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 micro electromechanical switchable capacitor is disclosed, comprising a substrate, a bottom electrode, a dielectric layer deposited on at least part of said bottom electrode, a conductive floating electrode deposited on at least part of said dielectric layer, an armature positioned proximate to the floating electrode and a first actuation area in order to stabilize the down state position of the armature. The device may furthermore comprise a second actuation area. The present invention provides shunt switches and series switches with actuation in zones attached to the floating electrode area or with relay actuation.
Abstract:
Un microsystème électromécanique comprend des éléments conducteurs disjoints, un premier élément déformable électromécaniquement pouvant basculer entre une première et une deuxième positions stables, des éléments de contact permettant la continuité électrique entre les éléments conducteurs disjoints, et des éléments de commande de basculement assurant le basculement du premier élément déformable, de manière à établir une continuité électrique entre les éléments conducteurs disjoints dans la première position stable par contact entre les éléments de contacts et à rompre cette continuité électrique par espacement des éléments de contact dans ladite deuxième position stable. Les éléments conducteurs disjoints ainsi que les éléments de contacts sont portés par le premier élément déformable.
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:
A method of manufacturing a micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) device, comprising providing a base layer (10) and a mechanical layer (12) on a substrate (14), providing a sacrificial layer (16) between the base layer (10) and the mechanical layer (12), providing an etch stop layer (18) between the sacrificial layer (16) and the substrate (14), and removing the sacrificial layer (16) by means of dry chemical etching, wherein the dry chemical etching is performed using a fluorine-containing plasma, and the etch stop layer (18) comprises a substantially non-conducting, fluorine chemistry inert material, such as Hf02, ZrO2, Al203 or TiO2
Abstract:
A method of manufacturing a micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) device, comprising providing a base layer (10) and a mechanical layer (12) on a substrate (14), providing a sacrificial layer (16) between the base layer (10) and the mechanical layer (12), providing an etch stop layer (18) between the sacrificial layer (16) and the substrate (14), and removing the sacrificial layer (16) by means of dry chemical etching, wherein the dry chemical etching is performed using a fluorine-containing plasma, and the etch stop layer (18) comprises a substantially non-conducting, fluorine chemistry inert material, such as Hf02, ZrO2, Al203 or TiO2
Abstract:
The invention relates to a microsystem comprising a deformable bridge (1), the ends (2) of which are connected to a substrate (3). According to the invention, at least one actuation electrode (6), which is solidly connected to the bridge (1), is disposed between the centre (C) of the bridge and one of the ends (2) next to a counter electrode (7) which is solidly connected to the substrate (3). The electrodes (6) are intended to deform the deformable bridge (1) such that a lower face of the bridge (1) comes into contact with a contact element (4) formed on the substrate (3). The actuation electrode (6) comprises, transversely to the bridge (1), a central zone (8) which is disposed on the bridge (1) and at least one projecting, flexible lateral flange (9). The lateral flange (9) can be connected to the central zone (8) by means of a narrower linking zone (10) which is disposed on the side of the flange (9) closest to the centre (C) of the bridge. Moreover, each actuation electrode (6) can comprise a pair of lateral flanges (9) which are disposed respectively on either side of the corresponding central zone (8).