Title :
Magnetostatic bistable MEMS switch with electrothermal actuators
Author :
Wu, Y.B. ; Ding, G.F. ; Zhang, C.C. ; Wang, Jiacheng ; Mao, S.P. ; Wang, Huifang
Author_Institution :
Inst. of Micro & Nano Sci. & Technol., Shanghai Jiao Tong Univ., Shanghai, China
Abstract :
The design, fabrication, and an experiment, of a bistable MEMS switch with magnetostatic latching and electrothermal actuation for achieving lower power consumption are presented. The bistabilities feature a crisscross-shaped torsion/cantilever beam system and a permanent magnet for holding the closed state. Therefore, the device is suitable for bistable switching relay applications. Electrical performances have been characterised by a self-built test system using an Agilent oscilloscope. In addition, switching between two stable states of the microswitch was successfully validated with the WYKO NT1100 optical profiling system. Results show that the consumed exciting power is only 0.64 mJ in one DC pulse.
Keywords :
actuators; built-in self test; cantilevers; microswitches; permanent magnets; Agilent oscilloscope; WYKO NT1100 optical profiling system; bistable switching relay applications; crisscross-shaped torsion-cantilever beam system; electrothermal actuators; magnetostatic bistable MEMS switch; magnetostatic latching; permanent magnet; self-built test system;
Journal_Title :
Electronics Letters
DOI :
10.1049/el.2010.1264
