Title :
Dynamic MEMS-based photonic bandgap filter
Author :
Trimm, Rebecca H. ; Tuck, Eric J. ; Tuck, Gerald ; Buncick, Milan C. ; Kranz, Mike ; Reiner, Phil ; Temmen, Mark G. ; Ashley, Paul R.
Author_Institution :
AEgis Technol. Group Inc., Huntsville, AL, USA
Abstract :
This paper presents the development of an integrated fast filtering system using a photonic band gap (PBG) filter and a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) actuator. The actuator varies the air-gap thickness between two PBG stacks to vary the optical transmission of the stack. The switch is a fast, reliable, electrically driven filter that can be fully integrated with current focal plane array technologies. The filter has been developed to have "on" and "off" states in the 3-5-μm wavelength range. The device can be easily tailored for use in other wavebands. It can be stacked to increase the on/off contrast. This MEMS/PBG filter can be hybridized into existing optical system designs, and it can also be integrated into new optical system designs.
Keywords :
active filters; band-pass filters; focal planes; microactuators; optical design techniques; optical filters; photonic band gap; 3 to 5 micron; MEMS-based photonic bandgap filter; active filter; air-gap thickness; bandpass filter; electrically driven filter; fast filtering system; focal plane array technology; microactuator; microelectromechanical system actuator; optical filter; optical system design; optical transmission; thin film; tunable filter; Band pass filters; Filtering; Micromechanical devices; Optical films; Optical filters; Optical saturation; Optical sensors; Photonic band gap; Sensor arrays; Sensor systems; Active filter; bandpass filters; microactuators; optical filter; thin films; tunable filters;
Journal_Title :
Sensors Journal, IEEE
DOI :
10.1109/JSEN.2005.858895
