Title
Smart Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) Actuators

CoPED ID
0d497dc0-d6f5-48e4-b556-279ff31dce55

Status
Closed


Value
£503,510

Start Date
April 12, 2010

End Date
April 12, 2012

Description

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Microactuators are widely used in many important micro devices/systems in different engineering disciplines. Examples include micro gyroscopes in inertial systems; micro tunable electronic devices (switches, tunable capacitors, tunable inductors) in microwave/ radio frequency systems; micro tunable photonic devices (scanners, tunable filters, attenuators, tunable lasers) in optical systems; micro devices (micropump) in biological/ medical systems. Currently more and more novel microactuators are being developed to meet specific requirements, but the majority of these microactuators are without integrated driving circuits. Complex bench top characterisation equipment has to be used to drive and determine the movement of these microactuators. This is a big problem that disadvantages microactuators from being widely used by end-users. A solution to this problem has never been thoroughly investigated previously. As microactutaor development will inevitably be shifted from laboratory research into industrial applications, the development of integrated close-loop controlled microactuators is very necessary and timely. In this project, so called 'smart' microactuators that integrate conventional microactuators with driving electronics will be developed to address the limitations of present microactuators. Two integrated sub-systems, namely electronic drivers and wireless transmission systems, will be investigated following several new techniques proposed in this project. The technique of the combination of classical integrated circuits with MEMS based power electronics will provide a novel solution for programmable high voltage/ high power drivers for the microactuators. Dual-channel radio frequency transmission systems will be utilised to construct wireless control systems for the microactuators. A holistic approach of combining the two sub-systems will be pursued to arrive at an integrated, smart microactuator system.

Lijie Li PI_PER

Subjects by relevance
  1. Microcircuits
  2. Electronics
  3. Microelectronics
  4. Laser devices

Extracted key phrases
  1. Micro tunable electronic device
  2. Smart microactuator system
  3. Micro tunable photonic device
  4. Smart Microelectromechanical Systems
  5. Channel radio frequency transmission system
  6. Important micro device
  7. Radio frequency system
  8. Novel microactuator
  9. Wireless transmission system
  10. Wireless control system
  11. Conventional microactuator
  12. Present microactuator
  13. Inertial system
  14. Optical system
  15. Medical system

Related Pages

UKRI project entry

UK Project Locations