Test and electromagnetic and thermomechanic characterization and reliability evaluation

Thermo-mechanic excitation of encapsulated MEMS components

Set-up for the measurement of the resonance behavior of MEMS using thermo-mechanic excitation.
© Fraunhofer ENAS
Set-up for the measurement of the resonance behavior of MEMS using thermo-mechanic excitation.

When testing the mechanical properties of MEMS, typically the motion of the movable parts of the MEMS components is observed while the structure is mechanically stimulated to vibrate. The resonant frequencies and Q values are determined, which indicate fabrication tolerances. Beside the commonly used excitation techniques for MEMS components by integrated transducers, by vibration chucks or external electric fields provided by electrostatic probes, thermomechanical excitation comes into view when using an intensity modulated laser source. Light or infrared radiation can be applied for the contactless excitation. In the case of encapsulated MEMS with a silicon cap, an infrared laser radiating in near infrared wavelength range is the best choice. Fraunhofer ENAS developed together with project partners from the industry and academia a laser based thermo-mechanic excitation principle that is used in combination with a laser Doppler interferometer. The beam of a directly modulated laser diode is collimated and directed to the microscope objective of the laser doppler interferometer by a beam steering optics and a dichroic beam splitter. The beam steering enables adjusting of the excitation laser spot to a dedicated location of the inner structure of the MEMS. Testing of the measurement set-up with different MEMS devices showed a good signal/noise ratio at the resonant frequencies of the MEMS structure. The resonance frequencies and the Q values can be determined easily.

Example of a measurement result.
© Fraunhofer ENAS
Example of a measurement result.
Photographic image of the test set up.
© Fraunhofer ENAS
Photographic image of the test set up.