摘要:
The present invention discloses a Micro-Electro-Mechanical systems (MEMS) device suitable for use in a range of applications from DC, such as switching electrical signal lines, to RF applications such as tunable capacitors and switches. In an embodiment of the invention, the device comprises a bottom substrate and a top substrate separated at a fixed distance from each other. Disposed between the substrates is a flexible S-shaped membrane having an electrode or an electrically conducting electrode layer with one end attached to the top substrate and the other end in contact with the bottom substrate. An electrically conducting contact block is attached to the underside of the membrane actuator for short circuiting a signal line when the switch is in the closed position. When a voltage is applied between the membrane and an electrode layer on the bottom substrate, the membrane is induced by electrostatic force to deflect in a rolling wave-like motion such that the contact block is displaced into contact with the signal line. The device can be actively opened when a voltage is applied between the membrane actuator and a electrode layer on the top substrate causing the contact block to displace upward breaking contact with the signal line. The MEMS switching device is applicable for use in a switch matrix board for automatically switching telephone lines or in RF applications in the form of a tunable capacitor.
摘要:
A method of combining components to form an integrated device, wherein at least one first component is provided on a first surface of a sacrificial substrate, and at least one second component is provided on a first surface of a non-sacrificial substrate. At least one support structure is formed on at least one of the first surfaces of the sacrificial substrate, and the non-sacrificial substrate, respectively, such that said at least one support structure is extended outwardly from at least one of the first surfaces. The sacrificial substrate carrying the first component, and the non-sacrificial substrate carrying the second component, respectively, are bonded, so that the first and second surfaces will be facing one another with a distance defined by a thickness of the support structure. At least a part of the sacrificial substrate is removed. The first component and second components are interconnected.
摘要:
Method of hollow micro-projections having side walls and at least one opening in a side wall, by a molding technique. The hollow micro-projections are defined by a first, negative mold defining the exterior shape of the micro-projections and a second, positive mold defining the hollow interior shape of the micro-projections. The method includes injecting a moldable material into the space between the two molds, in a state where they have been brought together. The positive and negative molds each have an essentially cylindrical geometry. In the process of bringing the molds together, the mold halves are laterally off-set with respect to each other, such that the distance between an inner wall of the negative mold and the positive mold in the area, ranges from zero to a finite distance. Micro-projections and arrays of micro-projections are also disclosed.
摘要:
Micromachining, etching and bonding techniques are employed to fabricate hermetically sealed gas-filled chambers from silicon and/or glass wafers. The hermetically sealed gas-filled chambers have precise dimensions and are filled with a preselected concentration of gas, thus rendering exceptional performance for use as an optical gas filter. The first step involves etching one or more cavities or holes in one or more glass or silicon wafers. These wafers eventually become part of a chip assembly having one or more hermetically sealed gas-filled chambers after appropriate bonding procedures. Interfaces between aligned silicon wafers are bonded using fusion bonding techniques whereas interfaces between silicon and glass wafers are bonded using anodic bonding techniques. Bonding is accomplished in an over-pressured gas-filled bonding environment that contains a selected concentration of gas which is maintained at the bonding temperature in order to encapsulate a precise concentration of the gas within the micromachined cavity.
摘要:
The present invention discloses a microvalve for providing pneumatic-flow regulation suitable for use in microsystem applications that are operable using highly efficient actuation means for flow obstruction while being space efficient in design in a manner that is suitable for cost effective bullsk microfabrication. In an embodiment of the invention, the microvalve comprises a first substrate layer, a second layer disposed over the first substrate layer cooperating with the first substrate layer to form a channel through which the flow traverses and defines a direction of the flow. An obstruction element or knife gate is micromachined into the second layer such that it is pivotably attached and actuated with a bimorph actuator to displace the gate along a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the direction of the flow in order to controllably regulate the flow. In a further embodiment, a microsystem comprising the microvalve concept of the invention is microfabricated into an IP-converter for pneumatic high flow pressure control applications.
摘要:
A miniaturised electrochemical sensor for detection of a component in a gas is provided. The sensor comprises a reference electrode, a counter electrode and a structure comprising a plurality of passages delineated by walls extending along the passages. A working electrode covers the walls of the structure and a layer of an ionomer covers at least part of the working electrode along the walls of the structure. The layer of ionomer is in ion conducting contact with the electrodes. The disclosure further relates to a method of fabricating a miniaturised electrochemical sensor and to a device for measuring content of NO in exhaled breath comprising such a miniaturised electrochemical sensor.
摘要:
A displacement pump with a pump housing containing a pump chamber of varying volume, the limiting walls of which includes a moveable portion or diaphragm, the movement and/or deformation of which varies the pump chamber volume. The pump chamber has a fluid inlet on the suction side of the pump and a fluid outlet on the pressure side. Both the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, or possibly only one of them, includes a flow controlling element having one diffuser and one diffuser inlet which, for the same flow, has a larger pressure drop in one flow direction (the nozzle direction) than in the opposite flow direction (the diffuser direction). A drive element is coupled to the diaphragm, whereby the diaphragm can be caused to oscillate, so that the fluid volume in the pump chamber is caused to pulsate and thereby produce a net flow of fluid through the pump.
摘要:
A micromachined fluid flow regulating device is disclosed comprising a fluid flow channel, at least one flow orifice formed in the channel, defining an inlet portion of the channel upstream of the flow orifice, an outlet portion of the channel downstream of the flow orifice, the fluid having a flow direction from the inlet portion to the outlet portion of the channel. At least one piston is arranged upstream of the flow orifice, movably suspended in the channel by a spring means such that the piston is movable by the fluid in the flow direction of the fluid, towards the flow orifice, to regulate a fluid flow through the flow orifice. The disclosure further relates to the use of a micromachined flow regulating device in a breath analysis device and to a method of fabricating a flow regulating device.
摘要:
A microfluidic system comprises a first portion and a second portion. The first portion comprises a material which is able to change its volume when activated by an exciting factor, characterized by the fact that the first portion and the second portion define a zone which, when the first portion is not yet activated by the exciting factor, shows a first topography devoid of any fluidic pathway and which, after activation by the exciting factor, shows a second topography which is adapted to contain at least one fluidic pathway. The microfluidic system further comprises a tight cover surface situated above the first portion and the second portion.
摘要:
Microfluidic system (1, 2, 10, 11, 16) comprising a first portion (3, 4, 24, 25) and a second portion (5-7), said first portion (3, 4) comprising a material which is able to change its volume when activated by an exciting factor, characterized by the fact that said first portion (3, 4) and said second portion (5-7) define a zone (3-7) which, when said first portion (3,4) is not yet activated by said exciting factor, shows a first topography devoid of any fluidic pathway and which, after activation by said exciting factor, shows a second topography (9, 14) which is adapted to contain at least one fluidic pathway, said microfluidic system furthermore comprising a tight cover surface (20) situated above said first portion (3, 4) and said second portion (5-7).