Electro-optical measurement of hysteresis in interferometric modulators
First Claim
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1. A method of determining electrical parameters for driving a plurality of interferometric modulators, comprising:
- applying a time-varying voltage stimulus to a plurality of interferometric modulators which are stable in an actuated state and a non-actuated state, wherein the time-varying voltage stimulus includes positive voltages higher than a positive actuation potential of the interferometric modulators and negative voltages lower than a negative actuation potential of the interferometric modulators;
detecting reflectivity of light from the interferometric modulators; and
determining one or more electrical parameters from said reflectivity of light in response to said time-varying voltage stimulus, the electrical parameters comprising an amplitude of an offset voltage in the interferometric modulators.
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Abstract
Disclosed herein are methods and apparatus for testing interferometric modulators. The interferometric modulators may be tested by applying a time-varying voltage stimulus and measuring the resulting reflectivity from the modulators.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of determining electrical parameters for driving a plurality of interferometric modulators, comprising:
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applying a time-varying voltage stimulus to a plurality of interferometric modulators which are stable in an actuated state and a non-actuated state, wherein the time-varying voltage stimulus includes positive voltages higher than a positive actuation potential of the interferometric modulators and negative voltages lower than a negative actuation potential of the interferometric modulators; detecting reflectivity of light from the interferometric modulators; and determining one or more electrical parameters from said reflectivity of light in response to said time-varying voltage stimulus, the electrical parameters comprising an amplitude of an offset voltage in the interferometric modulators. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system for testing a plurality of interferometric modulators, comprising:
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an illumination source adapted to provide incident light to a plurality of interferometric modulators; a voltage source adapted to apply voltages to a plurality of interferometric modulators which are stable in an actuated state and a non-actuated state, the voltages including at least one positive voltage higher than a positive actuation potential of the interferometric modulators and at least one negative voltage lower than a negative actuation potential of the interferometric modulators; an optical detector adapted to detect light reflected from the plurality of interferometric modulators; and a computer adapted to determine one or more electrical parameters from said detected light, the electrical parameters comprising an amplitude of an offset voltage in the interferometric modulators. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of testing a plurality of interferometric modulators, comprising:
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applying a time-varying voltage waveform to a plurality of interferometric modulators which are stable in an actuated state and a non-actuated state, wherein the time-varying voltage waveform includes positive voltages higher than a positive actuation potential of the interferometric modulators and negative voltages lower than a negative going actuation of the interferometric modulators; detecting reflectivity of light from the interferometric modulators; repeating said applying and detecting steps one or more times; averaging at least a portion of the detected reflectivity; and determining one or more electrical parameters from said averaged reflectivity, the electrical parameters comprising an amplitude of an offset voltage in the interferometric modulators.
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18. A method of testing a color interferometric modulator display, the display comprising a plurality of sub-pixel types, each sub-pixel type corresponding to a different color, the method comprising:
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applying a time-varying voltage waveform to one sub-pixel type, wherein the time-varying voltage waveform includes positive voltages higher than a positive actuation potential of interferometric modulators in the display which are stable in an actuated state and a non-actuated state and negative voltages lower than a negative actuation potential of the interferometric modulators; detecting reflectivity of light from said sub-pixel type; determining one or more electrical parameters from said detecting, the electrical parameters comprising an amplitude of an offset voltage in the interferometric modulators; and repeating said applying, detecting, and determining steps for another sub-pixel type.
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19. A system for testing a plurality of interferometric modulators, comprising:
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means for applying a time-varying voltage waveform to a plurality of interferometric modulators which are stable in an actuated state and a non-actuated state, wherein the time-varying voltage waveform includes positive voltages higher than a positive actuation potential of the interferometric modulators and negative voltages lower than a negative actuation potential of the interferometric modulators; means for detecting reflectivity of light from the interferometric modulators; and means for determining one or more electrical parameters based on said detected reflectivity, the electrical parameters comprising an amplitude of an offset voltage in the interferometric modulators. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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Specification