Albert P. Pisano (Advisor)

APP60: MEMS Rotary Engine Power System / 2.4 mm Engine Demonstration Unit

Jack Yu
2003

For the demonstration unit of the 2.4 mm Wankel rotary engine, the engine will be redesigned as an expander to be run on compressed gases. Once the expander micro-fabrication is complete, an integrated generator will be incorporated to power an electronic device.

Project end date: 07/30/03

APP59: MEMS Rotary Engine Power System / Dynamic Fuel Evaporator System

Chen-li Sun
2003

The goal of this project is to design a dynamic fuel evaporator to deliver a constant mass-flow rate of vaporized fuel for a MEMS Rotary Engine Power System (REPS).

Project end date: 07/30/03

APP68: Plastic Injection Molded Microneedles

Jonathan Fischer
2003

The objective of this research is to design, fabricate, characterize, and demonstrate injection-molded, plastic microneedles. Deep Reactive Ion Etching (DRIE) will be used to fabricate silicon die inserts and an “investment casting” technique used to define the inner bore (lumen) of the needle. These silicon die inserts will be incorporated into a standard plastic injection molding machine to transfer the micron-scale features from the silicon die to the plastic microneedles. It is expected to fabricate microneedles from polycarbonate, a premium plastic.

Project end...

APP38: Microconnector

Helen Holder
2003

Design and fabricate a mechanical interconnect system for use in MEMS and miniaturized applications enabling modular construction of complex 3D structures, and generic enough to be compatible with most designs without modifying original devices.

Project end date: 07/30/03

APP54: MEMS Strain Gauge on Steel: Testing Localized Silicon-Steel Bonds

Theodore Prescop
2003

A rapid bonding process for installing vacuum sealed MEMS strain sensor modules to mechanical components is being developed. This innovative process will be developed to replace conventional adhesive-based approaches. In particular, the silicon to steel bond must achieve these stringent requirements: long life, resistance to chemicals, short bonding process time, and a wide range of storage temperatures. To ensure that the strain within a steel substrate will be accurately measured by the MEMS strain gauge, properties of the bond layer between silicon and steel are observed and...

APP52: MEMS Strain Gauge on Steel: Test Fixture Design

Robert G. Azevedo
2003

The overall project aims to design a MEMS strain gauge that can be bonded directly to steel and accurately measure strain in small strain fields (gauge length of 1 mm or less). In order to verify the group’s designs, I have designed and fabricated a four-point bend test fixture. Strain will be induced in smooth, steel bar stock large enough to allow MEMS and conventional foil strain gauges to be tested simultaneously. The four-point bend test will be used to verify the MEMS strain gauge system-level performance. Further, it will allow comparison of the MEMS gauges to conventional...

APP53: MEMS Strain Gauge on Steel: Resonant Sensor Design and Fabrication

Julian Lippmann
2003

To fabricate a strain sensor capable of measuring micro-strain (10e-6) with a gauge length no greater then 1 mm. The sensor will be capable of in-situ mounting on pre-existing, minimally treated steel substrates. In addition, the sensor will also have a dynamic range of at least 0-1000 Hz, and maintain sensitivity and linearity over a range of temperatures and environmental conditions. In particular, this project is examining the use of a resonant element (tuning fork) to transduce strain into a electrical signal via capacitive sensing (both comb finger and parallel plate.)...

APP65: Nanoscale RF Probing of Cells

Seung-Jae Moon
2003

In this research, the design and fabrication of a nanoscale microneedle probe will be carried out for the purpose of probing submicron organelles residing in the cytoplasm of biological cells.

Project end date: 02/09/04

DL15/APP: A planar micropump utilizing thermopneumatic actuation and in-plane flap valves

Stefan Zimmermann
Jeremy Frank
2004

Development of a planar micropump for integration in a planar microfluidic mixer.

Project end date: 08/18/04

APP85: A High Pressure Micro-Combustion Chamber for a Viscous Rotary Engine Power System

Jose Rosario-Rosario
2006

Characterize the operating conditions present in high pressure fuel combustion for power generation in a novel MEMS Viscous Rotary Engine Power System (VREPS). Inside the VREPS, a high pressure fluid adheres to the surface of a hollow cylinder (rotor) and imposes a rotation by means of viscous shear forces. An integrated micro magnetic generator will enable the mechanical to electrical power conversion. The end goal for this part of the project is to provide high pressure combustion effluents in a proper vessel for throttling into a functional VREPS device. Micro-combustion chamber...