Abstract:
A damped micromechanical device useful for adjusting optical components, positioning transducers, and sensing motion. The micromechanical device includes a top cap that helps create an area of restricted fluid flow to increase mechanical damping of the device and minimize the response of the structure to mechanical perturbations. The micromechanical device is constructed to cause piston-like Poiseuille flow through controlled gaps within the actuator. By controlling the gap dimensions, the amount of damping can be adjusted.
Abstract:
A micro-electro-mechanical-system (MEMS) mirror device includes a mirror component that is capable of moving upon electrostatic actuation. The MEMS mirror device also includes and one or more electrostatic actuators providing electrostatic actuation. The electrostatic actuators having plates disposed approximately perpendicular to the mirror component. The plates are disposed to define a gap between the plates that decreases along a direction perpendicular to a surface of the mirror component.
Abstract:
The nonlinear mechanical modulator of the present invention comprises first and second masses, a first spring connecting the first and second masses, and a second spring connecting the second mass and a fixed end. A motion input is applied to any one of the first and second masses and a resultant motion output is generated from the other one of the masses. Further, at least one of the springs has a nonlinear behavior characteristic that its stiffness varies according to a magnitude of the motion input. At this time, a nonlinear characteristic of the spring is categorized into a nonlinearly increasing characteristic that its stiffness is increased as its deflection becomes greater, and a nonlinearly decreasing characteristic that its stiffness is decreased as its deflection becomes greater. One or both of the two nonlinear characteristics can be applied to and employed in the mechanical modulator of the present invention.
Abstract:
A micromachined structure having electrically isolated components is formed by thermomigrating a dopant through a substrate to form a doped region within the substrate. The doped region separates two portions of the substrate. The dopant is selected such that the doped region electrically isolates the two portions of the substrate from each other via junction isolation.
Abstract:
In a micromotion mechanical structure, such as a vibration-type sensor or a step motor, comprising at least one fixed electrode and at least one movable electrode which is moved by electrostatic power applied to the fixed electrode, at least one of the electrodes is formed essentially by a single crystal semiconductor material. The single crystal semiconductor material has various merits of uniform mechanical properties, small internal stress, etc. for use in such electrodes. Such structure has been realized by attaching patterned electrode made of the material to another substrate and then removing or thinning the original substrate carrying the patterned electrodes.
Abstract:
Shock-resistant MEMS structures are disclosed. In one implementation, a motion control flexure for a MEMS device includes: a rod including a first and second end, wherein the rod is tapered along its length such that it is widest at its center and thinnest at its ends; a first hinge directly coupled to the first end of the rod; and a second hinge directly coupled to the second of the rod. In another implementation, a conductive cantilever for a MEMS device includes: a curved center portion includes a first and second end, wherein the center portion has a point of inflection; a first root coupled to the first end of the center portion; and a second root coupled to the second end of the center portion. In yet another implementation, a shock stop for a MEMS device is described.
Abstract:
The MEMS sensor of the invention has movable and fixed components for measuring acceleration in a rotational mode in a direction in-plane perpendicular to spring axis. The components include an element frame (1), a substrate (7), a proof-mass (2) a spring (5) connected to the proof-mass (2) and to the substrate (7), and comb electrodes (9a, 9b). The MEMS sensor is mainly characterized by an arrangement of the components causing an inherent sensitivity for measuring accelerations in a range covering longitudinal and transversal accelerations. One or more of the components are tilted compared to the element frame (1). The semiconductor package (12) of the invention comprises at least one MEMS sensor.
Abstract:
Die vorliegende Erfindung offenbart eine Mikrospiegelvorrichtung mit einem Substratstapel mit einem ersten Substrat, welches in einem nicht gekippten Zustand in einer ersten Ebene angeordnet ist, einem zweiten Substrat, welches in einem nicht gekippten Zustand in einer zweiten Ebene angeordnet ist, und einem dritten Substrat, welches in einem nicht gekippten Zustand in einer dritten Ebene angeordnet ist, mit einer ersten Gelenkeinrichtung, welche zwischen dem ersten Substrat und dem zweiten Substrat angeordnet ist und dazu ausgebildet ist, das erste Substrats gegenüber dem zweiten Substrat um eine erste Gelenkachse zu kippen, und mit einer zweiten Gelenkeinrichtung, welche zwischen dem zweiten Substrat und dem dritten Substrat angeordnet ist und dazu ausgebildet ist, das zweite Substrat gegenüber dem dritten Substrat um eine zweite Gelenkachse zu kippen. Ferner offenbart die vorliegende Erfindung ein Mikrospiegelarray und eine Projektionseinrichtung.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a micromechanical component comprising an outer stator electrode component (28) and an outer actuator electrode component (24) connected to a holding element (55) by means of at least one outer spring (81). A mobile element (10) can be moved about a first rotational axis (12) by applying a first voltage between the outer actuator electrode component (24) and the outer stator electrode component (28). Said micromechanical component also comprises an inner stator electrode component (30) and an inner actuator electrode component (26) comprising a first web (50) provided with at least one electrode finger (26a,26b), the mobile element (10) being mobile about a second rotational axis (14) by applying a second voltage between the at least one electrode finger (26a, 26b) of the inner actuator electrode component (26) and the inner stator electrode component (30), the inner actuator electrode component (26) being connected to the outer actuator electrode component (24) by means of an intermediate spring (52) oriented in the direction of the second rotational axis (14). The invention also relates to a production method for a micromechanical component.