Micromechanics is a rich, diverse field that draws on many different disciplines and has potential applications in medicine, electronic interfaces to physical phenomena, military, industrial controls, consumer products, airplanes, microsatellites, and much more. Until now, papers written during the earlier stages of this field have been difficult to retrieve. The papers included in this volume have been thoughtfully arranged by topic, and are accompanied by section introductions written by renowned expert William Trimmer.

The silicon age that led the computer revolution has significantly changed the world. The next 30 years will see the incorporation of new types of functionality onto the chip-structures that will enable the chip to reason, to sense, to act and to communicate. Micromachining technologies offer a wide range of possibilities for active and passive devices. Recent developments have produced sensors, actuators and optical systems. Many of these technologies are based on surface micromachining, which has evolved from silicon integrated circuit technology. This book is written by experts in the field. It contains useful details in design and processing and can be utilized as a reference book or as a textbook.

Mechanics of Microsystems Alberto Corigliano, Raffaele Ardito, Claudia Comi, Attilio Frangi, Aldo Ghisi and Stefano Mariani, Politecnico di Milano, Italy A mechanical approach to microsystems, covering fundamental concepts including MEMS design, modelling and reliability Mechanics of Microsystems takes a mechanical approach to microsystems and covers fundamental concepts including MEMS design, modelling and reliability. The book examines the mechanical behaviour of microsystems from a ‘design for reliability’ point of view and includes examples of applications in industry. Mechanics of Microsystems is divided into two main parts. The first part recalls basic knowledge related to the microsystems behaviour and offers an overview on microsystems and fundamental design and modelling tools from a mechanical point of view, together with many practical examples of real microsystems. The second part covers the mechanical characterization of materials at the micro-scale and considers the most important reliability issues (fracture, fatigue, stiction, damping phenomena, etc) which are fundamental to fabricate a real working device. Key features: Provides an overview of MEMS, with special focus on mechanical-based Microsystems and reliability issues. Includes examples of applications in industry. Accompanied by a website hosting supplementary material. The book provides essential reading for researchers and practitioners working with MEMS, as well as graduate students in mechanical, materials and electrical engineering.

Micromechanical manufacturing based on microequipment creates new possibi- ties in goods production. If microequipment sizes are comparable to the sizes of the microdevices to be produced, it is possible to decrease the cost of production drastically. The main components of the production cost - material, energy, space consumption, equipment, and maintenance - decrease with the scaling down of equipment sizes. To obtain really inexpensive production, labor costs must be reduced to almost zero. For this purpose, fully automated microfactories will be developed. To create fully automated microfactories, we propose using arti?cial neural networks having different structures. The simplest perceptron-like neural network can be used at the lowest levels of microfactory control systems. Adaptive Critic Design, based on neural network models of the microfactory objects, can be used for manufacturing process optimization, while associative-projective neural n- works and networks like ART could be used for the highest levels of control systems. We have examined the performance of different neural networks in traditional image recognition tasks and in problems that appear in micromechanical manufacturing. We and our colleagues also have developed an approach to mic- equipment creation in the form of sequential generations. Each subsequent gene- tion must be of a smaller size than the previous ones and must be made by previous generations. Prototypes of ?rst-generation microequipment have been developed and assessed.

Smart Sensors and MEMS: Intelligent Devices and Microsystems for Industrial Applications, Second Edition highlights new, important developments in the field, including the latest on magnetic sensors, temperature sensors and microreaction chambers. The book outlines the industrial applications for smart sensors, covering direct interface circuits for sensors, capacitive sensors for displacement measurement in the sub-nanometer range, integrated inductive displacement sensors for harsh industrial environments, advanced silicon radiation detectors in the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) and extreme ultraviolet (EUV) spectral range, among other topics. New sections include discussions on magnetic and temperature sensors and the industrial applications of smart micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS). The book is an invaluable reference for academics, materials scientists and electrical engineers working in the microelectronics, sensors and micromechanics industry. In addition, engineers looking for industrial sensing, monitoring and automation solutions will find this a comprehensive source of information. - Contains new chapters that address key applications, such as magnetic sensors, microreaction chambers and temperature sensors - Provides an in-depth information on a wide array of industrial applications for smart sensors and smart MEMS - Presents the only book to discuss both smart sensors and MEMS for industrial applications

The application of Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) in the biomedical field is leading to a new generation of medical devices. MEMS for biomedical applications reviews the wealth of recent research on fabrication technologies and applications of this exciting technology.The book is divided into four parts: Part one introduces the fundamentals of MEMS for biomedical applications, exploring the microfabrication of polymers and reviewing sensor and actuator mechanisms. Part two describes applications of MEMS for biomedical sensing and diagnostic applications. MEMS for in vivo sensing and electrical impedance spectroscopy are investigated, along with ultrasonic transducers, and lab-on-chip devices. MEMS for tissue engineering and clinical applications are the focus of part three, which considers cell culture and tissue scaffolding devices, BioMEMS for drug delivery and minimally invasive medical procedures. Finally, part four reviews emerging biomedical applications of MEMS, from implantable neuroprobes and ocular implants to cellular microinjection and hybrid MEMS.With its distinguished editors and international team of expert contributors, MEMS for biomedical applications provides an authoritative review for scientists and manufacturers involved in the design and development of medical devices as well as clinicians using this important technology. - Reviews the wealth of recent research on fabrication technologies and applications of Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) in the biomedical field - Introduces the fundamentals of MEMS for biomedical applications, exploring the microfabrication of polymers and reviewing sensor and actuator mechanisms - Considers MEMS for biomedical sensing and diagnostic applications, along with MEMS for in vivo sensing and electrical impedance spectroscopy

Here's the book to keep handy when you have to overcome obstacles in design, simulation, fabrication and application of MEMS sensors. This practical guide to design tools and packaging helps you create the sensors you need for the full range of mechanical microsensor applications. Critical physical sensing techniques covered include piezoresistive, piezoelectric, capacative, optical, resonant, actuation, thermal, and magnetic, as well as smart sensing.