Controllable electromechanical adhesive devices including three-dimensional dielectrically-coated microstructures that are mechanically compliant are provided. The microstructures can be controlled to provide tunable electromechanical surface adhesion, allowing for dexterous gripping of microscale and/or macroscale objects. For example, the devices can tune the surface adhesion strength of one or more microstructures without complex mechanical actuation in a wide range of on/off ratios with low voltage. The devices can be configured as a force sensor capable of providing tactile feedback for determining the load applied against the microstructures by the surface of an object. For example, the devices can provide output indicative of changes in an electrical property of one or more microstructures for determining the applied load of an object. The devices can be pixelated or otherwise configured to provide localized force sensing and/or surface adhesion. Related systems and methods for controlling the disclosed electromechanical adhesive devices are also described.

A Micro Electro Mechanical System (MEMS) microphone is provided. The MEMS microphone includes: a substrate including an audio hole and having an oxide layer at a predetermined segment along an upper surface edge; a vibration electrode that is supported by a support layer that is formed along an upper surface edge in a state that is separated to the inside of the center from the oxide layer at an upper portion corresponding to the audio hole; a fixed electrode that is formed at an upper portion of the oxide layer and in which one side of the support layer is bonded to one side of a low surface; and a back plate that is formed at an upper portion of the fixed electrode and in which the other side of the support layer is bonded to one side of a low surface.

A micromechanical structure includes a fixing point, a silicon spring, and a movable part. The silicon spring is connected to the fixing point at a first end and to the movable part at a second end. At least one copper circuit trace is situated on the silicon spring and extends at least from the first end to the second end. The copper circuit trace has a layer structure including a plurality of contiguous copper layers.

A sound transducer includes a housing with a sound port and a MEMS structure disposed in an interior space of the housing. The MEMS structure and the sound port are acoustically coupled to each other. The MEMS structure separates a front volume from a back volume of the housing. At least one vent hole of the MEMS structure allows a gas exchange between the front volume and the back volume. The sound port allows a liquid to enter the front volume. Further, the MEMS structure prevents liquid from entering the back volume.

Disclosed are a microphone and a manufacturing method thereof. The microphone includes a substrate with a through portion formed in a central portion thereof, a vibration membrane disposed on the substrate and covering the through portion, a fixed membrane installed above the vibration membrane and spaced apart from the vibration membrane with an air layer interposed therebetween, and including a plurality of air inlets perforated in a direction toward the air layer, a support layer supporting the fixed membrane installed above the vibration membrane and spaced apart from the vibration membrane, a back plate formed on the fixed membrane and the support layer and having the air inlet formed to extend in a central portion thereof, and an air outflow part allowing air of the air layer to flow to an outer area of an edge of a sensing area of the fixed membrane on the back plate.

A sound transducer includes a housing with a sound port and a MEMS structure disposed in an interior space of the housing. The MEMS structure and the sound port are acoustically coupled to each other. The MEMS structure separates a front volume from a back volume of the housing. At least one vent hole of the MEMS structure allows a gas exchange between the front volume and the back volume. The sound port allows a liquid to enter the front volume. Further, the MEMS structure prevents liquid from entering the back volume.

According to one embodiment, a sensor includes an element section. The element section includes a first beam, a first beam electrode, a second beam, and a second beam electrode. The first beam includes a first portion, a first other portion, and a first intermediate portion between the first portion and the first other portion. The first beam electrode is connected to the first intermediate portion. The second beam includes a second portion, a second other portion, and a second intermediate portion between the second portion and the second other portion. The second beam electrode is connected to the second intermediate portion. The first and the second beam electrodes satisfy at least one of first to eighth conditions.

Active surface structures comprise an exposed surface, a controlled group of MEMS (micro-electro-mechanical system) actuators, and a controlled region of the exposed surface corresponding to the controlled group. The controlled region has a first state, and a second state that is less textured than the first state. Active surface structures may be part of an apparatus that includes a controller and/or one or more sensors. The controller, sensors, and the controlled region may form a feedback loop in which the active surface structure is actively controlled.

An integrated circuit and the method to produce the integrated circuit comprising: a substrate (10); active devices (11); plurality of metal layers (17), wherein said metal layers are separated by dielectric layers (13) and connected to each other by plurality of vias (19); at least one micromechanical region (15) wherein some of the dielectric layers are removed leaving hollow spaces (23), thereby some of said metal and via layers form a micromechanical device in said micromechanical region, wherein said micromechanical device comprises at least one multi-layer structure (165) that is built of a plurality of metal layers and at least one via layer and said multi-layer structure is characterized by that at least two metal layers of said multi-layer structure are joined by at least one modified via (41).

An integrated circuit and the method to produce the integrated circuit comprising: a substrate (10); active devices (11); plurality of metal layers (17), wherein said metal layers are separated by dielectric layers (13) and connected to each other by plurality of vias (19); at least one micromechanical region (15) wherein some of the dielectric layers are removed leaving hollow spaces (23), thereby some of said metal and via layers form a micromechanical device in said micromechanical region, wherein said micromechanical device comprises at least one multi-layer structure (165) that is built of a plurality of metal layers and at least one via layer and said multi-layer structure is characterised by that at least two metal layers of said multi-layer structure are joined by at least one modified via (41).