Magnetic MEMS device and method of forming thereof
First Claim
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1. A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) sensor comprising:
- a lower magnetic member;
an upper magnetic member disposed over said lower magnetic member;
an intermediate magnetic member magnetically levitated between said lower magnetic member and upper magnetic member; and
a detector measuring at least one of motion of, forces acting on, and displacement of the intermediate magnetic member with respect to the lower magnetic member and the upper magnetic member.
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Abstract
A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) sensor and method for measuring the motion of an intermediate member and a method for making the MEMS sensor. The MEMS sensor includes a substrate, a lower magnetic member disposed on the substrate, a layer disposed over the substrate, an upper magnetic member disposed at a side of the layer facing the lower magnetic member, an intermediate magnetic member magnetically levitated between the lower magnetic member and upper magnetic member; and a component measuring at least one of motion, forces acting on, and a displacement of the intermediate magnetic member.
40 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) sensor comprising:
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a lower magnetic member;
an upper magnetic member disposed over said lower magnetic member;
an intermediate magnetic member magnetically levitated between said lower magnetic member and upper magnetic member; and
a detector measuring at least one of motion of, forces acting on, and displacement of the intermediate magnetic member with respect to the lower magnetic member and the upper magnetic member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of forming a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device comprising a lower magnetic member, an intermediate magnetic member, and an upper magnetic member, the method comprising:
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applying a first external magnetic field to the lower and the upper magnetic members and said intermediate magnetic member;
inducing magnetic polarities in each of the lower and the upper magnetic members and said intermediate magnetic member in a first orientation;
applying a second external magnetic field to the lower and the upper magnetic members and said intermediate magnetic member; and
reversing a magnetic polarity of only one of i) said intermediate magnetic member and ii) the lower and upper magnetic members to a second orientation. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A method of measuring a displacement of an inner member magnetically levitated between a substrate and an upper member of a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device, the method comprising:
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measuring a current and a resonant frequency of the current through said substrate, inner member, and upper member; and
calculating the displacement of the inner member from said current and resonant frequency of said current. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. A method of measuring at least one of a motion and a displacement of a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device comprising an inner member magnetically levitated between a substrate and an upper member, at least one signal component disposed on said inner member, and a detector disposed on said substrate, the method comprising:
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detecting a signal emitted from said at least one signal component when said at least one signal component proximally passes said detector when the inner member rotates; and
calculating the at least one of the motion and the displacement of the inner member from the signal. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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25. A method of measuring an angular motion of a microelectromechanical device comprising an inner member magnetically levitated between a substrate and an upper member, at least one signal component disposed on said inner member, and a detector disposed on said substrate, the method comprising:
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detecting a signal emitted from said at least one signal component when said signal component proximally passes said detector when the inner member rotates; and
calculating at least one of angular velocity and angular acceleration of said inner member from the signal.
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26. A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) sensor comprising:
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a substrate;
a lower magnetic member disposed on said substrate;
a layer disposed over said substrate;
an upper magnetic member disposed at a side of said layer facing said lower magnetic member;
an intermediate magnetic member magnetically levitated between said lower magnetic member and upper magnetic member; and
means for measuring at least one of motion of, forces acting on, and displacement of the intermediate magnetic member.
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27. A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) sensor comprising:
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a lower magnetic member comprising a lower magnetic surface of a first magnetic polarity;
an upper magnetic member disposed over said lower magnetic member comprising an upper second magnetic surface of a second magnetic polarity;
an intermediate magnetic member magnetically levitated between said lower magnetic member and upper magnetic member, said intermediate magnetic member comprising a first magnetic surface of the first magnetic polarity facing said lower magnetic surface and a second magnetic surface of the second magnetic polarity facing said upper magnetic surface, the first magnetic polarity being opposite to the second magnetic polarity to magnetically levitate said intermediate magnetic member between the lower and upper magnetic members; and
a detector measuring displacement of the intermediate magnetic member with respect to the lower magnetic member and the upper magnetic member, the detector comprising;
a first conductive plate disposed at said lower magnetic member;
a first intermediate conductive plate disposed at one side of said intermediate magnetic member facing said first conductive plate, the first conductive plate and the first intermediate conductive plate forming a first capacitor;
a second conductive plate disposed at said upper magnetic member; and
a second intermediate conductive plate disposed at another side of said intermediate magnetic member facing said second conductive plate, the second conductive plate and the second intermediate conductive plate forming a second capacitor, wherein the displacement of said intermediate magnetic member is determined in accordance with at least one of i) a current measured between said first conductive plate and said second conductive plate;
ii) a resonant frequency measured across said first conductive plate and said second conductive plate; and
iii) a change in at least one of a first capacitance measured at said first capacitor and a second capacitance measured at said second capacitor. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
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Specification