Texas Instruments Corporation

Brian C McCormack

Richard O Gale, Jr

Veronica B Howard

Glen A Thornton

Robert C Greenberg

Gary G Bitter

Richard H Wallace

James R Cox

Kevin S Hodge

Methods are disclosed by which the effects of a defective electromechanical pixel 20 having a beam 30 and a hinge 32,34 are mitigated. These methods may damage the hinge 32,34 or the beam 30 and comprise the step of applying a voltage sufficient to damage the hinge 32,34 or beam 30 of said electromechanical pixel 20 by mechanical overstress, thermal overstress, electrochemical reaction, or thermally induced chemical reaction. Other methods are also disclosed.

Method of repairing defective pixels

Methods are disclosed by which the effects of a defective electromechanical pixel (20) having a beam (30) and a hinge (34,36) are mitigated. These methods may damage the hinge (34,36) or the beam (30) and comprise the step of applying a voltage sufficient to damage the hinge (34,36) or beam (30) of said electromechanical pixel (20) by mechanical overstress, thermal overstress, electrochemical reaction, or thermally induced chemical reaction. Other methods are also disclosed.

Method of mitigating the effects of a defective electromechanical pixel

A detector assembly (20) detects motion by utilizing a plurality of motion detectors (22-28), each detector having a first finger (40) and a second finger (42 ). First finger (40 ) has a signal line (36) on the inner surface (32) and second finger (42) has a ground line (38) disposed on another portion of inner surface (32). Spacer (46) keeps fingers (40) and (42) out of physical contact in the normal position so that there is an open circuit between signal line (36) and ground line (38). When a moving object (50) strikes first finger (40), first finger (40) is deflected downward so that first finger (40) and second finger (42) make physical contact at contact point (48), thereby establishing a closed circuit between signal line (36) and ground line (38). In this fashion a detection pulse is generated. The substrate (30) of detector assembly (20 ) is made of a resilient, flexible material such as a synthetic resin, for enhanced sensitivity. Due to the enhanced sensitivity of detector assembly (20), the motion of objects (50) can be detected even though such motion is random, i.e. the motion of objects does not have to be precisely controlled in the vicinity of detector assembly (20).

Motion detector and associated system

An electronic teaching device (10) provides several mathematical activities including Place Value, Trade, Target, Solve It, Word Problems, Estimate, Select and Calculator. The Place Value activity enhances the understanding of numbers by pictorially displaying the place values. The Trade activity enhances the understanding of addition and subtraction by allowing the user to trade between the ones' place value and the tens' place value to properly perform a mathematical operation. The Target activity emphasizes logical reasoning and problem solving. The Solve It activity uses the place-value system to develop logical reasoning. The Word Problems activity tests the user's knowledge of basic mathematical terms and facts. The Estimate activity develops the ability to estimate answers to problems. The Select activity allows the user to recognize basic math operations.

Growing community of inventors

Dallas, TX, United States of America

Brian C McCormack