Unipolar Reset Signal for Micro-Mirror Display Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Micro-mirror display devices face challenges with bipolar reset signals, which require expensive positive and negative power supplies and consume more power due to the need for negative voltage generation, complicating the reset process and increasing costs and power requirements.
Innovation Solution
A micro-mirror device employs a unipolar reset signal by modifying the states of electrodes to change the electrostatic forces on the mirror plate, using a state modifier to alter the voltage states of the electrodes and apply a reset signal, eliminating the need for negative voltage and simplifying the reset process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a bipolar reset signal is used to reset the mirror plate, then the mirror plate can be properly reset by overcoming electrostatic forces, but the cost and power consumption increase due to requiring negative voltage generation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the voltage parameter from bipolar (positive and negative) to unipolar (positive only). By modifying the electrode states during reset instead of applying negative voltage to the mirror, the system achieves reliable mirror reset while eliminating the need for negative voltage generation, thereby reducing power supply cost and power consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces state modifiers as intermediary components that modify electrode states between the memory and electrodes. These state modifiers enable the reset function by temporarily altering electrode connections, allowing unipolar voltage to achieve the same effect as bipolar voltage without requiring negative power supplies
2Reliability
If a bipolar reset signal is used, then proper mirror plate reset is guaranteed, but the device complexity increases due to requiring positive and negative power supplies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the voltage parameter from bipolar to unipolar, simplifying the power supply system from requiring both positive and negative voltage sources to only requiring a positive voltage source. This parameter change reduces device complexity while maintaining reset reliability through state modification
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes the negative voltage generation requirement from the system. By using state modifiers to manipulate electrode connections during reset, the system eliminates the need for negative power supplies, thereby reducing device complexity
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
This approach reduces the cost and power consumption of micro-mirror display systems, allowing for a smaller form factor and more efficient operation by using unipolar reset signals, which are cheaper and easier to integrate with semiconductor circuits.
Implementation Method 1
A voltage is applied to the mirror plate, and electrostatic force attraction causes the mirror plate to tilt in one direction or another, depending on the voltage provided to the electrodes
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and apparatus for resetting a micro-mirror devices. In one aspect, a micro-mirror device includes a mirror plate tiltable about a hinge, two electrodes located on different sides of the hinge, a memory storing state data for the electrodes, and a state modifier operable to receive the state data for the electrodes from the memory and, during a reset of the mirror plate, change the state for at least one of the electrodes from the state specified by the state data stored in memory to a different state.