Electrical characterization of interferometric modulators

• US 7,580,176 B2
• Filed: 03/03/2008
• Issued: 08/25/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Snaptrack Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: IDC, LLC
• Inventors: Cummings, William J, Kothari, Manish, Gally, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Choi; William C
• Application Number:
  US12/041,618
• Publication Number:
  US 20080158646A1
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 359/290, 359/295, 438/4
• US Class Current: 359/290
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/001 based on interference in an adjustable optical cavity interference filters G02B5/28; devices or arrangements using multiple reflections in spectrometry or monochromators G01J3/26
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/006 Electronic inspection or testing of displays and display drivers, e.g. of LED or LCD displays testing individual LED's G01R31/2635; testing lamps G01R31/44; testing of optical features of LCD displays G02F1/1309
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3466 based on interferometric effect

Abstract

Disclosed herein are methods and systems for testing the electrical characteristics of reflective displays, including interferometric modulator displays. In one embodiment, a controlled voltage is applied to conductive leads in the display and the resulting current is measured. The voltage may be controlled so as to ensure that interferometric modulators do not actuate during the resistance measurements. Also disclosed are methods for conditioning interferometric modulator display by applying a voltage waveform that causes actuation of interferometric modulators in the display.

Claims

1. A method of repairing a short in a display, comprising applying a voltage across at least two conductive leads through which a short has been measured, said voltage sufficient to actuate at least one display element through which said conductive leads pass.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the display includes interferometric modulators.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the voltage is such that it supplies a net zero charge to the display element.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the voltage includes an alternating square waveform.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the voltage includes a triangular waveform.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the voltage is applied between adjacent rows of conductive leads.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the voltage is applied between adjacent columns of conductive leads.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the voltage is applied between opposite ends of one or more rows or columns of conductive leads.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the voltage is applied between overlapping rows and columns of conductive leads.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the voltage is sufficient to vaporize conductive debris shorting the conductive leads.