An integrated device includes a MEMS device, such as a gyroscope, having a movable mass spaced apart from a substrate, the movable mass being configured to oscillate in a drive direction relative to the substrate. The integrated device further comprises an integrated circuit (IC) die having a surface coupled with the MEMS device such that the movable mass is interposed between the substrate and the surface of the IC die. An electrode structure is formed on the surface of the IC die, the electrode structure including a plurality of electrode segments vertically spaced apart from the movable mass. Openings extend through the movable mass and the electrode segments overlie the openings. Suitably selected electrode segments can be activated to electrostatically attract the movable mass toward sense electrodes vertically spaced apart from the MEMS to reduce quadrature motion of the movable mass.

A MEM vibration sensor includes a substrate and a sensing-device. The substrate includes a first supporting-portion and a cavity. The sensing-device includes a first sensing-unit, a second sensing-unit, a first metal pad and a second metal pad. The first sensing-unit includes a second supporting-portion and a vibrating-portion. The second supporting-portion is located on the first supporting-portion and is connected to the first supporting-portion via a first dielectric material. The vibrating-portion is located on the cavity, and is connected with the second supporting-portion through an elastic connecting-portion. The second sensing-unit is located on the first sensing-unit and includes a sensing-portion and a third supporting-portion. The sensing-portion is located on the vibrating-portion and has a gap with the vibrating-portion. The third supporting-portion is located on the second supporting-portion, is connected to the sensing-portion, and is connected to the second supporting-portion through a second dielectric material.

A micro-electromechanical system (1) comprising: a sensor device (2), with a measuring deformer (3) exhibiting an effective temperature T1; a high-frequency resonator (4) that is mechanically coupled to the sensor device (2) and can interact with the measuring deformer (3); an energy converter (7) that is operatively connected to the high-frequency resonator (4) and is configured to excite the high-frequency resonator (4) into a vibration state, wherein, through the interaction of the vibrating high-frequency resonator (4) with the measuring deformer (3), energy can be transferred from the measuring deformer (3) to the high-frequency resonator (4) in such a manner that the measuring deformer (3) after the energy transfer exhibits an effective temperature T2 lower than T1.

Techniques, systems, and devices are described for implementing for implementing computation devices and artificial neurons based on nanoelectromechanical (NEMS) systems. In one aspect, a nanoelectromechanical system (NEMS) based computing element includes: a substrate; two electrodes configured as a first beam structure and a second beam structure positioned in close proximity with each other without contact, wherein the first beam structure is fixed to the substrate and the second beam structure is attached to the substrate while being free to bend under electrostatic force. The first beam structure is kept at a constant voltage while the other voltage varies based on an input signal applied to the NEMS based computing element.

A vibration energy harvester includes: a first electrode; and a second electrode that can be displaced relative to the first electrode along a predetermined vibrating direction. At least either of a surface of the first electrode and a surface of the second electrode facing opposite each other is electrically charged. Power is generated as the second electrode becomes displaced causing a change in electrostatic capacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode. A range having included therein at least a vibrational center of the second electrode, over which the electrostatic capacitance remains unchanged even as the second electrode is displaced, is set.

An electromechanical transducer of the present invention includes a first electrode, a vibrating membrane formed above the first electrode through a gap, a second electrode formed on the vibrating membrane, and an insulating protective layer formed on a surface of the second electrode side. A region where the protective layer is not formed is present on at least part of a surface of the vibrating membrane.

Techniques, systems, and devices are described for implementing for implementing computation devices and artificial neurons based on nanoelectromechanical (NEMS) systems. In one aspect, a nanoelectromechanical system (NEMS) based computing element includes: a substrate; two electrodes configured as a first beam structure and a second beam structure positioned in close proximity with each other without contact, wherein the first beam structure is fixed to the substrate and the second beam structure is attached to the substrate while being free to bend under electrostatic force. The first beam structure is kept at a constant voltage while the other voltage varies based on an input signal applied to the NEMS based computing element.

Techniques, systems, and devices are described for implementing for implementing computation devices and artificial neurons based on nanoelectromechanical (NEMS) systems. In one aspect, a nanoelectromechanical system (NEMS) based computing element includes: a substrate; two electrodes configured as a first beam structure and a second beam structure positioned in close proximity with each other without contact, wherein the first beam structure is fixed to the substrate and the second beam structure is attached to the substrate while being free to bend under electrostatic force. The first beam structure is kept at a constant voltage while the other voltage varies based on an input signal applied to the NEMS based computing element.

An integrated device includes a MEMS device, such as a gyroscope, having a movable mass spaced apart from a substrate, the movable mass being configured to oscillate in a drive direction relative to the substrate. The integrated device further comprises an integrated circuit (IC) die having a surface coupled with the MEMS device such that the movable mass is interposed between the substrate and the surface of the IC die. An electrode structure is formed on the surface of the IC die, the electrode structure including a plurality of electrode segments vertically spaced apart from the movable mass. Openings extend through the movable mass and the electrode segments overlie the openings. Suitably selected electrode segments can be activated to electrostatically attract the movable mass toward sense electrodes vertically spaced apart from the MEMS to reduce quadrature motion of the movable mass.

An acoustic detection system and method and associated kinetic energy harvester is disclosed. The acoustic detection system comprises a vibration-generating object, a kinetic-energy harvester, and an acoustic sensor. The kinetic-energy harvester is embedded within a first location of the vibration-generation object and is configured to wirelessly transmit electrical power to the acoustic sensor, which is embedded within a second location of the vibration-generating object. The acoustic sensor is configured to receive the electrical power, detect acoustic signals, and convert the detected acoustic signals into acoustic data. The kinetic energy harvester may be an electromagnetic harvester that comprises a magnet array and a coil array comprising at least one conductive coil. By inducing a current in the at least one conductive coil through the relative motion between the magnet array and the coil array, the kinetic-energy harvester produces electrical power.