MEMS stiction testing apparatus and method
First Claim
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1. A MEMS stiction testing method comprising:
- measuring the capacitance between the two opposing surfaces of a MEMS device prior to applying a first electrical signal;
applying the first electrical signal to the MEMS device, the first electrical signal causing the two opposing surfaces to make physical contact, the two opposing surfaces producing a second electrical signal when in physical contact;
monitoring the second electrical signal;
substantially mitigating the first electrical signal after detecting that the second electrical signal has reached a prescribed maximum value;
measuring the capacitance between the two opposing surfaces after substantially mitigating the first electrical signal; and
comparing the capacitance measurement from after substantially mitigating the first electrical signal with the capacitance measurement from prior to applying the first electrical signal.
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Abstract
A MEMS stiction testing method applies a first electrical signal to a MEMS device having two opposing surfaces to cause the two opposing surfaces to make physical contact. The two opposing surfaces produce a second electrical signal when in physical contact. The method then substantially mitigates the first electrical signal after detecting that the second electrical signal has reached a prescribed maximum value.
35 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A MEMS stiction testing method comprising:
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measuring the capacitance between the two opposing surfaces of a MEMS device prior to applying a first electrical signal; applying the first electrical signal to the MEMS device, the first electrical signal causing the two opposing surfaces to make physical contact, the two opposing surfaces producing a second electrical signal when in physical contact; monitoring the second electrical signal; substantially mitigating the first electrical signal after detecting that the second electrical signal has reached a prescribed maximum value; measuring the capacitance between the two opposing surfaces after substantially mitigating the first electrical signal; and comparing the capacitance measurement from after substantially mitigating the first electrical signal with the capacitance measurement from prior to applying the first electrical signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A MEMS stiction testing apparatus comprising:
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a signal generator configured to provide a first electrical signal that when applied to a MEMS device having two opposing surfaces causes the two opposing surfaces to make physical contact, the two opposing surfaces producing a second electrical signal when in physical contact; and a signal monitor configured to measure the capacitance between the two opposing surfaces prior to the signal generator applying the first electrical signal, monitor the second electrical signal, substantially mitigate the first electrical signal after detecting that the second electrical signal has reached a prescribed maximum value, measure the capacitance between the two opposing surfaces after substantially mitigating the first electrical signal, and compare the capacitance measurement from after substantially mitigating the first electrical signal with the capacitance measurement from prior to applying the first electrical signal. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A computer program product for use on a computer system for MEMS stiction testing, the computer program product comprising a tangible non-transitory computer usable medium having computer readable program code thereon, the computer readable program code comprising:
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program code for instructing a computer system for MEMS stiction testing to measure the capacitance between two opposing surfaces of a MEMS device prior to applying a first electrical signal; program code for instructing the computer system to apply the first electrical signal to MEMS device, the electrical signal causing the two opposing surfaces to make physical contact, the two opposing surfaces producing a second electrical signal when in physical contact; program code for instructing the computer system to monitor the second electrical signal; program code for instructing the computer system to substantially mitigate the first electrical signal after detecting that the second electrical signal has reached a prescribed maximum value; program code for instructing the computer system to measure the capacitance between the two opposing surfaces after substantially mitigating the first electrical signal; and program code for instructing the computer system to compare the capacitance measurement from after substantially mitigating the first electrical signal with the capacitance measurement from prior to applying the first electrical signal.
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Specification