MEMS DEVICE WITH NANOWIRE STANDOFF LAYER
First Claim
1. A MEMS device, comprising:
- a first member having a first surface;
a second member having a second surface, said first and second surfaces being separated by a gap that is closable by a MEMS actuation force applied to at least one of said first and second members; and
a standoff layer disposed on said first surface of said first member, said standoff layer providing standoff between said first and second surfaces upon a closing of said gap by said MEMS actuation force;
wherein said standoff layer comprises a plurality of nanowires anchored to said first surface and extending outward therefrom.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) device and related methods are described. The MEMS device comprises a first member having a first surface and a second member having a second surface, the first and second surfaces being separated by a gap that is closable by a MEMS actuation force applied to at least one of the first and second members. A standoff layer is disposed on the first surface of the first member, the standoff layer providing standoff between the first and second surfaces upon a closing of the gap by the MEMS actuation force. The standoff layer comprises a plurality of nanowires that are anchored to the first surface of the first member and that extend outward therefrom.
22 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A MEMS device, comprising:
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a first member having a first surface; a second member having a second surface, said first and second surfaces being separated by a gap that is closable by a MEMS actuation force applied to at least one of said first and second members; and a standoff layer disposed on said first surface of said first member, said standoff layer providing standoff between said first and second surfaces upon a closing of said gap by said MEMS actuation force; wherein said standoff layer comprises a plurality of nanowires anchored to said first surface and extending outward therefrom. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of fabricating a MEMS device, comprising:
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forming a first member having a first surface and a second member having a second surface, said first and second surfaces being separated by a gap that is closable by a MEMS actuation force applied to at least one of said first and second members; and growing a plurality of nanowires anchored to said first surface and growing outward therefrom, whereby said plurality of nanowires form a standoff layer providing standoff between said first and second surfaces upon a closing of said gap by said MEMS actuation force. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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- 18. A method comprising operating a MEMS device to cause a mechanical closing of a gap between a first surface of a first member of the MEMS device and a second surface of a second member of the MEMS device, wherein at least said first surface comprises a plurality of nanowires anchored thereto and extending outward therefrom to form a standoff layer that provides standoff between said first and second surfaces upon said closing of said gap.
Specification