System and method of sensing actuation and release voltages of an interferometric modulator
AssigneeQUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
InventorsMarc Mignard, Clarence Chui, Mithran C. Mathew, Jeffrey B. Sampsell
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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.
Claims22
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.
A method of determining one or both of an actuation voltage and a release voltage, the method comprising:
- 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.
A method of modifying a drive voltage, the method comprising:
- applying a first test voltage or current to charge an electromechanical device for a first predetermined amount of time;
- sensing a first state of the electromechanical device to determine a first actuation or release voltage;
- applying a second test voltage or current to charge the electromechanical device for a second predetermined amount of time;
- sensing a second state of the electromechanical device to determine a second actuation or release 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.
A system for determining one or both of an actuation voltage and a release voltage, the method comprising:
- 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.
A system for calibrating a drive voltage, the system comprising:
- means for applying a first test voltage or current to charge an electromechanical device for a first predetermined amount of time;
- means for sensing a first state of the electromechanical device to determine a first actuation or release voltage;
- means for applying a second test voltage or current to charge the electromechanical device for a second predetermined amount of time;
- means for sensing a second state of the electromechanical device to determine a second actuation or release 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.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.