Complemetary reset scheme for micromechanical devices

• US 5,835,336 A
• Filed: 02/24/1997
• Issued: 11/10/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: White, Lionel S., Knipe, Richard L., Carter, Duane E.
• Primary Examiner(s): FLEMING, FRITZ M
• Application Number:
  US08/818,466
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 361/233, 361/234, 200/181, 200/404
• US Class Current: 361/233
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0841 the reflecting element being moved or deformed by electrostatic means
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 1/006 of the gap-closing type H02N1/004 takes precedence

Abstract

A method of operating a micromechanical device. The device is in a first state. Data for the next state of the device is loaded onto the activation circuitry of the device, where the next state may be the same state the device is currently in, or a state different from the first state. The equilibrium of the device is shifted away from the next state, by making the data appear complementary to the true data for the next state. When the trapping field is removed or lowered, and a signal to start the transition is provided, the device moves to its new state and the trapping field is reapplied. The data can be made to look complementary by either loading the complements to the true data, or by reversing the polarity of the trapping field.

Claims

1. A method for operating a micromechanical device in a first state, comprising the steps of:

loading data for a next state of said device onto activation circuitry of said device, while holding said device in said first state by means of a trapping field;

manipulating fields to shift equilibrium opposite to said next state;

reducing strength of said trapping field on said device;

providing a signal which causes said device to transition to said next state; and

reapplying said trapping field to hold said device in said next state.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said manipulating step further comprises loading complementary data on said activation circuitry.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said manipulating step further comprises reversing the polarity of said trapping field, thereby making said data appear to be complementary.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said next state is a state substantially similar to said first state.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said next state is a state different than said first state.