A MEMS thermal actuator is a microelectromechanical device that typically generates motion by thermal expansion amplification. A small amount of thermal expansion of one part of the device translates to a large amount of deflection of the overall device. Usually fabricated out of doped single crystal silicon or polysilicon as a complex compliant member, the increase in temperature can be achieved internally by electrical resistive heating or by a heat source capable of locally introducing heat. Microfabricated thermal actuators can be integrated into micromotors.[1][2]

Types of thermal actuators

  • Asymmetric (bimorph, U-Shaped)[3][4][5]
  • Symmetric (bent beam, chevron)[6][7]

Other types of MEMS Actuators

References

  1. Park, J.S.; Chu, L.L.; Oliver, A.D.; Gianchandani, Y.B. (2001). "Bent-beam electrothermal actuators-Part II: Linear and rotary microengines". Journal of Microelectromechanical Systems. 10 (2): 255–262. doi:10.1109/84.925774.
  2. Maloney, J.M.; Schreiber, D.S.; DeVoe, D.L. (2004). "Large-force electrothermal linear micromotors" (PDF). J. Micromech. Microeng. 14 (2): 226. Bibcode:2004JMiMi..14..226M. doi:10.1088/0960-1317/14/2/009. S2CID 250844848.
  3. Guckel, H.; Klein, J.; Christenson, T.; Skrobis, K.; Laudon, M.; Lovell, E.G. (1992). "Thermo-magnetic metal flexure actuatorsThermo-magnetic metal flexure actuators". Solid-State Sensor and Actuator Workshop, 1992. 5th Technical Digest. pp. 73–75. doi:10.1109/SOLSEN.1992.228273. ISBN 978-0-7803-0456-7. S2CID 136640863.
  4. Comtois, J.; Bright, V. (1996). "Surface Micromachined Polysilicon Thermal Actuator Arrays and Applications". Technical Digest, 1996 Solid State Sensors and Actuators Workshop. pp. 174–7.
  5. Huang, Q.; Lee, N. (1999). "Analysis and design of polysilicon thermal flexure actuator". Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering. 9 (1): 64–70. Bibcode:1999JMiMi...9...64H. doi:10.1088/0960-1317/9/1/308. S2CID 250785852. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  6. Que, L.; Park, J.-S.; Gianchandani, Y.B. (1999). "Bent-beam electro-thermal actuators for high force applications". Micro Electro Mechanical Systems, 1999. MEMS '99. Twelfth IEEE International Conference on. pp. 31–36. doi:10.1109/MEMSYS.1999.746747. ISBN 978-0-7803-5194-3. S2CID 34117175.
  7. Sinclair, M.J. (2000). "A high force low area MEMS thermal actuator". Thermal and Thermomechanical Phenomena in Electronic Systems, 2000. ITHERM 2000. The Seventh Intersociety Conference on. pp. 127–132. doi:10.1109/ITHERM.2000.866818. ISBN 978-0-7803-5912-3. S2CID 108434678.
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