Abstract:
A micro-electromechanical device and method of manufacture are disclosed. A sacrificial layer is formed on a silicon substrate. A metal layer is formed on a top surface of the sacrificial layer. Soft magnetic material is electrolessly deposited on the metal layer to manufacture the micro-electromechanical device. The sacrificial layer is removed to produce a metal beam separated from the silicon substrate by a space.
Abstract:
A motion conversion system is described. The motion conversion system comprises a first torsional member operative for rotating in a first direction. A second torsional member is offset a distance from the first torsional member, wherein the second torsional member is operative for rotating in a direction opposite from the first direction. And, a lateral member has a lower surface connected to the first and second torsional members. Wherein, translational movement of the lateral member results from rotational movement of the first and second torsional members.
Abstract:
Embodiments of the subject invention relate to a method and apparatus for electromagnetic actuation. Embodiments of an electromagnet actuator in accordance with the subject invention can include a fixed main body and a deformable membrane or displaceable piston-like member. In the case of piston motion, in specific embodiments, the piston can be supported by a corrugated diaphragm or bellows. In various embodiments, all or portions of the electromagnet actuator can be produced using microfabrication techniques. Specific embodiment of the subject invention can incorporate a plurality of magnets providing magnetic flux to a plurality of coil conductor elements so as to provide a plurality of locations that a force is applied to the moveable body portion of the electromagnetic actuator. Specific embodiments can incorporate an array of magnets interdigitated with an array of coil conductor elements, where the arrays can include 2, 5, 10, 20, or more each. Further specific embodiments allow the relative position of the magnetic flux and coil conductor elements to remain substantially the same during the movement of the moveable body by positioning the magnets and coil conductor elements on the moveable body so that the relative position of the magnets and the coil conductor elements on the moveable body do not change with the movement of the moveable body.
Abstract:
Provided are a capacitive transducer, and methods of manufacturing and operating the same. The capacitive transducer includes: a monolithic substrate comprising a first doping region, a second doping region that is opposite in conductivity to the first doping region, and a vibrating portion; and an empty space that is disposed between the first doping region and the vibrating portion. The vibrating portion includes a plurality of through-holes, and a material film for sealing the plurality of through-holes is disposed on the vibrating portion.
Abstract:
A microparticle includes an oblong flexible tail able to propel the microparticle in a solution along a trajectory using beats transverse to the trajectory, the tail including at least one magnetic element such that the magnetic element causes beats of the tail under the action of an external alternating magnetic field non-collinear with the trajectory and a head mechanically connected to a proximal end of the tail. The microparticle includes at least one layer of material formed from one piece and including the tail and the head, the dimensions and/or shape of the head being selected such that the beats of the proximal end of the tail are limited with respect to the beats of the distal end of the tail and such that the head does not perform a complete revolution around an axis parallel to the trajectory under the effect of the external alternating magnetic field.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a method for making an actuation system for an optical component comprising: etching of a first face of a component, to form pads on it, etching of a second face of the component, to expose a membrane made of the same material as the pads, production of the actuation means of the pads and the membrane.
Abstract:
The present disclosure is broadly directed to a method for designing new MEMS micro-movers, particularly suited for, but not limited to, CMOS fabrication techniques, that are capable of large lateral displacement for tuning capacitors, fabricating capacitors, self-assembly of small gaps in CMOS processes, fabricating latching structures and other applications where lateral micro-positioning on the order of up to 10 μm, or greater, is desired. Principles of self-assembly and electro-thermal actuation are used for designing micro-movers. In self-assembly, motion is induced in specific beams by designing a lateral effective residual stress gradient within the beams. The lateral residual stress gradient arises from purposefully offsetting certain layers of one material versus another material. For example, lower metal layers may be side by side with dielectric layers, both of which are positioned beneath a top metal layer of a CMOS-MEMS beam. In electro-thermal actuation, motion is induced in specific beams by designing a lateral gradient of temperature coefficient of expansion (TCE) within the beams. The lateral TCE gradient is achieved in the same manner as with self-assembly, by purposefully offsetting the lower metal layers with layers of dielectric with respect to the top metal layer of a CMOS-MEMS beam. A heater resistor, usually made from a CMOS polysilicon layer, is embedded into the beam or into an adjacent assembly to heat the beam. When heated, the TCE gradient will cause a stress gradient in the beam, resulting in the electro-thermal actuation. Because of the rules governing abstracts, this abstract should not be used to construe the claims.
Abstract:
A thermoelastic device comprising an expansive element is disclosed. The expansive element is formed from a material, which is preselected on the basis that it has one or more of the following properties: a resistivity between 0.1 μΩm and 10.0 μΩm; chemically inert in air; chemically inert in the chosen ink; and depositable by CVD, sputtering or other thin film deposition technique.
Abstract:
Nano-electromechanical device having an electrically conductive nano-cantilever wherein the nano-cantilever has a free end that is movable relative to an electrically conductive substrate such as an electrode of a circuit. The circuit includes a power source connected to the electrode and to the nano-cantilever for providing a pull-in or pull-out voltage therebetween to effect bending movement of the nano-cantilever relative to the electrode. Feedback control is provided for varying the voltage between the electrode and the nano-cantilever in response to the position of the cantilever relative to the electrode. The device provides two stable positions of the nano-cantilever and a hysteresis loop in the current-voltage space between the pull-in voltage and the pull-out voltage. A first stable position of the nano-cantilever is provided at sub-nanometer gap between the free end of the nano-cantilever and the electrode with a pull-in voltage applied and with a stable tunneling electrical current present in the circuit. A second stable position of the nano-cantilever is provided with a pull-out voltage between the cantilever and the electrode with little or no tunneling electrical current present in the circuit. The nano-electromechanical device can be used in a scanning probe microscope, ultrasonic wave detection sensor, NEMS switch, random access memory element, gap sensor, logic device, and a bio-sensor when the nano-cantilever is functionalized with biomolecules that interact with species present in the ambient environment be them in air or aqueous solutions. In the latest case, the NEMS needs to be integrated with a microfluidic system.
Abstract:
A micro-electromechanical actuator comprising a pair of elongate layers of identical material heated by an electrical current; a pair of spacers separating the elongate layers at two opposite ends, the spacers fast with the layers; and an air gap provided between the pair of elongate layers. Each spacer is composed of a thermally non-conductive material.