This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for providing analog control for operating the states of a light modulator in a pixel. In one aspect, a pixel circuit can be coupled to the light modulator, and can control the duration for which the light modulator is operated in an open or closed state based on an analog data voltage. In some implementations, the pixel circuit includes a voltage controlled current source (VCCS), which draws a current of a magnitude that is based on the magnitude of the data voltage. The current drawn by the VCCS can be used to control a charge and a voltage on an actuation capacitor coupled to the light modulator. The rate of change of the voltage on the actuation capacitor, and the duration for which the light modulator is maintained in a particular state, is a function of the data voltage applied to the VCCS.