Abstract:
The present invention relates to a method for the production of membranes that can be electrically and/or magnetically activated, particularly for switches or pumps. In the method, microparticles and/or nanoparticles (5) having magnetic and/or electric properties are mixed with a matrix material in a flowable state, which has elastic properties after solidification. The matrix material is applied to a substrate as a layer (1), and a distribution of the particles in the layer (1) is selectively modified by means of one or more electric and/or magnetic fields in order to achieve an accumulation (2, 3) of the particles (5) on one or a plurality of locations in the layer (1). The layer (1) is subsequently solidified using the accumulated particles in order to form one or more membranes (16). The invention also relates to a magnetic actuator having such a membrane. The method enables the use of elastic membranes having magnetic, or magnetizable, particles incorporated therein, without having an adverse influence on the elastic properties in certain regions of the membrane.
Abstract:
Die vorliegende Erfindung betrifft ein Verfahren zur Herstellung von elektrisch und/oder magnetisch ansteuerbaren Membranen, insbesondere für Schalter oder Pumpen. Bei dem Verfahren werden Mikro- und/oder Nanopartikel (5) mit magnetischen und/oder elektrischen Eigenschaften mit einem in fließfähigem Zustand befindlichen Matrixmaterial vermischt, das nach einer Verfestigung elastische Eigenschaften aufweist. Das Matrixmaterial wird als Schicht (1) auf ein Substrat aufgebracht und eine Verteilung der Partikel in der Schicht (1) mit einem oder mehreren elektrischen und/oder magnetischen Feldern gezielt verändert, um eine Anhäufung (2, 3) der Partikel (5) an einer oder mehreren Stellen der Schicht (1) zu erhalten. Die Schicht (1) wird anschließend mit den angehäuften Partikeln zur Bildung einer oder mehrerer Membranen (16) verfestigt. Die Erfindung betrifft auch einen magnetischen Aktor mit einer derartigen Membran. Das Verfahren ermöglicht die Nutzung von elastischen Membranen mit eingelagerten magnetischen oder magnetisierbaren Partikeln, ohne die elastischen Eigenschaften in bestimmten Bereichen der Membran negativ zu beeinflussen.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to MEMS device that comprises a first electrode, and a second electrode suspended with a distance to the first electrode with the aid of a suspension structure. The MEMS device further comprises at least one deformation electrode. The second electrode or the suspension structure or both are plastically deformable upon application of an electrostatic deformation force via the deformation electrode. This way, variations in the off- state position of the second electrode that occur during fabrication of different devices or during operation of a single device can be eliminated.
Abstract:
Die vorliegende Erfindung bezieht sich auf einen Halbleiteraktor mit einer Substratbasis (1), einer mit der Substratbasis verbundenen, zumindest teilweise in Bezug auf die Substratbasis auslenkbaren Biegestruktur (2), welche Halbleiterverbindungen auf Basis von Nitriden von Hauptgruppe-III-Elementen aufweist, und mindestens zwei elektrischen Zuleitungskontakten (3a, 3b) zur Einprägung eines elektrischen Stromes in oder zum Anlegung einer elektrischen Spannung an die Biegestruktur, wobei mindestens zwei der Zuleitungskontakte beabstandet voneinander jeweils an der Biegestruktur angeordnet und/oder in diese integriert sind.
Abstract:
Nanoscale mechanical devices having bistable positions are utilized to form switches and memory devices. The devices are actuatable to different positions and may be coupled to a transistor device in various configurations to provide memory devices. Actuation mechanisms include electrostatic methods and heat. In one form, the mechanical device forms a gate for a field effect transistor see Fig. 2A. In a further form, the device may be a switch that may be coupled to the transistor in various manners to affect its electrical characteristics when on and off. The memory switch in one embodiment comprises side walls formed with tensile or compressive films see Fig. 5B. A cross point switch is formed from a plurality of intersecting conductive rows and columns of conductors see Fig.11A. Actuatable switches are positioned between each intersection of the rows and columns such that each intersection is independently addressable. A sidewall-based switch can be connected to a floating gate (823) of a transistor see Fig. 8B.
Abstract:
New devices having horizontally-disposed nanofabric articles and methods of making same are described. A discrete electro-mechanical device includes a structure having an electrically-conductive trace. A defined patch of nanotube fabric is disposed in spaced relation to the trace; and the defined patch of nanotube fabric is electromechanically deflectable between a first and second state. In the first state, the nanotube article is in spaced relation relative to the trace, and in the second state the nanotube article is in contact with the trace. A low resistance signal path is in electrical communication with the defined patch of nanofabric. Under certain embodiments, the structure includes a defined gap into which the electrically conductive trace is disposed. The defined gap has a defined width, and the defined patch of nanotube fabric spans the gap and has a longitudinal extent that is slightly longer than the defined width of the gap. Under certain embodiments, a clamp is disposed at each of two ends of the nanotube fabric segment and disposed over at least a portion of the nanotube fabric segment substantially at the edges defining the gap. Under certain embodiments, the clamp is made of electrically-conductive material. Under certain embodiments, the contact between the nanotube patch and the trace is a non-volatile state. Under certain embodiments, the contact between the nanotube patch and the trace is a volatile state. Under certain embodiments, the at least one electrically conductive trace has an interface material to alter the attractive force between the nanotube fabric segment and the electrically conductive trace.
Abstract:
A micro-electromechanical (MEM) resonator is described that includes a substrate, a microbridge beam structure coupled to the substrate and at least one electrode disposed adjacent to the microbridge beam structure to induce vibration of the beam. The microbridge beam structure includes support sections and a beam formed between the support sections. The center region of the beam has a mass that is less than the mass of regions of the beam adjacent to the support sections.
Abstract:
An extremely small micro-relay having such a mechanical contact mechanism that it becomes smaller in resistance when the contact is turned on and has an excellent vibration resistance, frequency characteristic, and insultating property is constituted in such a way that a piezoelectric element (24) or heater layer (27) is provided on a thin plate-like single-crystal substrate (21) and a mobile piece (20) carrying a traveling contact (25) on one surface is supported on a base (11) while both ends of the piece (20) are fixed to the base (11) so that the traveling contact (25) can be brought into contact with or separated from a pair of fixed contacts (38 and 39) faced to the contact (25) when the piece (20) is bent by the action of the piezoelectric element (24) or the heater layer (27).
Abstract:
A MEMS switch contains an RF electrode 102, pull-down electrodes 104 and anchor electrodes 108 located on a substrate 101. A plurality of islands 226 are provided in the pull-down electrode and electrically isolated therefrom. On top of the RF electrode is the RF contact 206 to which the MEMS-bridge 212, 214 forms an ohmic contact in the pulled-down state. The pull-down electrodes 104 are covered with a dielectric layer 202 to avoid a short-circuit between the bridge and the pull-down electrode. Contact stoppers 224 are disposed on the dielectric layer 202 at locations corresponding to the islands 226, and the resulting gap between the bridge and the dielectric layer in the pulled-down state reduces dielectric charging. In alternative embodiments, the contact stoppers are provide within the dielectric layer 202 or disposed on the islands themselves and under the dielectric layer. The switch provides good controllability of the contact resistance of MEMS switches over a wide voltage operating range.