• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
• /
• 2002.05a
• /
• pp.497-502
• /
• 2002

This paper describes a design methodology of a tri-axial silicon-based farce sensor with square membrane by using micromachining technology (MEMS). The sensor has a maximum farce range of 5 N and a minimum force range of 0.1N in the three-axis directions. A simple beam theory was adopted to design the shape of the micro-force sensor. Also the optimal positions of piezoresistors were determined by the strain distribution obtained from the commercial finite element analysis program, ANSYS. The Wheatstone bridge circuits were designed to consider the sensitivity of the force sensor and its temperature compensation. Finally the process for microfabrication was designed using micromachining technology.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Machine Tool Engineers
• /
• v.14 no.5
• /
• pp.35-40
• /
• 2005

An experimental Investigation of the basic characteristics of a micro-cantilever sensor was performed by inspecting the amplitude and frequency characteristics of a commercial tuning fork (TF). Application of acetone and ethanol with a volume of $1{\mu}l$ on the tine of a vibrating tuning fork causes immediate response in its amplitude and frequency characteristics. It has been shown that the tuning fork has ability to recognize a chemical agent with high sensitivity. The theoretical sensitivity of mass loading is in the range of $\~0.1Hz/ng$. Quartz tuning forks are routinely made using standard microfabrication process, thus suggesting the possibility of microfabrication of micro quart sensors.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
• /
• v.32 no.7
• /
• pp.542-548
• /
• 2008

A thermal mass air flow sensor (MAFS), which consists of a micro-heater and thermo-resistive sensors on the silicon-nitride ($Si_3N_4$) thin membrane structure, is micro-fabricated by MEMS processes. Two thermo-resistive temperature sensors are located at $100{\mu}m$ upstream and downstream from the micro-heater respectively. The thermal characteristics are measured to find the best measurement indicator. The micro-heater is operated under constant power condition, and four flow indicators are investigated. The normalized temperature indicator shows good physical meaning and is easy to use in practice. It is found that the configurations and heating power of thermal-resistive elements are the dominant factors to determine the range of the flow measurement in the MAFS with higher sensitivity and accuracy.

• Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
• /
• v.20 no.4
• /
• pp.554-560
• /
• 2006

This paper describes the demonstration of successful fabrication and initial characterization of micromachined pressure sensors and micromachined jets (microjets) fabricated for use in macro flow control and other applications. In this work, the microfabrication technology was investigated to create a micromachined fluidic control system with a goal of application in practical fluids problems, such as UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle)-scale aerodynamic control. Approaches of this work include: (1) the development of suitable micromachined synthetic jets (microjets) as actuators, which obviate the need to physically extend micromachined structures into an external flow; and (2) a non-silicon alternative micromachining fabrication technology based on metallic substrates and lamination (in addition to traditional MEMS technologies) which will allow the realization of larger scale, more robust structures and larger array active areas for fluidic systems. As an initial study, an array of MEMS pressure sensors and an array of MEMS modulators for orifice-based control of microjets have been fabricated, and characterized. Both pressure sensors and modulators have been built using stainless steel as a substrate and a combination of lamination and traditional micromachining processes as fabrication technologies.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.171-176
• /
• 2013

In this paper, we present a MEMS (micro-electro-mechanical system) implantable blood pressure sensor which has designed and fabricated with consideration of size, design flexibility, and wireless detection. Mechanical and electrical characterizations of the sensor were obtained by mathematical analysis and computer aided simulation. The sensor is composed of two coils and a air gap capacitor formed by separation of the coils. Therefore, the sensor produces its resonant frequency which is changed by external pressure variation. This frequency movement is detected by inductive coupling between the sensor and an external antenna coil. Theoretically analyzed resonant frequency of the sensor under 760 mmHg was calculated to 269.556 MHz. Fused silica was selected as sensor material with consideration of chemical and electrical reaction of human body to the material. $2mm{\times}5mm{\times}0.5mm$ pressure sensors fitted to radial artery were fabricated on the substrates by consecutive microfabrication processes: sputtering, etching, photolithography, direct bonding and laser welding. Resonant frequencies of the fabricated sensors were in the range of 269~284 MHz under 760 mmHg pressure.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
• /
• v.23 no.2 s.179
• /
• pp.146-153
• /
• 2006

