Microelectromechanical device array apparatus and method for driving same

A microelectromechanical device array apparatus comprising:

• a device array comprising a plurality of devices one-dimensionally or two-dimensionally arranged, each of the plurality of devices comprising:
• a movable portion elastically deformably supported;
• and comprising
• a movable electrode;
• and
• a plurality of fixed electrodes facing to the movable portion,
• a plurality of drive circuits corresponding to the plurality of devices, each of the drive circuits applying a device-displacing voltage to one of the movable electrode and the plurality of fixed electrodes and applying a control voltage to the other of the movable electrode and the plurality of fixed electrodes so that an electrostatic force between the movable electrode and each of the plurality of fixed electrodes is generated to displace the movable portion toward one of at least two positions including a first position and a second position different from the first position, and
• a control section that controls a displacement of the movable position in each of the plurality of the devices,
• wherein:
• the plurality of devices includes:
• a first device in a first state to be controlled to displace a position of the movable portion from one of the first and second positions to the other of the first and second positions;
• and a second device in a second state to be controlled to maintain a position of the movable portion at one of the first and second positions,
• the control section controls simultaneously the first and second devices so that the position of the movable portion in the first device is displaced while the position of the movable portion in the second device is unmovably maintained,
• the control section reduces an absolute value of the control voltage applied to the first device so that a voltage between the movable electrode and one of the plurality of fixed electrodes provided on a side of moving the movable portion into a voltage having a magnitude upon which the movable portion can be displaced, and
• the control section reduces an absolute value of the control voltage applied to the second device so that a voltage between the movable electrode and one of the plurality of fixed electrodes provided on a side of moving the movable portion into a voltage having a magnitude upon which the movable portion can not be displaced.