mems sandia 24 bit lock 300x241 Tiny Inventions Impact Our Lives in Big Ways

Among the latest scientific inventions of great importance to us in our daily lives are devices known as MEMS. Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) are the technology of the very small. In Japan MEMS are also called micromachines. Smaller still, are the nano-scale nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS) and nanotechnology.

MEMS are made up of components between 1 to 100 micrometers in size (i.e. 0.001 to 0.1 mm) and MEMS devices generally range in size from 20 micrometers (20 millionths of a meter) to a millimeter. MEMS became practical once they could be fabricated using modified semiconductor fabrication technologies, normally used to make electronics.

One type of invention impacting our lives is the accelerometer. An accelerometer measures the acceleration and gravity it experiences. Modern accelerometers are often small micro electro-mechanical systems (MEMS), and are indeed the simplest MEMS devices possible, consisting of little more than a cantilever beam with a proof mass. Under the influence of gravity or acceleration the proof mass deflects from its neutral position. This deflection is measured in an analog or digital manner. This method is simple and reliable; it… More >>