Patent ID: 7446928

Claim:
A micro-electro-mechanical systems element array device in which plural micro-electro-mechanical systems elements each having a movable portion are arranged in an array, said movable portion being to be displaced by a physical force which is generated by applying an electric signal to a conductive portion, and each of said micro-electro-mechanical systems elements drives and displaces said movable portion of said micro-electro-mechanical systems element on the basis of a displacement data for said micro-electro-mechanical systems element, wherein said device comprises: an electric signal generating unit which is disposed commonly to said micro-electro-mechanical systems elements; a switching unit disposed for each of said micro-electro-mechanical systems elements, said switching unit being for connecting said electric signal generating unit to said conductive portion of said micro-electro-mechanical systems element and for disconnecting said electric signal generating unit from said conductive portion of said micro-electro-mechanical systems element; and a selecting unit disposed for each of said micro-electro-mechanical systems elements, said selecting unit being for opening and closing said switching unit on the basis of the displacement data, so as to apply the electric signal from said electric signal generating unit to said conductive portion through said closed switching unit.