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Title: Characterization of electrothermal actuators and arrays fabricated in a four-level, planarized surface-micromachined polycrystalline silicon process

Conference ·
OSTI ID:481931
;  [1];  [2]
  1. Air Force Phillips Lab., KAFB, NM (United States)
  2. Sandia National Labs., KAFB, NM (United States)

This paper presents the results of tests performed on a variety of electrothermal microactuators and arrays of these actuators recently fabricated in the four-level planarized polycrystalline silicon (polysilicon) SUMMiT process at the U.S. Department of Energy`s Sandia National Laboratories. These results are intended to aid designers of thermally actuated mechanisms, and will apply to similar actuators made in other polysilicon MEMS processes. The measurements include force and deflection versus input power, maximum operating frequency, effects of long term operation, and ideal actuator and array geometries for different design criteria. A typical application in a stepper motor is shown to illustrate the utility of these actuators and arrays.

Research Organization:
Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-94AL85000
OSTI ID:
481931
Report Number(s):
SAND-97-1194C; CONF-970646-12; ON: DE97007593; TRN: 97:003633
Resource Relation:
Conference: 9. international conference on solid-state sensors and actuators, Chicago, IL (United States), 16-19 Jun 1997; Other Information: PBD: 1997
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English