Electrostatic Microelectromechanical System Speaker Array with Out-of-Plane Piston Displacement and Simplified Microfabrication

This study presents a new design for a MEMS electrostatic speaker array with out-of-plane piston-like diaphragm displacement using a simplified silicon-on-insulator microfabrication process. The device comprises an array of parallel actuating membranes with small circular mechanically open but acous...

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Main Authors: Diogo E. Aguiam, Inês S. Garcia, Edoardo Sotgiu, Filipe S. Alves
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-03-01
Series:Proceedings
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2504-3900/97/1/101
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author Diogo E. Aguiam
Inês S. Garcia
Edoardo Sotgiu
Filipe S. Alves
author_facet Diogo E. Aguiam
Inês S. Garcia
Edoardo Sotgiu
Filipe S. Alves
author_sort Diogo E. Aguiam
collection DOAJ
description This study presents a new design for a MEMS electrostatic speaker array with out-of-plane piston-like diaphragm displacement using a simplified silicon-on-insulator microfabrication process. The device comprises an array of parallel actuating membranes with small circular mechanically open but acoustically sealed apertures that enable controlled etching of the buried oxide to be released directly from the front side, but retain a high acoustic impedance acting as a flat membrane. This approach simplifies the microfabrication process, requiring only two lithography masks and increasing process tolerances. Preliminary experimental measurements validate the concept and demonstrate the electromechanical and acoustic performance compared with theoretical models.
format Article
id doaj-art-e134766949424fca9b08af8cbceaef35
institution OA Journals
issn 2504-3900
language English
publishDate 2024-03-01
publisher MDPI AG
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series Proceedings
spelling doaj-art-e134766949424fca9b08af8cbceaef352025-08-20T02:01:21ZengMDPI AGProceedings2504-39002024-03-0197110110.3390/proceedings2024097101Electrostatic Microelectromechanical System Speaker Array with Out-of-Plane Piston Displacement and Simplified MicrofabricationDiogo E. Aguiam0Inês S. Garcia1Edoardo Sotgiu2Filipe S. Alves3INL—International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, 4700-300 Braga, PortugalINL—International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, 4700-300 Braga, PortugalINL—International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, 4700-300 Braga, PortugalINL—International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, 4700-300 Braga, PortugalThis study presents a new design for a MEMS electrostatic speaker array with out-of-plane piston-like diaphragm displacement using a simplified silicon-on-insulator microfabrication process. The device comprises an array of parallel actuating membranes with small circular mechanically open but acoustically sealed apertures that enable controlled etching of the buried oxide to be released directly from the front side, but retain a high acoustic impedance acting as a flat membrane. This approach simplifies the microfabrication process, requiring only two lithography masks and increasing process tolerances. Preliminary experimental measurements validate the concept and demonstrate the electromechanical and acoustic performance compared with theoretical models.https://www.mdpi.com/2504-3900/97/1/101microspeakerMEMSacoustic impedance
spellingShingle Diogo E. Aguiam
Inês S. Garcia
Edoardo Sotgiu
Filipe S. Alves
Electrostatic Microelectromechanical System Speaker Array with Out-of-Plane Piston Displacement and Simplified Microfabrication
Proceedings
microspeaker
MEMS
acoustic impedance
title Electrostatic Microelectromechanical System Speaker Array with Out-of-Plane Piston Displacement and Simplified Microfabrication
title_full Electrostatic Microelectromechanical System Speaker Array with Out-of-Plane Piston Displacement and Simplified Microfabrication
title_fullStr Electrostatic Microelectromechanical System Speaker Array with Out-of-Plane Piston Displacement and Simplified Microfabrication
title_full_unstemmed Electrostatic Microelectromechanical System Speaker Array with Out-of-Plane Piston Displacement and Simplified Microfabrication
title_short Electrostatic Microelectromechanical System Speaker Array with Out-of-Plane Piston Displacement and Simplified Microfabrication
title_sort electrostatic microelectromechanical system speaker array with out of plane piston displacement and simplified microfabrication
topic microspeaker
MEMS
acoustic impedance
url https://www.mdpi.com/2504-3900/97/1/101
work_keys_str_mv AT diogoeaguiam electrostaticmicroelectromechanicalsystemspeakerarraywithoutofplanepistondisplacementandsimplifiedmicrofabrication
AT inessgarcia electrostaticmicroelectromechanicalsystemspeakerarraywithoutofplanepistondisplacementandsimplifiedmicrofabrication
AT edoardosotgiu electrostaticmicroelectromechanicalsystemspeakerarraywithoutofplanepistondisplacementandsimplifiedmicrofabrication
AT filipesalves electrostaticmicroelectromechanicalsystemspeakerarraywithoutofplanepistondisplacementandsimplifiedmicrofabrication