Actuation and calibration of charge neutral electrode of a display device
First Claim
1. A method of calibrating an analog interferometric modulator in a display, comprising:
- applying a calibration voltage across a first electrode and a second electrode to produce an electric field in a gap between the first electrode and the second electrode to move a third electrode, positioned in the gap, towards the first electrode from an electrically isolated first position to an electrically connected second position, the third electrode being subject to a mechanical restorative force; and
electrically connecting the third electrode to one or more conductive posts electrically connected to the first electrode, to change an electric charge on the third electrode when the third electrode is in the second position, until the mechanical restorative force on the third electrode exceeds an electric field force on the third electrode such that the third electrode moves to an electrically isolated third position, the third position being farther away from the first electrode than the second position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This disclosure provides systems, methods, and devices for actuating, charging and calibrating the charge on a movable electrode in electromechanical systems (EMS) devices. The electromechanical systems device can include a first electrode, a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode by a gap, a complementary electrode, at least one electrical contact, and a movable third electrode disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. In one implementation, a method of calibrating charge on the movable electrode of the EMS device includes electrically connecting a complementary electrode to the first electrode to form a compound electrode and applying a calibration voltage across the compound electrode and the second electrode to produce a uniform electric field in the gap. Under the electric field the third electrode moves towards the first electrode until it connects with the at least one electrical contact. Once in contact with the electrical contact, an electrical charge on the third electrode can be changed and calibrated when the third electrode is in a second position. When a mechanical restorative force on the third electrode exceeds the electric force of the uniform electric field on the third electrode, the third electrode then moves to a third position.
376 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method of calibrating an analog interferometric modulator in a display, comprising:
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applying a calibration voltage across a first electrode and a second electrode to produce an electric field in a gap between the first electrode and the second electrode to move a third electrode, positioned in the gap, towards the first electrode from an electrically isolated first position to an electrically connected second position, the third electrode being subject to a mechanical restorative force; and electrically connecting the third electrode to one or more conductive posts electrically connected to the first electrode, to change an electric charge on the third electrode when the third electrode is in the second position, until the mechanical restorative force on the third electrode exceeds an electric field force on the third electrode such that the third electrode moves to an electrically isolated third position, the third position being farther away from the first electrode than the second position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A device for modulating light, comprising:
a display element comprising a first electrode; a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode by a gap, the first electrode and the second electrode configured to produce a non-uniform electric field therebetween when an actuation voltage is applied across the first electrode and the second electrode during an actuation procedure; a complementary electrode aligned laterally relative to the first electrode, the complementary electrode configured to be electrically isolated from the first electrode during the actuation procedure and electrically connected to the first electrode to form a compound electrode during a calibration procedure, the compound electrode and the second electrode configured to produce a uniform electric field therebetween when a calibration voltage is applied across the compound electrode and the second electrode during the calibration procedure; at least one electrical contact disposed on the complementary electrode; and a movable third electrode disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, the third electrode being configured to move within the gap between an electrically isolated first position, a second position in electrical communication with the at least one electrical contact, and an electrically isolated third position, wherein the electrical contact is configured to change an electrical charge on the third electrode when the third electrode is in the second position, and wherein the third electrode is configured to move to the third position after the electrical charge on the third electrode has been changed. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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22. The device of clam 15, wherein the complementary electrode is connected to electrical ground when it is electrically isolated from the first electrode during the actuation procedure and wherein the complementary electrode is electrically connected to the first electrode via switches during the calibration procedure.
Specification