On-chip measurement of capacitance for micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) actuator circuit

A micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) actuator circuit and method. The circuit includes a current mirror, a voltage divider having an interior contact and coupled between the mirror output and a potential, an operational amplifier having an input coupled to the interior contact and a switch havin...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author GUO DIANBO
Format Patent
LanguageEnglish
Published 29.07.2014
Subjects
MEASURING
MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES
MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES
MICROSTRUCTURAL TECHNOLOGY
PERFORMING OPERATIONS
PHYSICS
PROCESSES OR APPARATUS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE MANUFACTUREOR TREATMENT OF MICROSTRUCTURAL DEVICES OR SYSTEMS
TESTING
TRANSPORTING
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Summary:A micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) actuator circuit and method. The circuit includes a current mirror, a voltage divider having an interior contact and coupled between the mirror output and a potential, an operational amplifier having an input coupled to the interior contact and a switch having input/output contacts separately coupled to the amplifier output and the mirror input and having a switch control. The amplifier output can be coupled to a digital control circuit which can be coupled to the switch control contact and to a digital to analog circuit (DAC) which can be coupled to the digital control circuit and to another amplifier input. An enable signal at the switch control couples the switch input/output contacts together. The capacitance of a MEMS capacitor coupled to the mirror output is determined by measurement of time for the amplifier output to switch from one level to another following a change in DAC output potential.
Bibliography:Application Number: US20100972596