Blocked stepped address voltage for micromechanical devices

• US 6,480,177 B2
• Filed: 06/02/1998
• Issued: 11/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Chu, Henry, Doherty, Donald B., Huffman, James D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Henry N.
• Application Number:
  US09/088,673
• Publication Number:
  US 20010011978A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,624 Days
• Field of Search: 345/51, 345/84, 345/85, 345/87, 345/90, 345/94, 345/103, 345/100, 348/750, 348/770
• US Class Current: 345/84
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/062 Waveforms for resetting a plurality of scan lines at a time
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/346 based on modulation of the reflection angle, e.g. micromirrors micromirrors devices per se G02B26/0833

Abstract

A method of addressing an array of spatial light modulator elements. The method divides the array into blocks of elements, provides reset lines (MRST) to each of the block of elements, separate from the other blocks of elements, as well as address voltage supplies (VCC_ADDR) to each of the block of elements, separate from the other blocks of elements, addresses data to each of the blocks independent of the other blocks, resets each of the blocks, and steps address voltage to each of the block, where only blocks that are being reset receive the stepped address voltage. A spatial light modulator array (32) is also provided that has a layout to facilitate the method, including internal or external circuitry (34) to provide control of the stepped addressing voltages.

Claims

1. A method of addressing an array of spatial light modulator elements, comprising the steps of:

dividing the array into blocks of elements;

providing reset lines to each of the blocks of elements, separate from the other blocks of elements;

providing address voltage supplies to each of the blocks of elements, separate from the other blocks of elements;

sending address data to each of the blocks independent of sending address data to the other blocks;

resetting each of the blocks to respond to the address data independent of the other blocks; and

stepping address voltage to each of the blocks of elements, such that only the blocks of elements that are being reset receive the stepped address voltage.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the array of elements further comprises an array of digital micromirrors.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the address voltage supplies further comprise one address line to be shared by each pair of adjacent rows of the array.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of stepping address voltage further comprises using logic to determine which blocks receive the stepped address voltage.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of stepping address voltage further comprises stepping the address voltage only to those address electrodes receiving data corresponding to a one.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of stepping address voltage includes decoding row addresses for row to which the stepped address voltage is to be applied.

7. A spatial light modulator comprising an array of individually addressable elements on one substrate divided into blocks, comprising:

reset lines for each block, such that each of the reset lines is independent of other reset lines;

address voltage supplies for each block, such that each of the address voltage supplies is independent of other address voltage supplies; and

logic circuitry for determining which of the blocks is being reset and for stepping the address voltage supply for the blocks being reset.

8. The modulator of claim 7, wherein the address voltage supplies are laid out to have one address voltage line shared between each pair of adjacent rows of each block.

9. A method of addressing an array of spatial light modulator elements, comprising the steps of:

dividing the array into blocks of elements;

providing reset lines to each of the blocks of elements, separate from the other blocks of elements;

providing address voltage supplies to each of the blocks of elements, separate from the other blocks of elements, said address voltage supplies having an address voltage line shared by each pair of adjacent row of the array;

sending address data to each of the blocks independent of sending address data to the other blocks;

resetting each of the blocks to respond to the address data independent of the other blocks; and

stepping an address voltage to each of the blocks of elements, such that only the blocks of elements that are being reset receive the stepped address voltage.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the array of elements further comprises an array of digital micromirrors.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of stepping address voltage further comprises using logic to determine which blocks receive the stepped address voltage.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of stepping address voltage further comprises stepping the address voltage only to those address electrodes receiving data corresponding to a one.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of stepping address voltage includes decoding row addresses for row to which the stepped address voltage is to be applied.

14. A spatial light modulator comprising an array of individually addressable elements on one substrate divided into blocks, comprising:

reset lines for each block, such that each of the reset lines is independent of other reset lines; and

address voltage supplies for each block, such that each of the address voltage supplies is independent of other address voltage supplies, said address supplies having an address voltage line shared between each pair of adjacent rows of each block.

15. The modulator of claim 14, further comprising logic circuitry for determining which of the address voltage supplies should be stepped.

16. The modulator of claim 15, wherein the logic circuitry is on the substrate with the array.

17. The modulator of claim 15, wherein the logic circuitry is separate from the substrate.