An optical filter device (1000) includes: a first mirror (101) transmitting portion of incident light; a second mirror (201) spaced apart from the first mirror (101), and transmitting portion of the incident light; actuators (300) driving the first mirror (101) to change a space between the first mirror (101) and the second mirror (201); and a detection electrode (400) detecting displacement of the first mirror (101). The detection electrode (400) includes: a movable comb electrode (410) including movable combs (414) and connected to the first mirror (101); and a stationary comb electrode (420) including stationary combs (424) facing the movable combs (414) in parallel with each other. The movable combs (414) are displaced in parallel with the stationary combs (424) when the movable comb electrode (410) is displaced together with the first mirror (101).

A spacer assembly includes: an essentially-planer structural portion configured to position an image sensor on a MEMS actuator; an outer sub-portion configured to be mounted to the MEMS actuator; and an inner sub-portion configured to mount the image sensor.

An inertial structure is elastically coupled through a first elastic structure to a supporting structure so as to move along a sensing axis as a function of a quantity to be detected. The inertial structure includes first and second inertial masses which are elastically coupled together by a second elastic structure to enable movement of the second inertial mass along the sensing axis. The first elastic structure has a lower elastic constant than the second elastic structure so that, in presence of the quantity to be detected, the inertial structure moves in a sensing direction until the first inertial mass stops against a stop structure and the second elastic mass can move further in the sensing direction. Once the quantity to be detected ends, the second inertial mass moves in a direction opposite to the sensing direction and detaches the first inertial mass from the stop structure.

Caging structures are disclosed for caging or otherwise reducing the mechanical shock pulse experienced by MEMS device beam structures during events that may cause mechanical shock to the MEMS device. The caging structures at least partially surround the beam such that they limit the motion of the beam in a direction perpendicular to the beam's longitudinal axis, thereby reducing stress on the beam during a mechanical shock event. The caging structures may be used in combination with mechanical shock-resistant beams.

A comb drive for MEMS device includes a stator and a rotor displaceable relative to the stator in a first direction. The stator includes stator comb fingers and the rotor includes rotor comb fingers. The stator comb fingers are coupled to two high impedance nodes to form high impedance node domains arranged in the first direction. The rotor comb fingers are coupled to two oppositely biased electrodes to form oppositely biased domains. Pairs of capacitors with opposite acoustic polarity are respectively formed between the high impedance node domains and the oppositely biased domains. The comb drive of the present invention has increased electrostatic sensitivity for a given unit cell cross-sectional area whilst maintaining an acceptable capacitance and linearity of voltage signal vs displacement. Extra force shim unit cells may be used, which allows for the stiffness between the rotor and stator to be controlled and reduced to zero for a particular displacement range, without impacting sensitivity.

A microelectromechanical gyroscope structure for detecting angular motion about an axis of angular motion. A drive element is suspended for one-dimensional motion in a direction of a drive axis, and a sense body carries one or more sense rotor electrodes and is coupled to the drive element with a first directional spring structure that forces the sense body to move with the drive element and has a preferred direction of motion in a direction of a sense axis. The drive element includes an actuation body and a drive frame wherein the first spring structure couples the sense body directionally to the drive frame, and a second directional spring structure that couples the drive frame to the actuation body and has a preferred direction of motion in the direction of the sense axis.

An MEMS chip includes a substrate, a movable assembly, a fastening assembly, and a drive assembly. The fastening assembly is located between the substrate and the movable assembly. The movable assembly includes a fastening portion, a movable portion, and a first support beam. The first support beam is connected to the movable portion and the fastening portion. A first avoidance slot is disposed on a face that is of the movable portion and that faces the fastening assembly. The fastening assembly is grounded. A boss and a first position limiting pole are disposed on a face that is of the fastening assembly and that faces the movable assembly. The boss is connected to the fastening portion and configured to support the fastening portion. The first position limiting pole corresponds to the first avoidance slot. The drive assembly is connected to the movable portion to drive the movable portion to move.

Angular accelerometers are described, as are systems employing such accelerometers. The angular accelerometers may include a proof mass and rotational acceleration detection beams directed toward the center of the proof mass. The angular accelerometers may include sensing capabilities for angular acceleration about three orthogonal axes. The sensing regions for angular acceleration about one of the three axes may be positioned radially closer to the center of the proof mass than the sensing regions for angular acceleration about the other two axes. The proof mass may be connected to the substrate though one or more anchors.

A micro-electrical-mechanical system (MEMS) assembly includes a stationary stage, a rigid stage, at least one flexure configured to slidably couple the stationary stage and the rigid stage, at least one flexible electrode coupled and essentially orthogonal to one of the stationary stage and the rigid stage, and at least one rigid electrode coupled and essentially orthogonal to the other of the stationary stage and the rigid stage.

An actuator for moving a platform having electrical connections is provided. The actuator includes an outer frame connected to an inner frame by one or more spring elements that are electrically conductive. The actuator further includes one or more comb drive actuators that apply a controlled force between the outer frame and the inner frame. Each of the comb drive actuators includes one or more comb drives. Moreover, a method for moving a platform having electrical connections is also provided. The method includes connecting an outer frame to an inner frame using one or more spring elements that are electrically conductive. The method further includes generating a controlled force using one or more comb drive actuators. Each of the comb drive actuators includes one or more comb drives. In addition, the method includes applying the controlled force between the outer frame and the inner frame.