Replication technology using sol-gel materials offers an interesting alternative to the current approach to optical microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) fabricated in silicon using lithographic and micromachining technologies. The use of UV-curable sol-gel materials enables optical features such as microlenses and diffractive optical elements to be fabricated in the same process step as the MEMS structures, and has the potential of low-cost high-resolution mass-production technology. This paper describes progress in work aimed at investigating the potential of this approach.
Published in:
Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of
(Volume:10
,
Issue:
3
)
Date of Publication: May-June 2004