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Characterization of Electrostatic Micromembrane Actuator Performance Using a Mass Probing Method

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

Xingtao Wu
Affiliation:
Optron Systems, Inc., 3 Preston Ct. Bedford, MA 01730, U.S.A.
Jeremy Hui
Affiliation:
Optron Systems, Inc., 3 Preston Ct. Bedford, MA 01730, U.S.A.
Pat Kayatta
Affiliation:
Integrated Micromachines, Inc. 1400 S. Shamrock Avenue Monrovia, CA 91016, U.S. A.
Dedeian Kenneth
Affiliation:
Integrated Micromachines, Inc. 1400 S. Shamrock Avenue Monrovia, CA 91016, U.S. A.
Mariam Young
Affiliation:
Optron Systems, Inc., 3 Preston Ct. Bedford, MA 01730, U.S.A.
Cardinal Warde
Affiliation:
Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Ave. Cambridge MA 02039
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Abstract

We describe a mass probing technique for characterizing the electro-mechanical behavior of micromembrane array actuators under electrostatic loads. The technique utilizes one or more arrays of center-positioned posts as a joint-link between an array of micro membrane actuators and a top movable rigid mass plate to generate 1D motion of the top mass owing to motion transfer from the deformed membranes. The micromembrane actuator arrays are fabricated using a stacked architecture similar to MUMPs in which the poly-Si structure material is replaced by metal-over-polymer composite, and final release is accomplished by a dry etch of a-Si sacrificial material. The mass probing technique is implemented by hybrid integrating a thick (100∼650-μm), heavy, and rigid mass plate (with a polished surface as a reflective mirror) onto the membrane array in which individual membrane actuators have a center interface post to act as mechanical linkage. A preliminary test of a 40-um pitch membrane array shows a 1st natural frequency of 2.1MHz of the membrane actuator. This was scaled down to ∼50KHz by a 2.7mmx2.7mm 200-μm thick mass load weighting 3.3-mg. Ignoring the small membrane mass, the lumped spring stiffness is estimated to be ∼70-μN/μm per actuator (3248 40-μm actuators embedded beneath the probing mass). Thus, motion transfer principle from micro size actuators to macro size components was demonstrated.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2004

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References

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