Simulation and Characterization of a CMOS Z-axis Microactuator with Electrostatic Comb Drives - Robotics Institute Carnegie Mellon University

Simulation and Characterization of a CMOS Z-axis Microactuator with Electrostatic Comb Drives

Huikai Xie, Lars Erdmann, Qi Jing, and Gary K. Fedder
Conference Paper, Proceedings of International Conference on Modeling and Simulation of Microsystems (MSM '00), pp. 181 - 184, March, 2000

Abstract

This paper reports the first design and its simulation and experimental results of a CMOS z-axis microactuator that utilizes the vertical electrostatic forces existing between multi-conductor comb fingers. The measured maximum displacement of the z-axis microactuator is 3.5 ?, and resonant frequency 6.17 kHz, which are in good agreement with the field simulation and the behavioral simulation results using the NODAS library [1]. The advantages of the z-axis actuator include compatibility with standard CMOS processes and easy implementation of 3-axis microstages, integrated position sensing components and motion control circuits.

BibTeX

@conference{Xie-2000-7995,
author = {Huikai Xie and Lars Erdmann and Qi Jing and Gary K. Fedder},
title = {Simulation and Characterization of a CMOS Z-axis Microactuator with Electrostatic Comb Drives},
booktitle = {Proceedings of International Conference on Modeling and Simulation of Microsystems (MSM '00)},
year = {2000},
month = {March},
pages = {181 - 184},
keywords = {vertical actuation, NODAS library, behavioral simulation, comb drive, CMOS micromachining process},
}