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Full-Text Articles in Mechanical Engineering
Micro-Electromechanical Switches For Micro-Satellite Power Transfer, Glen A. Kading
Micro-Electromechanical Switches For Micro-Satellite Power Transfer, Glen A. Kading
Theses and Dissertations
In the past few years, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) have emerged as a promising new technology with tremendous application potential. One of the possible implementations of MEMS technology is in the development of micro-satellites. It should be possible to mass-produce micro-satellites at a fraction of the cost of one conventional satellite. In order for satellites to be robust, a method of transferring power to systems must be addressed. As micro-satellites are made with conventional integrated circuit technologies at a very small scale, a means of transferring power on a similar scale will be investigated. This research addresses the issue of the …
Design And Development Of Microswitches For Micro-Electro-Mechanical Relay Matrices, Mark W. Phipps
Design And Development Of Microswitches For Micro-Electro-Mechanical Relay Matrices, Mark W. Phipps
Theses and Dissertations
Many different micro-electro-mechanical switches were designed in the Multi-User MEMS processes (MUMPs) and deep x-ray lithography and electroforming (LIGA) processes. The switches were composed of actuators that operated based upon either electrostatic forces or thermal forces. A thermally activated beam flexure actuator that operated based upon differential heating was used extensively. This actuator, which was fabricated in the MUMPs process, was able to deflect up to 12 microns with a total input power of less than 25 mW. The thermal resistance, which was needed to model this actuator, was determined from a material constant, 1.9 ± 0.08 m1.5-°C-W …