An electrostatic actuator includes a fixed electrode and a movable electrode arranged to face the fixed electrode. The movable electrode is configured to be displaceable with respect to the fixed electrode and a fixed portion. An attractive force acts between the movable electrode and the fixed portion. In the electrostatic actuator, a non-linear vibration of the movable electrode when a voltage is applied to the fixed electrode and the movable electrode is reduced by the attractive force acting between the movable electrode and the fixed portion.

An electrostatic actuator includes a fixed electrode and a movable electrode arranged to face the fixed electrode. The movable electrode is configured to be displaceable with respect to the fixed electrode and a fixed portion. An attractive force acts between the movable electrode and the fixed portion. In the electrostatic actuator, a non-linear vibration of the movable electrode when a voltage is applied to the fixed electrode and the movable electrode is reduced by the attractive force acting between the movable electrode and the fixed portion.

Described herein are methods and systems for controlling a sensor assembly with a plurality of same type sensors. Sensors are operated in active and inactive states and have a corresponding performance parameter and reliability parameter that may be determined. The activation state of at least one of the sensors is changed based on an operational parameter. The performance parameter and/or the reliability parameter can then be updated.

Described herein are methods and systems for controlling a sensor assembly with a plurality of same type sensors. Sensors are operated in active and inactive states and have a corresponding performance parameter and reliability parameter that may be determined. The activation state of at least one of the sensors is changed based on an operational parameter. The performance parameter and/or the reliability parameter can then be updated.

A microelectromechanical resonator, including a support structure, a resonator element suspended to the support structure, the resonator element including a plurality of sub-elements, and an actuator for exciting the resonator element into a resonance mode. The sub-elements are dimensioned such that they are dividable in one direction into one or more fundamental elements having an aspect ratio different from 1 so that each of the fundamental elements supports a fundamental resonance mode, which together define a compound resonance mode of the sub-element. The sub-elements are further coupled to each other by connection elements and positioned with respect to each other such that the fundamental elements are in a rectangular array configuration, wherein each fundamental element occupies a single array position, and at least one array position of the array configuration is free from fundamental elements.

A microfluidic device, including a controllable shape-changing micropillar where a shape of the shape-changing micropillar is changed by a fluid.

The present subject matter relates to charge pump devices, systems, and methods in which a first plurality of series-connected charge-pump stages is connected between a supply voltage node and a first circuit node, wherein the first plurality of charge-pump stages are operable to produce a first electrical charge at the first circuit node, the first electrical charge having a first polarity; and a second plurality of series-connected charge-pump stages is connected between the supply voltage node and a second circuit node, wherein the second plurality of charge-pump stages are operable to produce a second electrical charge at the second circuit node, the second electrical charge having a second polarity.

The present subject matter relates to charge pump devices, systems, and methods in which a first plurality of series-connected charge-pump stages is connected between a supply voltage node and a first circuit node, wherein the first plurality of charge-pump stages are operable to produce a first electrical charge at the first circuit node, the first electrical charge having a first polarity; and a second plurality of series-connected charge-pump stages is connected between the supply voltage node and a second circuit node, wherein the second plurality of charge-pump stages are operable to produce a second electrical charge at the second circuit node, the second electrical charge having a second polarity.

The present invention provides an optical scanning device capable of optical scanning without reducing the spatial resolution even when the scanning range is expanded. The optical scanning device 100 comprises: a light source 101 emitting a light; a scanning mirror 106 that includes a reflecting plane reflecting a light entering from the light source and that is allowed to oscillate independently around each of a first axis extending in the reflecting plane and a second axis orthogonal to the first axis and extending in the reflecting plane; and a controller 103 controlling the scanning mirror in terms of a first frequency and a first amplitude of oscillation around the first axis as well as a second frequency and a second amplitude of oscillation around the second axis for scanning with the light reflected by the reflecting plane of the scanning mirror. The controller 103 controls the second frequency based on the maximum scanning angle in the sub-scanning direction.

A MEMS microphone includes an ASIC chip, a first MEMS chip, a second MEMS chip, a housing and a circuit board. The ASIC chip is electrically connected to the first MEMS chip and the second MEMS chip, and the ASIC chip, the first MEMS chip and the second MEMS chip are mounted on the circuit board. The circuit board and the housing cooperatively form a first chamber configured to accommodate the ASIC chip and the first MEMS chip, and a second chamber configured to accommodate the second MEMS chip. The circuit board defines a first through hole corresponding to the first MEMS chip and a second through hole corresponding to the second MEMS chip. The MEMS microphone has both the function of the traditional microphone and the function of the distance sensor, which saves the space occupied by components in a mobile terminal and the cost of the components.