Abstract
This paper presents the design, mathematical model, fabrication and testing of a novel type of MEMS stiffness sensor. The proposed sensor can measure both contact force and the stiffness of the object under contact. The sensing concept utilizes multiple membranes with varying stiffnesses. The relative deflection of the sensing membranes can be measured to calculate the stiffness or elasticity of the targeted object. In order to validate the new sensing concept, MEMS capacitive sensors are fabricated using surface micromachining with each fabricated sensor having a 1 mm × 1 mm square active sensor area. Finally, the sensors are characterized by using them to touch polymers of different elastic stiffness values. The test results show that the fabricated sensor can discriminate elasticity variation of polymer specimens with a resolution of 0.1 MPa over a range of 0.7-1.2 MPa. The force sensing resolution is excellent and is as small as 0.2 mN over a force range of 0-0.5 N.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 10-17 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Sensors and Actuators, A: Physical |
| Volume | 158 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Mar 2010 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:Financial support for this research was provided by the Minimally Invasive Medical Technologies Center (MIMTeC, www.mimtec.org ), a National Science Foundation Industry-University Cooperative Research Center . Sensor fabrication and characterization were performed at the Nano-fabrication Center and the Characterization Facility at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities which are supported by the NSF's National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network (NNIN).
Keywords
- MEMS capacitive sensor
- Silicon nitride membranes
- Stiffness sensor
- Surface micromachining
