Electromechanics

In engineering, electromechanics combines processes and procedures drawn from electrical engineering and mechanical engineering. Electromechanics focuses on the interaction of electrical and mechanical systems as a whole and how the two systems interact with each other. This process is especially prominent in systems such as those of DC or AC rotating electrical machines which can be designed and operated to generate power from a mechanical process (generator) or used to power a mechanical effect (motor). Electrical engineering in this context also encompasses electronics engineering. Electromechanical devices are ones which have both electrical and mechanical processes. Strictly speaking, a manually operated switch is an electromechanical component due to the mechanical movement causing an electrical output. Though this is true, the term is usually understood to refer to devices which involve an electrical signal to create mechanical movement, or vice versa mechanical movement to create an electric signal. Often involving electromagnetic principles such as in relays, which allow a voltage or current to control another, usually isolated circuit voltage or current by mechanically switching sets of contacts, and solenoids, by which a voltage can actuate a moving linkage as in solenoid valves. Before the development of modern electronics, electromechanical devices were widely used in complicated subsystems of parts, including electric typewriters, teleprinters, clocks, initial television systems, and the very early electromechanical digital computers. Solid-state electronics have replaced electromechanics in many applications. The first electric motor was invented in 1822 by Michael Faraday. The motor was developed only a year after Hans Christian Ørsted discovered that the flow of electric current creates a proportional magnetic field. This early motor was simply a wire partially submerged into a glass of mercury with a magnet at the bottom.

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Surface micromachining

Surface micromachining builds microstructures by deposition and etching structural layers over a substrate. This is different from Bulk micromachining, in which a silicon substrate wafer is selectively etched to produce structures. Generally, polysilicon is used as one of the substrate layers while silicon dioxide is used as a sacrificial layer. The sacrificial layer is removed or etched out to create any necessary void in the thickness direction. Added layers tend to vary in size from 2-5 micrometres.

Push-button

A push-button (also spelled pushbutton) or simply button is a simple switch mechanism to control some aspect of a machine or a process. Buttons are typically made out of hard material, usually plastic or metal. The surface is usually flat or shaped to accommodate the human finger or hand, so as to be easily depressed or pushed. Buttons are most often biased switches, although many un-biased buttons (due to their physical nature) still require a spring to return to their un-pushed state.

Microtechnology

Microtechnology deals with technology whose features have dimensions of the order of one micrometre (one millionth of a metre, or 10−6 metre, or 1μm). It focuses on physical and chemical processes as well as the production or manipulation of structures with one-micrometre magnitude. Around 1970, scientists learned that by arraying large numbers of microscopic transistors on a single chip, microelectronic circuits could be built that dramatically improved performance, functionality, and reliability, all while reducing cost and increasing volume.

Microelectromechanical systems

MEMS (Microelectromechanical systems) is the technology of microscopic devices incorporating both electronic and moving parts. MEMS are made up of components between 1 and 100 micrometres in size (i.e., 0.001 to 0.1 mm), and MEMS devices generally range in size from 20 micrometres to a millimetre (i.e., 0.02 to 1.0 mm), although components arranged in arrays (e.g., digital micromirror devices) can be more than 1000 mm2.

Solid-state physics

Solid-state physics is the study of rigid matter, or solids, through methods such as solid-state chemistry, quantum mechanics, crystallography, electromagnetism, and metallurgy. It is the largest branch of condensed matter physics. Solid-state physics studies how the large-scale properties of solid materials result from their atomic-scale properties. Thus, solid-state physics forms a theoretical basis of materials science. Along with solid-state chemistry, it also has direct applications in the technology of transistors and semiconductors.

Microprocessors

A microprocessor is a computer processor where the data processing logic and control is included on a single integrated circuit (IC), or a small number of ICs. The microprocessor contains the arithmetic, logic, and control circuitry required to perform the functions of a computer's central processing unit (CPU). The IC is capable of interpreting and executing program instructions and performing arithmetic operations.

Explores microfabrication technologies, lithography, MEMS, cleanroom processes, resolution enhancement, phase shift masks, and chip manufacturing complexity.

Covers the process of etching using wet and dry techniques, explaining definitions, steps, examples, challenges, and solutions.

Showcases the practical steps of fabricating a mask for UV lithography.

MICRO-332: Microfabrication practicals

The goal of this course is to introduce students to the practical aspects of some basic micro-fabrication techniques.

MICRO-331: Microfabrication technologies

The student will learn process techniques and applications of modern micro- and nanofabrication technologies, as practiced in a standard clean room, with focus on silicon mainstream and microsystems t

MICRO-621: MOOC: Micro and Nanofabrication (MEMS)

Micro- and nanofabrication can be taught to students and professionals by textbooks and ex-cathedra lectures, but the real learning comes from seeing the manufacturing steps as they happen. This MOOC

Micro and Nanofabrication (MEMS)

Learn the fundamentals of microfabrication and nanofabrication by using the most effective techniques in a cleanroom environment.

Microstructure Fabrication Technologies I

Learn the fundamentals of microfabrication and nanofabrication by using the most effective techniques in a cleanroom environment.

Micro and Nanofabrication (MEMS)

Learn the fundamentals of microfabrication and nanofabrication by using the most effective techniques in a cleanroom environment.

Exploration of micro-acoustic spectrometry techniques

Florian Hartmann

This master’s thesis aimed at exploring the field of micro-acoustic spectrometry using surface acoustic waves. The objectives of this project were to design and fabricate a platform for the detection

2022

Micro-mechanics of 3D architectured metals synthesized by electrodeposition

Maxime Alain Baptiste Mieszala

Cellular metallic materials have emerged as a new promising class of materials due to their lightweight porous structures and advanced multi-functional properties. Originally limited to random metalli

EPFL2018

A Microfluidic Brain Interface for In Vivo Recording of Neurochemical Activity

Guillaume Cédric Yves Petitpierre

Neurological disorders have a strong negative impact on the quality of life of affected patients, their close relatives as well as on the health economic system. Early diagnosis associated with better

EPFL2017