivers and transmits a select signal that selects the row drivers. Alternatively, the controller transmits the binary control signals to the row drivers and transmits a select signal that selects the column drivers. The select and binary control signals are in synchronization with a clock signal.

Abstract: An image display system includes an array of pixel elements, column drivers, row drivers, a look up table memory, and a controller. Input video data including gradation information of an input image is received. According to rules of a look up table, the input video data is assigned to multiple groups, binary signals for respective groups are generated using the respective input video data assigned to each group, and an order of the binary signals within at least some groups is rearranged to form respective binary control signals without conflicting state changes. The controller transmits the binary control signals to the column drivers and transmits a select signal that selects the row drivers. Alternatively, the controller transmits the binary control signals to the row drivers and transmits a select signal that selects the column drivers. The select and binary control signals are in synchronization with a clock signal.

Abstract: A Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) device includes a substrate, an electronic circuit on the substrate, an electrode electrically connected to the electronic circuit, a movable element that is controlled by applying a voltage between the electrode and the movable element, an insulating layer between the electrode and the electronic circuit, and an etch stop layer. The insulating layer has a via electrically connecting the electrode and the electronic circuit, and the etch stop layer is made of at least one of Aluminum nitride or Aluminum oxide. The etch stop layer may cover the electrode and the electronic circuit, or the electrode may be mounted on the etch stop layer, electrically connected to the electronic circuit through the etch stop layer by the via.

Abstract: A micro-electro-mechanical systems device includes a substrate, each of an electronic circuit, an etch stop layer, and a hinge base mounted on the substrate, and an electrode connected to the circuit. A hinge is mounted on the base and is made of a doped semiconductor. The hinge includes a vertical support that extends vertically from the base, and a horizontally-extending hinge tab contacts the vertical support. The device also includes a movable mirror and a mirror via that couples the mirror to the hinge tab. The mirror is electrostatically attracted to the electrode responsive to application of a voltage between the electrode and the mirror, and movement of the mirror changes a relative position between the hinge tab and the vertical support. A stopper is mounted on the substrate that mechanically stops the movement of the mirror before the mirror contacts the electrode or etch stop layer.

Abstract: A package encapsulating electronic components of one or more Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) devices has hermetic seal that enables the use of a frame with rough surface. That is, the frame surrounds the components and is affixed to a surface of the substrate with a frame adhering layer. A cover is affixed to the frame with a cover adhering layer. Each of the frame adhering layer and the cover adhering layer comprises a solder layer between metallic adhesion layers. The solder layer comprises reflowed solder balls. The package enables direct contact of a substrate with a heat sink.

Abstract: A Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) device includes a substrate, an electronic circuit mounted on the substrate, a movable element mounted on the substrate whose movement is controlled by application of an operating voltage by the electronic circuit, a stopper mounted on the substrate that stops the movement of the movable element through mechanical contact of the stopper with the movable element, and an auto-inspection mechanism that applies a test voltage between the movable element and the stopper and determines whether or not a leak current is present. The auto-inspection mechanism is mounted, at least in part, on the substrate. The test voltage is lower than the operating voltage.

Abstract: A receptacle of an electrical-optical hybrid connector including a plug having an insertion fitting part and the receptacle having a housing space that receives the insertion fitting part includes an optical connection part disposed in a space in communication with the housing space, and an electrical connection part disposed in front of the optical connection part, a shutter that is opened when the receptacle and the plug are connected to each other is provided in front of the optical connection part of the receptacle, and the optical connection part of the receptacle moves forward in association with the shutter when the shutter is opened, and moves rearward in association with the shutter when the shutter is closed.

Abstract: In order to fix an optical fiber to a desired position in a holding member easily and tightly, provided is an optical collimator (10) having a plastic optical fiber (13) and a cylindrical holder (11). The holder (11) is configured to hold a collimator lens (12) at an end and has an insertion hole (11a) at an opposite end for inserting the plastic optical fiber (13). The plastic optical fiber (13) is sandwiched by an inner surface of a recess (11e) which is formed at a part of the holder (11) in proper alignment with the collimator lens (12).

Abstract: In an optoelectrical connector that is composed of a plug including an insertion fitting part and a receptacle including a housing space into which the insertion fitting part of the plug is inserted, the plug is provided with an optical connection part on a front end of the insertion fitting part and an electric connection part more rearward than the optical connection part. The receptacle is provided with an optical connection part on the deep side of the housing space and an electric connection part more frontward than the optical connection part. A shutter is formed on the immediate front of the optical connection part of the receptacle and the shutter opens in the optical connection. Deterioration of optical coupling efficiency caused by attachment of metal abrasion powder, which is generated in a slide between the electrical connection parts in the electrical connection, to the optical connection parts, is prevented.

Abstract: In order to fix an optical fiber to a desired position in a holding member easily and tightly, provided is an optical collimator (10) having a plastic optical fiber (13) and a cylindrical holder (11). The holder (11) is configured to hold a collimator lens (12) at an end and has an insertion hole (11a) at an opposite end for inserting the plastic optical fiber (13). The plastic optical fiber (13) is sandwiched by an inner surface of a recess (11e) which is formed at a part of the holder (11) in proper alignment with the collimator lens (12).