Acceleration sensors have widely been used in the various fields of industry. In recent years, micromachining accelerometers have been developed and commercialized by the micromachining technique or MEMS technique. Typical structure of such sensors consist of a cantilever beam and a vibrating mass fabricated on Si wafers using etching. This study investigates the feasibility of powder blasting technique for microfabrication of sensor structures made of the pyrex glass alternating the existing Si based acceleration sensor. First, as preliminary experiment, effect of blasting pressure, mass flow rate of abrasive and no. of nozzle scanning on erosion depth of pyrex and soda lime glass is studied. Then the optimal blasting conditions are chosen for pyrex sensor. Structure dimensions of designed glass sensor are 2.9mm and 0.7mm for the cantilever beam length and width and 1.7mm for the side of square mass. Mask material is from aluminium sheet of 0.5mm in thickness. Machining results showed that tolerance errors of basic dimensions of glass sensor ranged from 3um in minimum to 20um in maximum. This results imply the powder blasting can be applied for micromachining of glass acceleration sensors alternating the exiting Si based sensors.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
• /
• v.33 no.8
• /
• pp.573-579
• /
• 2009

A thermal mass air flow sensor, which consists of a micro-heater and thermal sensors on the silicon-nitride thin membrane structure, is micro-fabricated by MEMS processes. Three thermo-resistive sensors, one for the measurement of microheater temperature, the others for the measurement of membrane temperature upstream and downstream of the micro-heater respectively, are used. The micro-heater is operated under the constant temperature difference mode via a real time controller, based on inlet air temperature. Two design models for microfabricated flow sensor are compared with experimental results and confirmed their applicabilities and limitations. The thermal characteristics are measured to find the best flow indicator. It is found that two normalized temperature indicators can be adopted with some advantages in practice. The flow sensor with this control mode can be adopted for wide capability of high speed and sensitivity in the very low and medium velocity ranges.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Nondestructive Testing
• /
• v.31 no.5
• /
• pp.522-528
• /
• 2011

Artificial basilar membranes made of PVDF(polyvinylidene fluoride) are manufactured using microfabrication processes. The mechanical behavior of PVDF artificial basilar membrane was measured to evaluate its performance as a mechanical frequency analyzer using scanning LDV(laser Doppler vibrometer). The experimental setup consists of the microfabricated artificial basilar membrane, a loud speaker connected to an amplifier for generating acoustic pressure of specific spectral pattern, and a scanning LDV with controlling unit for measuring the displacement of the membrane on the incoming acoustic stimulation. The microfabricated artificial basilar membrane was attached tightly upon a package containing a chamber which can be filled with silicone oil before placed on the experimental setup stage. The experiment results showed that the microfabricated artificial basilar membrane has a property as a mechanical frequency analyzer.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.37 no.5
• /
• pp.168-177
• /
• 2016

In this paper we present an implantable pressure sensor to measure real-time blood pressure by monitoring mechanical movement of artery. Sensor is composed of inductors (L) and capacitors (C) which are formed by microfabrication and direct bonding on two biocompatible substrates (quartz). When electrical potential is applied to the sensor, the inductors and capacitors generates a LC resonance circuit and produce characteristic resonant frequencies. Real-time variation of the resonant frequency is monitored by an external measurement system using inductive coupling. Structural and electrical simulation was performed by Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) programs, ANSYS and HFSS, to optimize geometry of sensor. Ultrafast laser (femto-second) cutting and MEMS process were executed as sensor fabrication methods with consideration of brittleness of the substrate and small radial artery size. After whole fabrication processes, we got sensors of $3mm{\times}15mm{\times}0.5mm$. Resonant frequency of the sensor was around 90 MHz at atmosphere (760 mmHg), and the sensor has good linearity without any hysteresis. Longterm (5 years) stability of the sensor was verified by thermal acceleration testing with Arrhenius model. Moreover, in-vitro cytotoxicity test was done to show biocompatiblity of the sensor and validation of real-time blood pressure measurement was verified with animal test by implant of the sensor. By integration with development of external interrogation system, the proposed sensor system will be a promising method to measure real-time blood pressure.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.55-59
• /
• 2018

In this paper, we investigated the characteristics of shear stress type piezoresistor on a diaphragm structure formed by MEMS (Microelectromechanical System) technology of silicon-direct-bonding (SDB) wafers with Si/$SiO_2$/Si-sub. The diaphragm structure formed by etching the backside of the wafer using a TMAH aqueous solution can be used for manufacturing various sensors. In this study, the optimum shape condition of the shear stress type piezoresistor formed on the diaphragm is found through ANSYS simulation, and the diaphragm structure is formed by using the semiconductor microfabrication technique and the shear stress formed by boron implantation. The characteristics of the piezoelectric resistance are compared with the simulation results. The sensing diaphragm was made in the shape of an exact square. It has been experimentally found that the maximum shear stress for the same pressure at the center of the edge of the diaphragm is generated when the structure is in the exact square shape. Thus, the sensing part of the sensor has been designed to be placed at the center of the edge of the diaphragm. The prepared shear stress type piezoresistor was in good agreement with the simulation results, and the sensitivity of the piezoresistor formed on the $2200{\mu}m{\times}2200{\mu}m$ diaphragm was $183.7{\mu}V/kPa$ and the linearity of 1.3 %FS at the pressure range of 0~100 kPa and the symmetry of sensitivity was also excellent.