Method and system for actuating electro-mechanical ribbon elements in accordance to a data stream

• US 6,144,481 A
• Filed: 12/18/1998
• Issued: 11/07/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Karns, Darren, Kowarz, Marek W., Kruschwitz, Brian E., Brazas, John C. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Epps, Georgia
• Assistant Examiner(s): BURKE, MARGARET A
• Application Number:
  US09/215,106
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• Field of Search: 359/290, 359/291, 359/292, 359/295, 359/572, 359/573
• US Class Current: 359/291
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0808 by means of one or more diffracting elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/1828 having means for producing variable diffraction controlling the direction of light by means of one or more diffracting elements G02B26/0808; acousto-optical elements G02F1/11, G02F1/33; electro- or magneto-optical diffraction G02F1/292, G02F1/2955
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/7416 involving the use of a spatial light modulator, e.g. a light valve, controlled by a video signal

Abstract

A method is disclosed for actuating electromechanical ribbon elements which are suspended over a channel. The channel defines a bottom surface having a bottom conductive layer formed below said bottom surface. A data generator provides a data stream. The data generator is connected to a modulator for generating from said data stream a modulated bipolar voltage signal whose time average is equal to the time average of a bias voltage applied to the bottom conductive layer. The data generator and the modulator are necessary to carry out the method. The method comprises the steps of: providing a data stream; generating from said data stream a modulated bipolar voltage signal whose time average is equal to the time average of a bias voltage applied to the bottom conductive layer; and applying said modulated bipolar voltage signal to the ribbon elements.

Claims

1. A method for actuating electro-mechanical ribbon elements suspended over a channel defining a bottom surface and having a bottom conductive layer formed below said bottom surface, the method comprises the steps of:

providing a data stream;

generating from said data stream a modulated bipolar voltage signal whose time average is equal to the time average of a bias voltage applied to the bottom conductive layer; and

applying said modulated bipolar voltage signal to the ribbon elements.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the generating step comprises the steps of:

providing a bipolar actuation voltage with respect to the bias voltage applied to the bottom conductive layer; and

multiplying the data stream with the bipolar actuation voltage to create the modulated bipolar voltage signal.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the bipolar actuation voltage and the data stream are generated in accordance to one clock signal.

4. The method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the data stream is pulse width modulated.

5. The method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the data stream is pulse amplitude modulated.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 comprises:

generating the modulated bipolar voltage signal in accordance to the data stream wherein each pulse width of the data stream produces two pulses of equal width and opposite polarity in the modulated bipolar voltage signal with respect to the bias voltage applied to the bottom conductive layer.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the polarity of the modulated bipolar voltage signal is controlled by polarity control counter.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the bias voltage applied to the bottom conductive layer has a consort value.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8 wherein the constant value of the bias voltage applied to the bottom conductive layer is zero.

10. A system for actuating electro-mechanical ribbon elements suspended over a channel defining a bottom surface and having a bottom conductive layer formed below said bottom surface the system comprises:

a data generator for providing a data stream; and

a modulator for generating from said data stream a modulated bipolar voltage signal whose time average is equal to the time average of a bias voltage applied to the bottom conductive layer.

11. The system as claimed in claim 10 comprises an actuation voltage generator for providing a bipolar actuation voltage to the modulator.

12. The system as claimed in claim 11 comprises a clock signal generator for producing a periodic signal and applying simultaneously said periodic signal to said actuation voltage generator and said data generator.

13. The system as claimed in claim 10 comprises a bias voltage generator for providing the bias voltage to the bottom conductive layer.

14. A system for actuating electro-mechanical ribbon elements suspended over a channel defining a bottom surface and having a bottom conductive layer formed below said bottom surface the system comprises:

a data generator for providing a data stream;

a polarity control counter; and

a modulator for generating from the data stream a modulated bipolar voltage signal controlled by said polarity control counter.