Micro-cantilever sensors for mass detection using resonance frequency have attracted considerable attention over the last decade in the field of gas sensing. For such a sensing system, an oscillator circuit loop is conventionally used to actuate the micro-cantilever, and trace the frequency shifts. In this paper, gas experiments are introduced to investigate the mechanical resonance frequency s...

We present a theoretical investigation of stiction in nanoscale electromechanical contact switches. We develop a mathematical model to describe the deflection of a cantilever beam in response to both electrostatic and van der Waals forces. Particular focus is given to the question of whether adhesive van der Waals forces cause the cantilever to remain in the 'ON' state even when the electrostat...

A biomimetic acoustic sensor was fabricated with single crystal PMN-PT piezoelectric cantilever array that can mimic functional properties of mammalian cochlea. Basilar membrane of mammalian cochlea can separate frequency components of input sound source and Ion channel phenomenon of hair cells on basilar membrane can generate action potentials for stimulating a nerve site. The piezoelectric ca...

Energy harvester is a self-generating energy source which is able to run small scale electronic devices. It largely reduces the dependency on external power source. This paper represents the utilization of micro cantilever beam to develop a vibration based electromechanical systems (MEMS) piezoelectric energy harvester system. The proposed micro cantilever part has been developed by finite elem...

We show here that dynamic-mode cantilever sensors enable acoustofluidic fluid mixing and trapping of suspended particles as well as the rapid manipulation and release of trapped micro-particles via mode switching in liquid. Resonant modes of piezoelectric cantilever sensors over the 0 to 8 MHz frequency range are investigated. Sensor impedance response, flow visualization studies using dye and ...

Study Design Retrospective review. Objective The purpose of this study was to determine the radiographic impact of a transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) versus a cantilever TLIF technique on segmental lordosis, segmental coronal alignment, and disk height. Methods A retrospective review was done of all patients undergoing TLIF procedures from 2006 to 2011 by three spine surgeons. Trad...

We explore analytically, numerically, and experimentally the spectral properties of the flexural vibrations of micron scale cantilevers in a viscous fluid that are driven externally or by Brownian motion. Although the physical origins of driven and thermal cantilever dynamics are quite different, we show that in each case the dynamics can be calculated deterministically using an impulse or step...

The aim of this paper is firstly to address the consequences of the nonlinear interactions between higher order modes and the first order mode of a flexible cantilever beam. The tested cantilever beam exhibited numerous nonlinear phenomena that are commonly observed in many flexible structures. The experimental results have shown that active control of the nonlinear vibration in a flexible stru...

In dynamic plowing lithography, the sample surface is indented using a vibrating tip in tapping mode atomic force microscopy. During writing, the gap between the cantilever and the sample surface is very small, usually on the order of micrometers. High vibration frequency and small distance induce squeeze film air damping from the air in the gap. This damping can cause variations in the cantile...

We demonstrate photothermally excited force modulation microscopy (PTE FMM) for mechanical property characterization across a broad frequency range with an atomic force microscope (AFM). Photothermal excitation allows for an AFM cantilever driving force that varies smoothly as a function of drive frequency, thus avoiding the problem of spurious resonant vibrations that hinder piezoelectric exci...