System and method of sensing actuation and release voltages of an interferometric modulator
First Claim
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1. A system comprising:
- one or more electromechanical devices;
a drive circuit configured to apply one or more test voltages or currents; and
a sensing circuit configured to sense a state of at least one of the one or more electromechanical devices and determine one or both of an actuation voltage and a release voltage based at least in part on the sensed state of the at least one of the one or more electromechanical devices, wherein the sensing circuit is further configured to compare a sensed voltage of said at least one of the one or more electromechanical devices to a threshold voltage.
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Abstract
A method for sensing the actuation and/or release voltages of a electromechanical system or a microelectromechanical device include applying a varying voltage to the device and sensing its state and different voltage levels. In one embodiment, the device is part of a system comprising an array of interferometric modulators suitable for a display. The method can be used to compensate for temperature dependent changes in display pixel characteristics.
40 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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one or more electromechanical devices; a drive circuit configured to apply one or more test voltages or currents; and a sensing circuit configured to sense a state of at least one of the one or more electromechanical devices and determine one or both of an actuation voltage and a release voltage based at least in part on the sensed state of the at least one of the one or more electromechanical devices, wherein the sensing circuit is further configured to compare a sensed voltage of said at least one of the one or more electromechanical devices to a threshold voltage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of determining one or both of an actuation voltage and a release voltage, the method comprising:
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applying one or more test voltages or current to at least one electromechanical device; comparing a sensed voltage of the at least one electromechanical device to a threshold voltage; determining a state of the at least one electromechanical device based on the comparison; and determining one or both of an actuation voltage and a release voltage based at least in part on the determined state of the at least one electromechanical device. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A method of modifying a drive voltage, the method comprising:
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applying a first test voltage or current to charge an electromechanical device for a first predetermined amount of time; comparing a first sensed voltage of the electromechanical device to a threshold voltage; determining a first actuation or release voltage based on the comparing of the first sensed voltage; applying a second test voltage or current to charge the electromechanical device for a second predetermined amount of time; comparing a second sensed voltage of the electromechanical device to the threshold voltage; determining a second actuation or release voltage based on the comparing of the second sensed voltage; and modifying the drive voltage based on the determined first and second actuation or release voltages to control a voltage at which the electromechanical device is actuated or released. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A system for determining one or both of an actuation voltage and a release voltage, the method comprising:
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means for applying one or more test voltages or current to at least one electromechanical device; means for comparing a sensed voltage of the at least one electromechanical device to a threshold voltage; means for determining a state of the at least one electromechanical device based on the comparison; and means for determining one or both of an actuation voltage and a release voltage based at least in part on the determined state of the at least one electromechanical device. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A system for calibrating a drive voltage, the system comprising:
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means for applying a first test voltage or current to charge an electromechanical device for a first predetermined amount of time; means for comparing a first sensed voltage of the electromechanical device to a threshold voltage; means for determining a first actuation or release voltage based on the comparing of the first sensed voltage; means for applying a second test voltage or current to charge the electromechanical device for a second predetermined amount of time; means for comparing a second sensed voltage of the electromechanical device to the threshold voltage; means for determining a second actuation or release voltage based on the comparing of the second sensed voltage; and means for modifying the drive voltage based on the determined first and second actuation or release voltages to control a voltage at which the electromechanical device is actuated or released. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification