Fabrication of the planar angular rotator using the CMOS process

Abstract

This investigation proposes a novel planar angular rotator fabricated by the conventional CMOS process. Following the 0.6 /spl mu/m SPTM (single poly triple metal) CMOS process, the device is completed by a simple post-process with maskless etching. The suspension unit rotates around its geometric center with electrostatic actuation. In addition to having a single rotatory component, 2/spl times/2 and 3/spl times/3 arrayed components are designed to have a larger rotatory angle with less actuation distance. The proposed design adopts an intelligent mechanism, including slider-crank and four-bar linkage, to permit simultaneous motion. With driving voltages of around 40 volts, the CMOS planar angular rotator could be driven. Comparing to the most common planar angular, micromotor, the design proposed herein has a shorter response time and longer life without the problems of friction and wear.