Methods and devices to measure voltage margins of electromechanical devices are disclosed. The voltage margins are determined based on responses to test voltages which cause the devices to change states. State changes of the devices are detected by monitoring integrated current or charge used to drive the devices with the test voltages.

Claims

30 · 3 independent · depth 2

30 granted claims

›1.independentA method of measuring a threshold voltage for an electromechanical device, the method comprising:napplying a plurality of signals to the device and se…+11

›2.↳ 1The method of claim 1, wherein the signals are applied to the device in response to the device being turned on.d2

›3.↳ 1The method of claim 1, wherein determining the threshold voltage comprises determining a voltage sufficient to cause a movable element of the device t…d2

›4.↳ 1The method of claim 1, wherein sensing the electrical characteristic comprises at least one of integrating a current used to apply the signals, integr…d2

›5.↳ 1The method of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a plurality of elements, the method further comprising:napplying a plurality of signals to each of…d2

›6.↳ 1The method of claim 1, further comprising:nsensing the electrical characteristic while applying one or more positive voltage transitions to the device…d2

›7.↳ 1The method of claim 1, wherein the device comprises an array of elements and the signals comprise positive voltage transitions and negative voltage tr…d2

›8.↳ 1The method of claim 1, further comprising determining an actuation threshold voltage based on, at least in part, a particular signal resulting in the …d2

›9.↳ 1The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a release threshold voltage based on, at least in part, a particular signal resulting in the dev…d2

›10.↳ 1The method of claim 1, the device comprising a plurality of elements, the method further comprising determining a release threshold voltage of a first…d2

›11.↳ 1The method of claim 1, the device comprising a plurality of elements, the method further comprising determining an actuation threshold voltage of a fi…d2

›12.↳ 1The method of claim 1, wherein the device comprises an array of elements and the signals comprise positive voltage transitions and negative voltage tr…d2

›13.independentAn electromechanical device, comprising:na pair of electrodes;a driver configured to apply a plurality of signals to the electrodes;a sensor configure…+12

›14.↳ 13The device of claim 13, wherein the driver is configured to apply the signals to the device in response to the device being turned on.d2

›15.↳ 13The device of claim 13, wherein the sensor is further configured to integrate a current applied to the device.d2

›16.↳ 13The device of claim 13, wherein the sensor is further configured to measure current applied to the device.d2

›17.↳ 13The device of claim 13, wherein to sense the electrical characteristic, the sensor is configured to at least one of integrate a current used to apply …d2

›18.↳ 13The device of claim 13, further comprising a plurality of elements, wherein:nthe driver is further configured to apply a plurality of voltage transiti…d2

›19.↳ 13The device of claim 13, wherein:nthe driver is further configured to apply one or more positive voltage transitions to the electrodes, apply a test vo…d2

›20.↳ 13The device of claim 13, further comprising an array of elements and the signals comprise positive voltage transitions and negative voltage transitions…d2

›21.↳ 13The device of claim 13, the processor further configured to determine an actuation threshold voltage based on, at least in part, a particular signal r…d2

›22.↳ 13The device of claim 13, wherein the processor is configured to determine a release threshold voltage based on, at least in part, a particular signal r…d2

›23.↳ 13The device of claim 13, further comprising a plurality of elements, wherein the processor is configured to determine a release threshold voltage of a …d2

›24.↳ 13The device of claim 13, further comprising a plurality of elements, the processor configured to determine an actuation threshold voltage of a first el…d2

›25.↳ 13The device of claim 13, further comprising determining one or more driving voltages based on the measured threshold voltage.d2

›26.independentAn electromechanical device configured to be driven to an actuated state as a result of being driven with an actuation voltage, to be driven to a rele…+4

Classifications

5 codes

IPC · International Patent Classification

Section G — Physics

G06F19/00

USPC · US Patent Classification

702/64345/108341/152702/117

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Pendency

1.3 y

484 days filing → grant

Office actions

non-final + final

Responses

1 RCE

Examiner

John H Le

art unit 2857 · TC 2800

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Citations: 46 back · 0 forward

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Priority chain

2 priority documents

Priority

11 Feb 2008

earliest claimed

›Priority documents — 2

Type	Document	Date
provisional	US 61027770	11 Feb 2008
related publication	US 20120249122 A1	4 Oct 2012

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