A system and method for manipulating the structural characteristics of a MEMS device include etching a plurality of holes into the surface of a MEMS device, wherein the plurality of holes comprise one or more geometric shapes determined to provide specific structural characteristics desired in the MEMS device.

A system and method for manipulating the structural characteristics of a MEMS device include etching a plurality of holes into the surface of a MEMS device, wherein the plurality of holes comprise one or more geometric shapes determined to provide specific structural characteristics desired in the MEMS device.

A MEMS structure includes a planar substrate, a support body coupled to the planar substrate, a fixed electrode coupled to the planar substrate and a moveable portion. The movable portion is spaced from and faces the fixed electrode. The movable electrode includes a movable weight and an intermediate frame surrounding an outer edge of the movable weight. A plurality of elastic supports connect the movable weight to the intermediate frame. The elastic supports are elastically deformable in a first direction extending parallel to the plane of the substrate such that the movable weight can move in the first direction. At least one torsion bar pivotally connects one end of the intermediate frame to the support body so as to allow the intermediate frame, and with it the movable weight, to pivot around an axis which extends parallel to the plane of the substrate and perpendicular to the first direction.

A light deflector includes a fixing portion and a movable portion. The movable portion includes a mirror portion for deflecting light by swinging about a predetermined swing axis, a torsion bar fixedly supported on the fixing portion and having an axis serving as the swing axis, and a supporting body configured to support the mirror portion and fixed to the torsion bar. The supporting body includes a hole portion through which the axis passes. A mass body for adjusting a resonant frequency of the movable portion is arranged in the hole portion.

Described embodiments include a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) array comprising a first MEMS device that includes a first movable electrostatic plate elastically connected to a first structure, the first movable electrostatic plate having a first mass, a first fixed electrostatic plate, and a first drive circuit having a first drive output coupled to the first fixed electrostatic plate. There is a second MEMS device that includes a second movable electrostatic plate elastically connected to a second structure, the second movable electrostatic plate having a second mass that is different than the first mass, a second fixed electrostatic plate, and a second drive circuit having a second drive output coupled to the second fixed electrostatic plate.

According to one embodiment, a sensor includes a base including a first face, a fixed portion fixed to the first face, a movable portion supported by the fixed portion, a first fixed electrode, and a first opposing fixed electrode. The fixed portion includes a first center in a first plane parallel to the first face. The movable portion includes first and second annular portions. The first fixed electrode includes first and second regions. The first opposing fixed electrode includes first and second opposing regions. The first region is provided between the second annular portion and the first annular portion. The first opposing region is provided between the second annular portion and the first region. The second region is provided between the second annular portion and the first annular portion. The second opposing region is provided between the second annular portion and the second region.

According to one embodiment, a sensor includes a base including a first face, a fixed portion fixed to the first face, and a movable portion supported by the fixed portion. The movable portion includes a plurality of annular portions, a plurality of connect portions, and a first structure. Each of the plurality of annular portions is provided around the fixed portion with the fixed portion as a center in a first plane along the first face. One of the plurality of connect portions connects two of the plurality of annular portions to each other. The plurality of annular portions include a first annular portion. The first annular portion is outermost of the plurality of annular portions. The first structure is connected to the first annular portion. The first annular portion is provided between the fixed portion and the first structure.

According to one embodiment, a sensor includes a base including a first face, a fixed portion fixed to the first face, and a movable portion supported by the fixed portion. The movable portion includes a plurality of annular portions and a plurality of connect portions. Each of the plurality of annular portions is provided around the fixed portion with the fixed portion as a center on a first plane along the first face. The plurality of annular portions includes a first annular portion, a second annular portion, and a third annular portion. The plurality of connect portions includes first and second connect portions. The first connect portion is provided between the first and second annular portions, and is connected to the first and second annular portions. The second connect portion is provided between the second and third annular portions, and is connected to the second and third annular portions.

A mechanical resonator includes a spring-mass system, wherein the spring-mass system comprises a phase-change material. The mechanical resonator typically comprises an electrical circuit portion, coupled to the phase-change material to alter a phase configuration within the phase-change material. Methods of operation are also disclosed.

Provided is a micro drive unit, which is capable of performing multi-axis drive, the micro drive unit including: a movable object; and at least one pair of beams configured to pivotally support the movable object and formed only in one direction, the movable object being configured to rotate or translate in an x-axis direction, a y-axis direction, and a z-axis direction when the at least one pair of beams is twisted or bent at one or a plurality of resonant frequencies of the at least one pair of beams, thereby being capable of simultaneously avoiding upsizing and complication of the structure. And by incorporating the micro drive unit, a micro device capable of achieving multi-axis drive can be manufactured.