Abstract: A receptacle of an electrical-optical hybrid connector including a plug having an insertion fitting part and the receptacle having a housing space that receives the insertion fitting part includes an optical connection part disposed in a space in communication with the housing space, and an electrical connection part disposed in front of the optical connection part, a shutter that is opened when the receptacle and the plug are connected to each other is provided in front of the optical connection part of the receptacle, and the optical connection part of the receptacle moves forward in association with the shutter when the shutter is opened, and moves rearward in association with the shutter when the shutter is closed.

Abstract: In an optoelectrical connector that is composed of a plug including an insertion fitting part and a receptacle including a housing space into which the insertion fitting part of the plug is inserted, the plug is provided with an optical connection part (an optical member) on a front end of the insertion fitting part and an electric connection part (terminals) more rearward than the optical connection part. The receptacle is provided with an optical connection part (an optical member) on the deep side of the housing space and an electric connection part (movable contact pieces of terminals) more frontward than the optical connection part. A shutter is formed on the immediate front of the optical connection part of the receptacle and the shutter opens in the optical connection.

Abstract: A light control apparatus includes a part for splitting an input light entering the light control apparatus through an optical fiber, a photoelectric conversion part for converting a monitor light into an electrical signal, and a third part for controlling the opening and closing of an optical transmission path for a signal light based on the electrical signal. The light power of an output light is controlled by the opening and closing amount of the optical transmission path which is controlled depending on the amount of the electrical signal output in accordance with the level of the monitor light. A semiconductor photovoltaic device capable of performing photoelectric conversion without using an external power source is used as the photoelectric conversion part. An optical shutter using a micromachine, or an optical device such as absorption-type modulator or refractive index-type modulator is used as the third part.

Abstract: A light control apparatus includes a part for splitting an input light entering the light control apparatus through an optical fiber, a photoelectric conversion part for converting a monitor light into an electrical signal, and a third part for controlling the opening and closing of an optical transmission path for a signal light based on the electrical signal. The light power of an output light is controlled by the opening and closing amount of the optical transmission path which is controlled depending on the amount of the electrical signal output in accordance with the level of the monitor light. A semiconductor photovoltaic device capable of performing photoelectric conversion without using an external power source is used as the photoelectric conversion part. An optical shutter using a micromachine, or an optical device such as absorption-type modulator or refractive index-type modulator is used as the third part.

Abstract: An optical module has an optical wave-guide structure formed on a silicon substrate and a laser diode array solder bonded to first pads patterned on the silicon substrate in a self-aligned manner by virtue of surface tension of solder during a reflow stage, and the first pads are shaped into a rectangular parallelopiped configuration so as to make a ratio of a solder bump height to a pad width large without decrease of the volume of the solder bump, thereby generating large surface tension.

Abstract: In a laser device in which a first cladding layer (11b) of InP of p-type, an active layer (12) of InGaAsP, and a second cladding layer (13) of InP of n-type are successively formed on a predetermined area of a base layer (10, 11a) of InP of p-type, a current confining structure includes, to confine a current in the active layer, a pair of first buried layers (14) of InP of p-type on a remaining area of the base layer, a pair of first current blocking layers (15) of InP of n-type on the pair of first buried layers, a pair of second current blocking layers (16) of a semi-insulating InP on the pair of first current blocking layers, and a second buried layer (17) of InP of n-type on the pair of second current blocking layers.

Abstract: In a laser diode element including a front facet, a rear facet, a laser cavity formed between the front the rear facets and which has a predetermined length L, coating layers coated on the front facet to provide a reflectivity smaller than 5%, and an active layer and a uniform grating having regular corrugation formed in the direction of the laser cavity and which are coupled to each other at a predetermined coupling constant K, the laser diode element is specified by a product of the predetermined coupling constant and the predetermined length L and falling within a range between 0.4 and 1.0, both inclusive.

Abstract: In a laser diode element including a front facet, a rear facet, a laser cavity formed between the front rear facets and which has a predetermined length L, coating layers coated on the front facet to provide a reflectivity smaller than 5%, and an active layer and a uniform grating having regular corrugation formed in the direction of the layer cavity and which are coupled to each other at a predetermined coupling constant K, the laser diode element is specified by a product of the predetermined coupling constant and the predetermined length L and falling within a range between 0.4 and 1.0, both inclusive.

Abstract: A distributed-feedback laser has a diffractive grating, an optical waveguide layer, and an active region. The optical waveguide layer has equivalent refractive indexes larger towards cavity end facets and smaller towards a device center portion along a cavity. The active region containing the optical waveguide layer has widths wider towards the cavity end facets and narrower towards the device center portion along the cavity. The optical waveguide layer has a uniform electric intensity distribution along the cavity to improve the linearity of current versus optical output characteristics. In another arrangement, the optical waveguide layer formed on the diffractive grating has in its compositions longer wavelengths towards the cavity end facets and shorter wavelengths towards the cavity center portion along the cavity, whereby the optical waveguide layer has a uniform optical intensity distribution along the cavity to improve the linearity of current versus optical output characteristics.