Abstract:
An integrated device (40) forming a microfluid system includes a substrate (41) of semiconductor material and a lid element (56) forming a channel (55) filled with a liquid. A heating element (51) is carried by the substrate and faces the channel so as to heat the liquid and generate a gas bubble, when activated. The substrate (41) houses a cavity (42) arranged on the opposite side of the heating element (51; 66) with respect to the channel (55) in order to reduce thermal dispersion of the heating element (51) towards the substrate (41). The heating element includes a resistive region (45) coated, on the side facing the channel (55), by a protective region (49, 50) and, on the side facing the cavity (42), by an insulating layer (44).
Abstract:
The inertial sensor (1) comprises an inner stator (2) and an outer rotor (3) which are electrostatically coupled together by means of mobile sensor arms (5) and fixed sensor arms (9a, 9b). The rotor (3) is connected to a calibration microactuator (12) comprising four sets (27) of actuator elements (13) arranged one for each quadrant of the inertial sensor. There are two actuator elements (13) making up each set, which are identical to each other, are angularly equidistant, and each of which comprises a mobile actuator arm (15) connected to the rotor (3) and bearing a plurality of mobile actuator electrodes (16), and a pair of fixed actuator arms (17a, 17b) which are set on opposite sides with respect to the corresponding mobile actuator arm and bear a plurality of fixed actuator electrodes (19a, 19b). The mobile actuator electrodes (16) and fixed actuator electrodes (19a, 19b) are connected to a driving unit (20) which biases them so as to cause a preset motion of the rotor (3), the motion being detected by a sensing unit (24) connected to the fixed sensor arms (9a, 9b).
Abstract:
To reduce the risk of breakage of the moving parts of an integrated microstructure during manufacture steps causing mechanical stresses to the moving parts, a temporary immobilization and support structure (20; 30; 40) is formed thereby a moving region (12, 13) of the microstructure is temporarily integral with the fixed region (10, 11). The temporary structure (20; 30; 40) is removed at the end of the assembly operations by non-mechanical removal methods. According to one solution, the temporary structure is formed by a fusible element (20) removed by melting or evaporation, by applying a sufficient quantity of energy thereto. Alternatively, a structural region (30) of polymer material is formed in the trench (15) separating the moving part from the fixed part, or an adhesive material layer (40) sensitive to ultraviolet radiation is applied.
Abstract:
The microactuator (1) comprises an outer stator (2'), and an inner rotor (4) electrostatically coupled to the stator (2'). The rotor (4) comprises a suspended mass (6) with a substantially circular shape, and a plurality of mobile arms (8) extending radially towards the exterior, starting from the suspended mass (6). The stator (2') has a plurality of pairs of fixed arms (22a', 22b', 22a'', 22b'') extending radially to the suspended mass (6), a respective mobile arm (8) being arranged between each pair of fixed arms. The fixed arms (20a', 20b', 20a'', 20b'') are divided into fixed drive arms (20a', 20b') connected to a drive stage (30) for actuating the microactuator (1'), and into fixed measure arms (20a'', 20b'') connected to a measure stage (32), and define a capacitive uncoupling structure (34').
Abstract:
The angular speed sensor comprises a pair of mobile masses (2a, 2b) which are formed in the epitaxial layer (37) and are anchored to one another and to the remainder of the device by anchorage elements; the mobile masses are symmetrical with one another, and have mobile excitation electrodes (6a) which are intercalated with respective fixed excitation electrodes (7a 1 , 7a 2 ) and mobile detection electrodes (6b) which are intercalated with fixed detection electrodes (7b 1 , 7b 2 ). The mobile and fixed excitation electrodes extend in a first direction and the mobile and fixed detection electrodes extend in a second direction which is perpendicular to the first direction and is disposed on a single plane parallel to the surface of the device.