Patent ID: 8917099
Filing Date: 2014-12-23
Classification: B81B,G01C,G01P

Abstract:
1. An electrode driver for providing a drive signal to controllably provide an electrostatic force between a stationary electrode fixed to a substrate of a micromachined device and a movable electrode of a movable beam of the micromachined device, which movable beam is movably suspended above the substrate, the electrode driver comprising: a detector configured to detect excess displacement of the movable beam relative to the substrate by sensing whether the beam displacement, relative to the substrate, exceeds a threshold distance, the detector having a detector output configured to produce a disable signal in response to such excess displacement; and a driver circuit configured to produce a plurality of electrode drive signals to the stationary electrode and comprising a driver circuit input, and an electrode driver output, the driver circuit input electrically coupled to the detector output and configured to receive the disable signal, and the electrode driver output electrically coupled to the stationary electrode, the driver circuit configured to withhold electrostatic force to the stationary electrode in response to receipt of the disable signal from the detector at the driver circuit input.