Texas Instruments Corporation

Randy A Chappel

Michael John Shay

Jialei Xu

In an actuator driver array, each actuator driver includes a transition stage to initiate a state change of a driver output signal, a static stage to maintain the state change, and an isolation resistor to couple the driver output signal to an output node of the actuator driver during a static mode. In an array of pad capacitors, each pad capacitor has: a first terminal at a connector pad communicatively coupled to the output node; and a second terminal coupled to an RF ground rail. The isolation resistor and the pad capacitor form a low-pass filter to filter RF harmonics from a respective actuator driver to respective actuator circuitry, and to filter RF energy generated outside of the respective actuator driver to its output node. In an RF actuator array, a state of each element is controllable by a corresponding actuator driver in the actuator driver array.

Dual-mode filtering actuator driver apparatus, systems and methods

A dual-mode driver includes a transition stage and a static stage. The transition stage switches a bias voltage or an RF ground potential to an output pad to change the state of an RF actuator device connected at the output pad. After waiting a predetermined period of time for the RF actuator device to change state, the transition stage of the driver is disabled. A high-side or low-side static stage transistor maintains the driver output state through an isolation resistor. The isolation resistor and a capacitor formed at the driver output pad form an RC low-pass filter to block spurious noise generated at the driver. The RC filter also blocks RF energy that might otherwise enter the actuator driver from the actuator. Some embodiments also include a second RC filter located proximate to the output pad to prevent RF energy generated in the RF actuator from entering the driver.

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Quinlan, TX, United States of America

Randy A Chappel