Albert P. Pisano (Advisor)

APP98/LPL: Insulative Dielectrophoresis (iDEP) Preconcentration and Ultrasonic Lysis of Bacterial Endospores in a Zeonor Substrate

Trey Cauley
2005

This research project seeks to integrate an insulative dielectrophoretic (iDEP) pre-concentrator along with an ultrasonic bacterial endospore lyser into a single Zeonor substrate. This project is unique in that it combines aluminum nitride (AlN) ultrasonic transducers (developed at UC Berkeley) for endospore lysis with insulative dielectrophoretic concentrators (iDEP – developed at Sandia National Laboratories) for the first time on a common Zeonor substrate. The ultrasonic resonator will be mechanically packaged by the Zeonor substrate and will have the appropriate fluidic and...

APP43: MEMS Rotary Engine Power System (MEMS REPS)

David Walther
2006

The goal of the MEMS Rotary Engine Power System (MEMS REPS) was designed to be an autonomous, commercially viable, portable power system based on an integrated power generator and rotary internal combustion engine. This engine was designed to generate a continuous power output of 100mW. The design also allows for rapid field implementation in a variety of applications requiring localized power generation in the range of 10-500 mW. Applications include interconnected sensor networks or land warrior power supplies. The MEMS Rotary Engine Power System consisted of several research...

APP55: MEMS Strain Gauge on Steel: Selective Strain Isolation

I-yang Chen
2005

This project aims to design strain isolation trenches into the sensor package such that strain may be selectively isolated in specific sections, and along specific directions thereby reducing the cross-axis sensitivity of the strain sensor. The particular sensor package is an encapsulated, resonating MEMS strain gauge specially designed to be direct-mounted on steel with a strain resolution of 0.1u-strain. To this end, a strain isolation structure was designed that rejects cross-axis strain while still maintaining axial strain fidelity. A test structure is being fabricated to apply...

CFP1: Liquid Fueled MEMS Enabled 1.5cc Rotary Engine Power System (REPS)

Andrew Cardes
Bennett Sprague
Sang-won Park
Chris McCoy
David C. Walther
2006

The goal of the 1.5cc Rotary Engine Power System (REPS) project is to develop and fabricate a small-scale portable power generation device capable of producing 50-200W. Power will be generated using a Wankel rotary engine operating with liquid hydrocarbon fuels, allowing for a higher specific energy density than batteries of comparable size. This project also serves as a development platform for a wide range of MEMS sensors and actuators. These system are currently being developed in order to monitor and control the engine, optimizing the device performance and efficiency....

APP67/CFP: Ignition at the Microscale for Miniaturized Internal Combustion Engines

Bennett Sprague
2006

This research project will determine the specific conditions under which fuel-air mixtures may be ignited at the microscale. In a research apparatus specifically designed for this purpose, premixed fuel and air charges will be ignited at various temperatures and pressures by electric spark in the presence of quenching walls. The combination of temperature, pressure, and wall distance will be varied not only to simulate IC engine conditions, but also to explore the fundamental limits of spark ignition in combustion chambers with high surface area to volume ratios. Fuels to be...

APP45: MEMS Rotary Engine Power System / Engine Fluid Management System

Brenda Haendler
2006

A MEMS fuel vaporization and injection system for the Wankel engine is being designed, fabricated and characterized with the long-range goal of incorporating this system as the engine’s intake manifold. To attain this goal it is essential to gain an understanding of microscale evaporation, namely the phase eruption phenomena, of liquid hydrocarbon fuels in microchannels.

Project end date: 07/30/06

APP98: Thermal Analysis and Design of ARCTIC Cryo Cooler

Christopher Hogue
2006

To develop the thermal models necessary for the design, analysis, and fabrication of the heat transfer components of the ARCTIC Cryo Cooler.

Project end date: 07/30/06

APP89: Monolithic Piezoelectrically-Actuated MEMS Tunable VCSEL

Benjamin Cheng
Mike Huang
2006

A novel piezoelectrically-actuated microelectromechanical system (MEMS) tunable vertical-cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) is to be designed, fabricated and evaluated to provide improved wavelength control with lower power supply voltages and reduced external losses. Applications include signal routing and switching in modern optical communication networks and VCSEL-pumped atomic clocks. The project will focus on device design, modeling and monolithic integration of piezoelectric controlled MEMS with VCSEL for wavelength control.

Project end date: 07/30/06

BPN346: TFT Modeling for Single Transistor Sensors

Ya-Mei Chen
2006

This project’s goal is to simulate a bottom-gated, amorphous silicon thin-film transistor’s (a-Si TFT) response to strain caused by a chitosan layer over it.

Project end date: 01/24/07

APP95: ARCTIC: A Rotary Compressor Thermally Insulated microCooler

Josh Heppner
2006

To manufacturer a packaged & fully integrated micro refrigeration system capable of cooling down to negative 25 degrees Celsius.

Project end date: 01/24/07