Abstract:
Electrodes are positioned substantially in contact with at least one surface of a solid to generate or absorb alkali metals when a voltage is applied between the electrodes.
Abstract:
A method of making a micromachined membrane having both stiff and flexible regions includes depositing a photoresist on a substrate; exposing the photoresist to actinic radiation through a mask to define openings having a first width in the photoresist in the stiff region and openings having a second width greater than the first width in the flexible region; developing the exposed photoresist to create the openings; etching the openings through the developed photoresist to create grooves in the substrate; and coating the substrate including the grooves with a film of material having a thickness greater than one half the first width and less than half of the second width to form adjacent contacting rigid corrugations in the stiff region and spaced compliant corrugations in the flexible region. Also disclosed is a micromachined membrane with a first region having as plurality of spaced nonintersecting corrugations being flexible in the direction transverse to the corrugations and a second region having a plurality of adjacent contacting intersecting corrugations being stiff in the plane of the intersecting corrugations and the direction transverse to the plane.
Abstract:
An acoustic transducer includes a perforated capacitor plate; a movable capacitor plate spaced from the perforated plate; springs for movably supporting the movable capacitor plate relative to the perforated plate; and a support structure for supporting the perforated and movable plates, where the movable plate is interconnected to the support structure by the springs and where the plates, springs and support structure form a unified, monolithic structure. The movable plate, springs and support structure are made from a silicon wafer. The transducer also includes a dielectric fluid in the space between the plates; and equipment for applying an electric field across the plates for producing an output signal representative of the variation in capacitance induced by the variation in space between the plates in response to an acoustic signal.
Abstract:
Electrodes are positioned substantially in contact with at least one surface of a solid to generate or absorb alkali metals when a voltage is applied between the electrodes.
Abstract:
A sensor includes a proof mass suspended by a suspension beam, the suspension beam having a thickness less than a thickness of the proof mass.
Abstract:
Exemplary embodiments of an apparatus can be provided which can include at least one first arrangement which is configured to generate a magnetic field. Further, the exemplary apparatus can include at least one second arrangement coupled to the first arrangement(s) and configured to receive at least one first electro-magnetic radiation from a sample to generate at least one second electro-magnetic radiation. The second arrangement(s) can include at least one surface that is at least partially reflective, and the magnetic field can control a motion of the at least one surface. At least one third interferometric arrangement can also be provided which is configured to receive the second electro-magnetic radiation(s) from the second arrangement(s) and at least one third electro-magnetic radiation from a reference. Further, it is possible for the second electro-magnetic radiation(s) to effect a structure of the sample.
Abstract:
A micromechanical device is provided, which includes at least one flexible member formed from an alloy, where the alloy is made up of one or more noble metals and one or more alloying elements, wherein each of the alloying elements has an equilibrium solid solubility in the noble metal, and wherein the one or more alloying elements are present in an amount that does not result in precipitates. A method for making a micromechanical device includes depositing an alloy on a substrate to form at least one flexible member, the alloy comprising one or more noble metals and one or more alloying elements, wherein the one or more alloying elements form a solid solution with the one or more noble metals; and removing a portion of the substrate or a sacrificial layer beneath the deposited alloy layer to obtain a flexible member.
Abstract:
An array of movable MEMS mirror devices is provided being electromagnetically actuated in one axis and using an additional set of coils, or a single coil, positioned off of the main axis of rotation to achieve a second axis of rotation while allowing for a very high linear mirror fill factor (>80%). This second set of coils, or second electrically wired coil, is capable of generating the necessary torque about an axis that is perpendicular to the major axis of rotation. A second embodiment is provided using electromagnetic actuation in one axis of rotation, which typically has larger rotation angles than the second axis, and electrostatic actuation in the second axis of rotation. Electrostatic pads can be used to sense rotation. When staggering adjacent pixels a center array of mirrors with no coils or electrodes provides increased radius of curvature and reducing undesirable cross-talk between adjacent mirror devices.
Abstract:
A resonator with mechanical node reinforcement includes a substrate, an intermediate portion adjacent to the substrate, and a resonant portion adjacent to the intermediate portion. The intermediate portion may include multiple layers, such as an insulating layer and/or a conductive layer. The resonant portion of the resonator is adapted for an oscillation mode with a nodal point located within its periphery. Preferably, the resonant portion contacts the intermediate portion at points located at the periphery and at the nodal point. The resonant portion may include multiple layers and its primary layer may be a membrane or a plate. An alternative embodiment of the resonator excludes the intermediate layer allowing the resonant portion to contact the substrate instead of the intermediate layer.
Abstract:
An electrostatic memory micromirror display system including an array of electrostatic memory and display assemblies each including a memory and display element having a mirror surface and a conductive medium; a support device for movably mounting the memory and display element; and a set of electrodes including at least first and second electrodes proximate the conductive medium; and means for selectively applying a voltage to the first electrode of predetermined ones of the memory and display assemblies to establish an electrostatic field between the first electrode and the conductive medium to urge the associated display element from a first position toward a second position and for applying a voltage to the second electrode of the assemblies to establish an electric field between the second electrode and the conductive medium to set the memory and display element in the second position.