Actuator Drive System Splitting High-Resolution Signals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wavelength tunable interference filters require high-resolution drive voltage adjustment to precisely set the gap dimension for target wavelength selection, leading to increased manufacturing costs due to the need for expensive signal generators capable of processing a greater number of digital bits.
Innovation Solution
An actuator drive system that splits a high-resolution drive variable into individual drive variables with fewer digits, allowing for the use of less expensive signal generators while maintaining precision, by applying these variables to multiple actuators with different displacement amounts, enabling both coarse and fine movement control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a greater number of bits (16 bits) is used in the digital signal to adjust drive voltage at higher resolution, then the displacement amount of the actuator can be controlled at higher resolution, but the manufacturing cost of the voltage controller increases due to more expensive signal generators
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides a single high-resolution drive signal into multiple lower-resolution drive signals that are applied to multiple actuators simultaneously. By segmenting the control task across multiple actuators with fewer bits each, the system achieves equivalent high-resolution displacement control without requiring expensive high-bit signal generators, thus resolving the contradiction between control precision and manufacturing cost
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the displacement contributions of multiple actuators to achieve the overall high-resolution displacement control. By merging the effects of multiple lower-resolution actuators working together, the system attains the precision equivalent to a single high-resolution actuator while using cheaper signal generation components
2Manufacturing precision
If a single actuator with high-resolution control is used, then precise gap dimension control is achieved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the control function by using multiple actuators each driven by simpler, lower-resolution signal generators. This segmentation distributes the control complexity across multiple simple components rather than concentrating it in a single complex high-resolution controller, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining control precision
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system achieves precise control of drive voltages with reduced manufacturing costs, allowing for wide-range and high-resolution displacement adjustments, and simplifies the design of the voltage controller and optical module.
Implementation Method 1
an electrostatic attractive force produced in the space between the electrodes in accordance with the drive voltage applied to the actuator changes the distance between the substrates
Data Source
AI summary
An actuator drive system includes electrostatic actuators and a voltage controller that applies drive voltages to the electrostatic actuators, and the voltage controller includes a digital control device that splits an 8-bit drive variable corresponding to an overall displacement amount provided by the electrostatic actuators into 4-bit individual drive variables, a first DAC that produces a first drive voltage signal based on a first individual drive variable, and a second DAC that produces a second drive voltage signal based on a second individual drive variable.