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Friday TECHtionary.com TECH-Tip – Micro Mirrors Move Your TV, WiFi and Optical NetworksThe animated TECH-Tip tutorial is available at http://www.techtionary.com Summary Micro mirror technology has an increasing number of applications. From optical switching, WiFi-Wireless Fidelity and other RF-Radio Frequency antennas to television sets, MEMS is emerging as a powerful new force in semiconductor technology. Details The concept behind a micromirror is to move one part to reflect light in a different way (shown here) or RF-Radio Frequency in a different direction (direct the pattern to provide user access). Here is a closer look at the chip level of a DMD-Digital Mirror Device fabrication process. The hinges are 600 angstroms covered with multiple layers of SiO2 (silicon oxide). The mirror and yoke are made of aluminum. As more details become available they will be added. DMDs are fabricated into chips based on desired video formats such as: NTSC-National Television Systems Committee 320x~480 pixels, PAL-Phase Alternating Line 320x720 pixels, SXGA-Super Extended Graphics Array 1280x1024 pixels, or higher pixel resolutions such as 7056x64 pixels for printing applications. While 4-bit digital coding (words) offer 16 grey levels, 8-bit digital coding offer 28 256 grey levels. That is, white is 11111111 and black 00000000. The light modulation process is called BPM-Binary Pulsewidth Modulation. Integrating RGB-Red-Green-Blue with 256 grey levels various types of rear or front projection screen systems will emerge. The optical MEMS-Micro Electro-Mechanical Switch is composed of oxide layers which are sculpted away to create shapes (like the mirrors) similar to a computer chip. A signal is sent to an electrode that tells the mirror, in advance, to tilt. The mirror tilts because of a voltage applied creating a magnetic field moving the switch. TECHtionary http://www.techtionary.com is the World's First and Largest Animated (rich media) Library/Magazine on Technology - Web Hosting Magazine’s Editor’s Choice for Technical Help. TECHtionary has more than 2,680+ free tutorials on data, internet, wireless, VoIP-Voice over Internet Protocol (internet telephony), PBX systems, central office switching, protocols, telephony, telecommunications, networking, routing, IPTV, WiMax, power systems, broadband, WiFi-Wireless Fidelity and other technologies. TECHtionary.com provides "just enough – just-in-time" critical success information. TECHtionary produces animated sales brochures, virtual installation manuals and animated web infomercials proven to "increase revenues, decrease customer support costs and increase customer satisfaction." Tom Cross CEO of TECHtionary is the Security and Emerging Technology Columnist for TMCnet, Technology Columnist for Telecommunications Magazine and member of the Technical Board of Advisors for the VOIP-Security Alliance http://www.voipsa.org. TECHtionary also publishes animated medical tutorials at http://www.msnopedia.com. Job opportunities and postings can be found at Ciscopedia – http://www.ciscopedia.com. |