Section
Author's Guide | Reviewer's Guide

ST Journal of Research
MEMS

Vol. 3, No. 1, August 2006- Art. 3
 
A capacitance and optical method for the static and dynamic characterization of MEMS devices

Details of MEMS devices

by
Eleonora Ferraris, Irene Fassi, Institute of Industrial Technology and Automation, Biagio De Masi, STMicroelectronics, Richard Rosing, Andrew Richardson, Lancaster University

Copyright
Copyright © Institute of Industrial Technology and Automation, STMicroelectronics, University of Lancaster, 2005. Reprinted, with permission, from Proceedings of DTIP 2005, 1-3 June 2005, Montreux, Switzerland

 

Abstract
As the micro technology field expands, the need for simple and standardized high precision procedures to evaluate device functionality, reliability, and quality of MEMS devices increases. In this paper, the application of two empirical methods suitable for the static and the dynamic characterization of micrometersized structures is proposed. The first methodology is based on capacitance measurements and finds simple application in case of comb-finger actuated devices. The second one is based on the Doppler phenomenon combined with laser optical interferometry, allowing the characterization of a wide range of structures. The methodologies are applied to a reliability structure specifically designed at STMicroelectronics for studying the fatigue behavior of the structural material involved in the fabrication of their commercial products.
This case of study highlights how the techniques may be coupled to usual design approaches for completing and verifying the information given by theory and simulations, thus improving the entire development cycle.

 

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