Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) have had a profound impact on a wide range of applications. The degree of miniaturization made possible by MEMS technology has significantly improved the functionalities of many systems, and the performance of MEMS has steadily improved as its uses augment. Notably, MEMS sensors have been prevalent in motion sensing applications for decades, and the sensing mechanisms leveraged by MEMS have been continuously extended to applications spanning the detection of gases, magnetic fields, electromagnetic radiation, and more. In parallel, MEMS resonators have become an emerging field of MEMS and affected subfields such as electronic timing and filtering, and energy harvesting. They have, in addition, enabled a wide range of resonant sensors. For many years now, MEMS have been the basis of various industrial successes, often building on novel academic research. Accordingly, this Special Issue explores many research innovations in MEMS sensors and resonators, from biomedical applications to energy harvesting, gas sensing, resonant sensing, and timing.

This book introduces piezoelectric microelectromechanical (pMEMS) resonators to a broad audience by reviewing design techniques including use of finite element modeling, testing and qualification of resonators, and fabrication and large scale manufacturing techniques to help inspire future research and entrepreneurial activities in pMEMS. The authors discuss the most exciting developments in the area of materials and devices for the making of piezoelectric MEMS resonators, and offer direct examples of the technical challenges that need to be overcome in order to commercialize these types of devices. Some of the topics covered include: Widely-used piezoelectric materials, as well as materials in which there is emerging interest Principle of operation and design approaches for the making of flexural, contour-mode, thickness-mode, and shear-mode piezoelectric resonators, and examples of practical implementation of these devices Large scale manufacturing approaches, with a focus on the practical aspects associated with testing and qualification Examples of commercialization paths for piezoelectric MEMS resonators in the timing and the filter markets ...and more! The authors present industry and academic perspectives, making this book ideal for engineers, graduate students, and researchers.

Part of the AMN book series, this book covers the principles, modeling and implementation as well as applications of resonant MEMS from a unified viewpoint. It starts out with the fundamental equations and phenomena that govern the behavior of resonant MEMS and then gives a detailed overview of their implementation in capacitive, piezoelectric, thermal and organic devices, complemented by chapters addressing the packaging of the devices and their stability. The last part of the book is devoted to the cutting-edge applications of resonant MEMS such as inertial, chemical and biosensors, fluid properties sensors, timing devices and energy harvesting systems.

Micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) devices are widely used for inertia, pressure, and ultrasound sensing applications. Research on integrated MEMS technology has undergone extensive development driven by the requirements of a compact footprint, low cost, and increased functionality. Accelerometers are among the most widely used sensors implemented in MEMS technology. MEMS accelerometers are showing a growing presence in almost all industries ranging from automotive to medical. A traditional MEMS accelerometer employs a proof mass suspended to springs, which displaces in response to an external acceleration. A single proof mass can be used for one- or multi-axis sensing. A variety of transduction mechanisms have been used to detect the displacement. They include capacitive, piezoelectric, thermal, tunneling, and optical mechanisms. Capacitive accelerometers are widely used due to their DC measurement interface, thermal stability, reliability, and low cost. However, they are sensitive to electromagnetic field interferences and have poor performance for high-end applications (e.g., precise attitude control for the satellite). Over the past three decades, steady progress has been made in the area of optical accelerometers for high-performance and high-sensitivity applications but several challenges are still to be tackled by researchers and engineers to fully realize opto-mechanical accelerometers, such as chip-scale integration, scaling, low bandwidth, etc. This Special Issue on "MEMS Accelerometers" seeks to highlight research papers, short communications, and review articles that focus on: Novel designs, fabrication platforms, characterization, optimization, and modeling of MEMS accelerometers. Alternative transduction techniques with special emphasis on opto-mechanical sensing. Novel applications employing MEMS accelerometers for consumer electronics, industries, medicine, entertainment, navigation, etc. Multi-physics design tools and methodologies, including MEMS-electronics co-design. Novel accelerometer technologies and 9DoF IMU integration. Multi-accelerometer platforms and their data fusion.

Due to the ever-expanding applications of micro/nano-electromechanical systems (NEMS/MEMS) as sensors and actuators, interest in their development has rapidly expanded over the past decade. Encompassing various excitation and readout schemes, the MEMS/NEMS devices transduce physical parameter changes, such as temperature, mass or stress, caused by changes in desired measurands, to electrical signals that can be further processed. Some common examples of NEMS/MEMS sensors include pressure sensors, accelerometers, magnetic field sensors, microphones, radiation sensors, and particulate matter sensors.

Explore heterogeneous circuit integration and the packaging needed for practical applications of microsystems MEMS and system integration are important building blocks for the “More-Than-Moore” paradigm described in the International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors. And, in 3D and Circuit Integration of MEMS, distinguished editor Dr. Masayoshi Esashi delivers a comprehensive and systematic exploration of the technologies for microsystem packaging and heterogeneous integration. The book focuses on the silicon MEMS that have been used extensively and the technologies surrounding system integration. You’ll learn about topics as varied as bulk micromachining, surface micromachining, CMOS-MEMS, wafer interconnection, wafer bonding, and sealing. Highly relevant for researchers involved in microsystem technologies, the book is also ideal for anyone working in the microsystems industry. It demonstrates the key technologies that will assist researchers and professionals deal with current and future application bottlenecks. Readers will also benefit from the inclusion of: A thorough introduction to enhanced bulk micromachining on MIS process, including pressure sensor fabrication and the extension of MIS process for various advanced MEMS devices An exploration of epitaxial poly Si surface micromachining, including process condition of epi-poly Si, and MEMS devices using epi-poly Si Practical discussions of Poly SiGe surface micromachining, including SiGe deposition and LP CVD polycrystalline SiGe A concise treatment of heterogeneously integrated aluminum nitride MEMS resonators and filters Perfect for materials scientists, electronics engineers, and electrical and mechanical engineers, 3D and Circuit Integration of MEMS will also earn a place in the libraries of semiconductor physicists seeking a one-stop reference for circuit integration and the practical application of microsystems.

The use of MEMS resonators for signal processing is relatively new and has the potential to change the topology of newer generation circuits. New materials, design and fabrication processes, and integration with conventional circuitry will need to be considered.